{"id":498443,"date":"2022-10-05T15:30:00","date_gmt":"2022-10-05T12:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/upgrading-your-psu-dont-reuse-the-cables\/"},"modified":"2022-10-05T15:30:00","modified_gmt":"2022-10-05T12:30:00","slug":"upgrading-your-psu-dont-reuse-the-cables","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/upgrading-your-psu-dont-reuse-the-cables\/","title":{"rendered":"#Upgrading Your PSU? Don\u2019t Reuse the Cables"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_84 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2e9df953977\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a2e9df953977\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-1'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/upgrading-your-psu-dont-reuse-the-cables\/#%E2%80%9CUpgrading_Your_PSU_Dont_Reuse_the_Cables%E2%80%9D\" >&#8220;Upgrading Your PSU? Don\u2019t Reuse the Cables&#8221;<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-2' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/upgrading-your-psu-dont-reuse-the-cables\/#Modular_Cables_Arent_Universal\" >Modular Cables Aren\u2019t Universal<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/upgrading-your-psu-dont-reuse-the-cables\/#How_to_Avoid_Modular_PSU_Cable_Catastrophe\" >How to Avoid Modular PSU Cable Catastrophe<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/upgrading-your-psu-dont-reuse-the-cables\/#When_In_Doubt_Replace_the_Cables\" >When In Doubt, Replace the Cables<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/upgrading-your-psu-dont-reuse-the-cables\/#Keep_Your_Unused_Cables_Together\" >Keep Your Unused Cables Together<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/upgrading-your-psu-dont-reuse-the-cables\/#Identify_the_Pinout_of_Your_Cables_by_Brand\" >Identify the Pinout of Your Cables by Brand<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/upgrading-your-psu-dont-reuse-the-cables\/#Identifying_the_Cables_by_Pinout_Testing\" >Identifying the Cables by Pinout Testing<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h1><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"%E2%80%9CUpgrading_Your_PSU_Dont_Reuse_the_Cables%E2%80%9D\"><\/span>&#8220;Upgrading Your PSU? Don\u2019t Reuse the Cables&#8221;<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h1>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"type:primaryImage wp-image-834044 size-full\" data-pagespeed-no-defer=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/PSUPSA2..jpg?width=1198&amp;trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"A PSU sparking because of crossed wires.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/short-circuit-causing-sparking-caused-by-1739619152\" data-credittext=\"WIROJE PATHI\/Shutterstock.com\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"type:primaryImage imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/short-circuit-causing-sparking-caused-by-1739619152\">WIROJE PATHI\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Many PSUs come with modular cables, and it would be easy to reuse your old cables when sw<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>ing out your PSU, right? Except doing so can fry your build. Here\u2019s why.<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Modular_Cables_Arent_Universal\"><\/span>Modular Cables Aren\u2019t Universal<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>Many cables inside your PC are standardized. Fan headers, Molex drive connectors, the 24-pin Molex header for motherboard power connections, and so on all use a common standard. The way individual wires are laid out in the cable and the connector is referred to as the \u201cpinout.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019ve ever seen a diagram of any sort of plug that labels the individual pins, sockets, or contacts as \u201c+5V\u201d or \u201cGND\u201d you\u2019re looking at a pinout diagram telling you which part of the connector does what.<\/p>\n<p>Surprisingly, however, pinouts are not standardized on modular PSUs except to whatever internal standard the manufacturer chooses to use\u2014and without testing the pins you\u2019d never know.<\/p>\n<p>While a particular +5v pin is always in the same location on a standard ATX power motherboard connector\u2014known as the \u201cdevice side\u201d of the cable\u2014it might not be in the same location on the port located on the PSU unit itself.<\/p>\n<p>What does that mean exactly, and why is it problematic? It means that the modular cables that come with one PSU are \u201cpinned\u201d to match the pinout of that PSU and not <em>every<\/em> modular PSU.<\/p>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-834294 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/PSUPSA3..jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"The back of a modular power supply unit.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" data-credittext=\"NZXT\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\">That modular cable warning is there for a reason. <span class=\"imagecredit\">NZXT<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If you simply unplug the PSU-side of cables from the PSU (while leaving them attached to your motherboard, GPU, and other components) and drop in the new PSU, you can effectively \u201cscramble\u201d the pinout pattern sending 12v of power to a pin that the hardware expects 5v or the power on the wire to a pin the motherboard expects to be a ground, and so on.<\/p>\n<p>Every 24-pin ATX power cable will have three +12v pins and a -12v pin, for instance, but depending on the manufacturer, those pins could be anywhere in the 2\u00d712 grid of pinouts in the connector.<\/p>\n<p>In the best-case scenario, the pinouts on the modular cables from your old PSU and the new PSU match, and everything works great.<\/p>\n<p>In the worse, but not catastrophic, scenario, the computer simply fails to boot or operate as expected, but there is no permanent damage.<\/p>\n<p>This can be particularly frustrating because it is the start of a long troubleshooting process where the cause of your problem isn\u2019t im<a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">media<\/a>tely apparent. A particular component might turn on because it has power but function erratically because it is undervolted.<\/p>\n<p>And in the worst-case scenario, you boot up your computer with the pin-swapped configuration and fry one or more of your components.<\/p>\n<p>This is exactly why you\u2019ll often find warnings printed right on the back of the PSU with text like \u201cDo not use modular cables from other power supplies\u201d or \u201cDesigned for use with genuine Corsair Type 4 cable sets only.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2 role=\"heading\" aria-level=\"2\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_Avoid_Modular_PSU_Cable_Catastrophe\"><\/span>How to Avoid Modular PSU Cable Catastrophe<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<figure style=\"width: 1200px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-834040 size-full\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/PSUPSA1..jpg?trim=1,1&amp;bg-color=000&amp;pad=1,1\" alt=\"A closeup of a modular PSU cable.