Power delivery to these devices has increased in successive generations of PC components, as their higher signal sophistication and speed requirements have raised their electrical demands. The same style of connector, in single or paired 4-, 6-, or 8-pin configurations, may be used for additional CPU power and graphics card power. connector may be used on ATX motherboards as the main power connector. In 20/24-pin configurations, the Mini-Fit Jr. Molex has since discontinued the 8981 series, but the original Mate-n-Lok connectors remain available from TE Connectivity. The Molex 8981 series was only produced in a 4 position option, unlike the Mate-n-Lok family which includes many other contact arrangements. In 1983, Molex introduced the 8981 connector under the trademark Disk Drive Power Connection System, which was fully compatible with the AMP Mate-n-Lok connector.

This connector became the standard for 5.25-inch format peripherals such as hard drives and was used until introduction of SATA drives. The first 5.25-inch floppy disk drive, the Shugart SA400, introduced in August 1976, used the AMP Mate-n-Lok connector part number 350211-1. Both were widely used in the computer industry and the term 'Molex connector' is often inaccurately used to refer to all nylon plugs and receptacles. The AMP connector was similar to the patented Molex connectors but not interchangeable. In October 1963, AMP (now TE Connectivity) introduced the Mate-n-Lok connector. Molex Disk Drive Power Connection System tool and connectors Because the pins have a large contact surface area and fit tightly, these connectors are typically used for power. The 1.57 mm pin can carry 5 A of current, while the 2.36 mm can carry 8.5 A. Pins and sockets can be arranged in any combination in a single housing, and each housing can be either male or female. The connector typically has 2 to 24 contacts and is polarized or keyed to ensure correct orientation. The pins and sockets are held in a rectangular matrix in a nylon shell. In such a connector, cylindrical spring-metal pins fit into cylindrical spring-metal sockets. First used in home appliances, other industries soon began designing it into their products from automobiles to vending machines to mini-computers. Molex developed and patented the first examples of this connector style in the late 1950s and early 1960s.

Pioneered by Molex Connector Company, the two-piece design became an early electronic standard. Molex connector is the vernacular term for a two-piece pin and socket interconnection. AMP Mate-n-Lok and Molex Standard 0.093-inch pin and socket power connectors

4 pin fan pinout brown blue