Intel spin paramedic refuses to comment on P4

In our little collection of Pentium 4 pix here, we referred to the additional 12 volt connector on the motherboard labelled 'CPU power' and surmised that it was something to do with diagnostics on the prototype WTVV mobo.

We asked Intel to confirm or deny that production P4 mobos would have this additional connector, but the response was the usual 'we don't comment on unannounced products'.

We pointed out that Pentium 4 had actually been announced and asked again. "We've only announced the brand, not the product," came the somewhat unhelpful reply, leaving us none the wiser.

So thank the Lord for trusty Register readers who come up with the goods time and again.

Scott (full name withheld - sorry Intel) pointed us to the ATX platform site where an Intel public document gives full specs of the new ATX-12V power supply architecture.

Intel apparently felt that there wasn't enough 12V power being supplied to the motherboard by the original ATX power supply standard and added a new 12V only lead into the mobo from ATX12V compliant power supplies to support 'future products'.

To quote the document:

"ATX/ATX12V Power Supply Design Guide
Version 1.0 (Public Release)
New +12 V power connector. To enable the delivery of more +12 VDC current to the motherboard, a new 4-pin receptacle/header combination, the +12 V power connector has been defined. The presence of the +12 V power connector indicates that a power supply is ATX12V; the absence of the +12 V power connector indicates that a supply is ATX. See Sections 3.2.3.2 and 4.5 for details on the +12 V power connector.

"Copyright 2000 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved.
Version 1.0 (Public Release), February 2000."

So there you are, Intel. The next time someone asks you about this, you'll have the facts at your fingertips. ®