\" width=\"1200\" height=\"675\" data-crediturl=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/8-pin-contacts-power-supply-wire-2080534039\" data-credittext=\"daniiD\/Shutterstock.com\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-caption-text\"><span class=\"imagecredit\"><a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.shutterstock.com\/image-photo\/8-pin-contacts-power-supply-wire-2080534039\">daniiD\/Shutterstock.com<\/a><\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>If reading the prior section has you a bit nervous, here\u2019s how to avoid a crossed-wire situation altogether\u2014whether you\u2019re looking to prevent it from happening in the future or deal with a mess you have right now.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_In_Doubt_Replace_the_Cables\"><\/span>When In Doubt, Replace the Cables<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>The easiest way to avoid problems is simply to take the time to replace the power cables when you are replacing the PSU. In fact, any time this is an option, you should do it\u2014no further reading is required. Use the new cables that came with the new PSU.<\/p>\n<p>You save yourself an enormous potential headache by just spending five extra minutes wrangling with your cable management and swapping the cables.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Keep_Your_Unused_Cables_Together\"><\/span>Keep Your Unused Cables Together<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>When you buy a new PSU, clearly label the cables you have. When I do a new build, I usually don\u2019t keep all the boxes for all the components, but I do keep the PSU box.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s decently sized, sturdy enough to store random accessory bits from the rest of the build, and, most importantly, I can keep all the unused modular cables in a box clearly marked with the PSU they belong to.<\/p>\n<p>Even just putting the PSU manual and the cables in a gallon Zip-Loc bag is an improvement over tossing them in a drawer or random box.<\/p>\n<p>This way, should you reuse the PSU in a different build or pass it on to a friend, all the cables for that PSU are in one place.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Identify_the_Pinout_of_Your_Cables_by_Brand\"><\/span>Identify the Pinout of Your Cables by Brand<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>While using the cables that came with the PSU is the most foolproof way to approach the problem, let\u2019s say you\u2019re trying to figure out which cables are compatible. Perhaps you\u2019re sorting through the bin of miscellaneous cables in your workshop or or you bought a new GPU and now you need that cable you put to the side\u2014but it needs to be the right one.<\/p>\n<p>Some modular cables have the name and function printed on or stamped into the connector\u2019s plastic plug like \u201cType 3\u201d to refer to Corsair Type 3 cable pinouts. That\u2019s fairly rare though, and often times if there is any labeling it is more like \u201cPCI-E\u201d or \u201cCPU\u201d which tells you what the cable is for but nothing about the pinout pattern.<\/p>\n<p>If you know, the model number of your old PSU and you are certain that the cables in question came with that PSU (either because they\u2019re currently attached to it still or the only spares you have could only belong to that unit) you can always look up the model with a Google search and find out what the pinout is. You can also contact the manufacturer, and they\u2019ll send you a pinout list or diagram.<\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Identifying_the_Cables_by_Pinout_Testing\"><\/span>Identifying the Cables by Pinout Testing<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p>Actually testing your PSU and your cable pinouts isn\u2019t difficult. You can do it the easy-peasy way with a cable tester, or you can do it the relatively easy (but more certainly more hands-on way) with a multimeter.<\/p>\n<div class=\"product-box  \">\n<div class=\"product-img product-img-noaward\">\n<a rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\" aria-hidden=\"true\" tabindex=\"-1\" role=\"presentation\" href=\"https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/gp\/product\/B076CLNPPK\/?tag=lsmedia-11276-20\" onclick=\"fbq('track', 'Buy Button'); if (fb_t_convert){fb_t_convert();}\"><br \/>\n<img decoding=\"async\" data-pagespeed-lazy-src=\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/41l+vox+iyL._SL160_.jpg\" height=\"147px\" width=\"150px\" alt=\"\" role=\"presentation\" src=\"\/pagespeed_static\/1.JiBnMqyl6S.gif\" onload=\"pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\" onerror=\"this.onerror=null;pagespeed.lazyLoadImages.loadIfVisibleAndMaybeBeacon(this);\"\/><br \/>\n<\/a>\n<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>If you have an unlabeled modular cable in your parts bin that you plan on using, you really must test it to ensure the cable relays the correct voltages and pinouts to the device-end of the cable. Anything else is just a dice roll and not worth the potential damage to your hardware.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p><script>\n setTimeout(function(){\n  !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s)\n  {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?\n  n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};\n  if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';\n  n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;\n  t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];\n  s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s) } (window, document,'script',\n  'https:\/\/connect.facebook.net\/en_US\/fbevents.js');\n   fbq('init', '335401813750447');\n   fbq('track', 'PageView');\n  },3000);\n<\/script><\/p>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMLG0nwswvr63Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\">For forums sites go to <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/forum.buradabiliyorum.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forum.BuradaBiliyorum.Com<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Technology category.<\/a><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/833243\/psa-upgrading-your-psu-dont-reuse-the-cables\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;Upgrading Your PSU? Don\u2019t Reuse the Cables&#8221; WIROJE PATHI\/Shutterstock.com Many PSUs come with modular cables, and it would be easy to reuse your old cables when swapping out your PSU, right? Except doing so can fry your build. Here\u2019s why. Modular Cables Aren\u2019t Universal Many cables inside your PC are standardized. Fan headers, Molex drive&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":498444,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.howtogeek.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/PSUPSA2..jpg?height=200p&trim=2,2,2,2","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-498443","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/498443","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=498443"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/498443\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/498444"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=498443"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=498443"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=498443"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}