Urgent Question about ATX form factor!

[topaimz]

Ok, my friend's
P4 has a this motherboard: Asus P5P800SE
http://www.asus.com/999%5Cimages%5Cproducts%5C629%5C629_m.jpg

As you can see, there is a 24pin EATX connector (on top of black NB)
and a 4pin ATX12V (right from the EATX to the edge of the board).

His PSU however, is of ATX12V 1.0 form factor, which only has a 20 pin main
connector and a 4 pin secondary connector.
(from his old P3 system)

Thus, he connected the 20pin main connector to his 24 pin EATX (leaving 4
pins empty) and 4pin secondary to his ATX12V.

Is this ok?
Or will this f**k up the motherboard and other hardware connected to the
PSU due to energy demands through a 20pin line instead of a 24pin EATX?

[Bbq]

Yes, it's ok. No messing up.

[topaimz]

hmmm, are you sure?

Wouldn't there be some instabability since you are forcing out power from
a 20 pin, instead of a normal 24 pin?

[Helmore]

IIRC those extra 4 pins that are, in this case, not connected were originaly meant to supply the PCIe slots with power. But seen as this mobo doesn't have any PCIe slots, they become obsolete (not completely, but they are not so necesery anymore).

[Sparky]

Possibly, but not likely. It'll just take the extra power from the existing 20pin connector. It might lead to warm connections or wires but shouldn't be a problem.

Worst that can happen is it will be unstable, so you might as well try :)

I don't think it is for the PCIe because those cards run on 12v (the reason why the PCIe connector is 3x12v lines coming in) and the extra 4 pins on the 24pin connector isn't 12v. It is 3.3V and 5V IIRC.

[BlueBiker]

You could try something like the Thermaltake A2169 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812183045) if you're sure that your PSU has plenty of amperage at each voltage.