CompTIA A+ 220-1101 (V14) Practice Question

Modern ATX power supplies use a 24-pin main connector, which is often designed as a 20+4 pin block for backward compatibility with older motherboards that use a 20-pin socket. A technician can safely plug the 20-pin portion of the connector into the motherboard's 20-pin socket, leaving the detachable 4-pin block disconnected. The extra four pins are for components that require more power, like some PCIe cards, and are not needed by the 20-pin motherboard. An adapter is not necessary. Replacing the motherboard is an unnecessary and costly step, and physically modifying the connector is destructive and unsafe.