PowerLeap PL-ProMMX v6 power cable \ VOGONS

PowerLeap PL-ProMMX v6 power cable

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First post, by derFunkenstein

Posted on 2026-09-30, 16:28

derFunkenstein Offline

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Hi all! I'm new here, but not super new to retro hardware. I've long been into old Macs, but just started getting into old PCs.

I bought myself an A-Trend 430TX motherboard and a K6-2 333 MHz combo, but I did not realize that the CPU was actually a PowerLeap PL-ProMMX-R v6.0 module. The heatsink isn't super well-mounted, because it's not original, but I worked out a solution for that. The big problem is that it has a 4-pin auxiliary power connector and I have no cable. The spacing seems right for a Berg connector, but it's clear the plastic clip is not made for it, and I have no idea what the voltage/ground pinout should be.

I found the manual online (https://ardent-tool.com/CPU/PLProMMX_manual.pdf) and it doesn't give me any indication. I have not tried to fire up the motherboard yet (though I do have a Baby AT power supply and all the other parts I need to build this thing) and I'm afraid of frying something if I do without the power connected. Does anybody know how this should be arranged, or how I can get hold of a replacement?

Thanks!

Reply 1 of 6, by derFunkenstein

Posted on 2026-09-30, 16:45

derFunkenstein Offline

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I found and attached a couple photos from Yahoo Japan auctions (long since ended) that show the cable. It certainly looks like it has the Berg connector pinout. Guess I'm going to have to jump at some point. 😁

The attachment i-img1200x891-173571719190008hjyuq303624.jpg is no longer available

The attachment i-img1200x900-17767327921855xznshz35.jpg is no longer available

Reply 2 of 6, by rmay635703

Posted on 2026-09-30, 18:52

rmay635703 Offline

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That should work with a powerleap.

I could swear that board had an undocumented 2.5 volt setting meaning it should work just fine natively with 2.2 and 2.4 volt CPUs (albeit overclocked)

Reply 3 of 6, by nickles rust

Posted on 2026-09-30, 23:03

nickles rust Offline

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That connector is typically used for 3.5-thumb floppy drives. It will either use 12v or 5v to power the CPU. You may be able to look at the PCB to see which is connected. Yellow is usually 12v, red is usually 5v, and black is usually gnd.

That module should allow any of the K6 CPUs, which can clock to 6x the bus speed. If your BIOS allows, one of the "plus" versions with on-die cache will make for a nice upgrade to that board!

Reply 4 of 6, by derFunkenstein

Posted on 2026-10-01, 04:01

derFunkenstein Offline

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The updates came hard and fast tonight. First, using a Berg connector turned out to be totally fine.

Then I had boot issues. It wouldn’t boot with the motherboard cache enabled, and it was super slow without it. So I put my Pentium back in and researched BIOS updates.

Even though it’s not an Evergreen, I first tried updating from the CD in the VOGONS archive. I found out the hard way that the floppy image isn’t for the CD image. Mismatched somehow. But then I found the Evergreen BIOS archive.org page. With the help of Claude I found the specific BIOS for my Biostar 8500TVGv and flashed it in DOS.

And now everything is good! Stable with the motherboard cache, cooled efficiently by a heat sink with thermal tape and a Noiseblocker 50mm fan. Runs Quake II demos in a loop for over an hour. I call it stable.

I just wanted to document my trials and tribulations here in case it helps the next person

Reply 5 of 6, by rmay635703

Posted on 2026-10-02, 00:23

rmay635703 Offline

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What did you do with your atrend motherboard?

Reply 6 of 6, by derFunkenstein

Posted on Yesterday, 16:04

derFunkenstein Offline

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rmay635703 wrote on 2026-10-02, 00:23:

What did you do with your atrend motherboard?

I've still got it here. It does not fit my AT case correctly in that the PCI slots aren't positioned right. I can't get a card in because the edge of the slot is too close to the rear of the case. It's like a 3mm offset and the cards just physically won't fit.

Also it doesn't like the 3.5" drive cage in my particular case because the socket is right under the cage.

It's just a weird misfit board.

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