Question How to un-mix modular PSU cables?

[brimah87]

Hello, I've seen a lot of questions about mixing PSU cables but nothing about how to figure out which cables go with which PSU after they've been mixed up. I didn't realize it would be an issue so all of my cables got stored in the same big zip-lock bag and now I have no idea how to tell which ones are supposed to go with which PSU. I probably have cables from my new PSU in my old one, and maybe even old cables in my new PSU.

The cables are unmarked/unlabeled and look the same, except for some have different empty "placeholder" pins (not sure what the terminology is). For reference my old PSU is a Corsair CX750M, however it doesn't look like the CX750M that is for sale on Newegg. Based on the specs of the CX750M online, it is a 750 watt 80+ bronze, but like I said mine looks different and I don't remember what it is. The new one is a Rosewill Hive-1000s 1000 watt 80+ bronze.

I guess my first question is if the cables are compatible, the CX750M is only partially modular, the Motherboard and CPU power aren't detachable, but I think some of the others are different. The second question is, if they're not compatible, how the hell am I supposed to know which cables came with which PSU?

Thanks!

 

[--SID--]

The pinout at the end of the cable is always the same. Measure the voltage of the pins at the end of the cable. Does it differ from the ATX standard, you have the wrong cable.

 

[USAFRet]

The pinout at the end of the cable is always the same. Measure the voltage of the pins at the end of the cable. Does it differ from the ATX standard, you have the wrong cable.

The component end is the same. ATX.

The PSU end usually is not.

Thats what causes problems.

 

[brimah87]

Hi thank you. I've seen on other threads that the PSU side of the cables are what differs. If I plug in the cables to the PSU and do a voltage test on the other sides, what am I looking for? How do I find out what voltage values correspond to the correct cables for the PSU I am testing?

 

[punkncat]

Something I recently learned from Corsair is that they will label the cables (on modern units) somewhere as "Type #". Both of the SF PSU I have from them are all labeled Type 4, and thus will work interchangeably.

 

[USAFRet]

Hi thank you. I've seen on other threads that the PSU side of the cables are what differs. If I plug in the cables to the PSU and do a voltage test on the other sides, what am I looking for? How do I find out what voltage values correspond to the correct cables for the PSU I am testing?

That won't work.

Unless you have a real PSU tester ($$$$), it won't power up properly without a valid load.

 

[brimah87]

That won't work.

Unless you have a real PSU tester ($$$$), it won't power up properly without a valid load.

I see, so is there any other way to determine which cables go with which PSU?

 

[USAFRet]

I see, so is there any other way to determine which cables go with which PSU?

Aside from printed labeling on the cables, I can't think of anything.

 

[brimah87]

Aside from printed labeling on the cables, I can't think of anything.

Rosewill tech support said there isn't a way to tell which is which, still waiting to see if Corsair can be more helpful. Rosewill won't even provide a pinout diagram so I can check if the cables are compatible.

But lets say I can't figure it out, would incompatible cables cause problems immediately? In other words, does the fact that my build has been working for a couple of hours mean that I don't have an electrical issue? Or could it take some time before something bad happens?

 

[USAFRet]

But lets say I can't figure it out, would incompatible cables cause problems immediately?

Well, you might see a small mushroom cloud out of the top of your PC.

Or you may not yet have stressed the system enough.

 

[stonecarver]

What are all the multiple pins on PSU connectors for? How does a 24-pin MB connector work exactly?

I'm looking to learn more about power requirements and such that a Power Supply/Computer work with. I see this image and it has a lot of different pin layouts for various things and such. For a ...

electronics.stackexchange.com

Chase them down and verify with a volt meter.

 

[brimah87]

So Corsair customer support, after some frustrating exchanges, told me that their cables are labeled, as "punkncat" said above, with "Type 3" or "Type 4", etc. The newer cables apparently have the labels in relief molded into the surface of the connecters, mine don't have those. But after looking closely I saw that they were labeled in white letters printed onto the connector, however mine are so old that the print was almost completely worn off. This print is on the PSU side of the cable.

Now that I know which cables are the Corsair cables, I see they do have letters molded into the plastic, but on my cables the letters read "TUV" "CST" and some symbol that differs depending on the cable. This symbol looks like it has a backwards "R" in it.

My Corsair cables can also be distinguished from the Rosewill ones from the presence of lines molded into the plastic of the PSU side connector, opposite of the clip running parallel to the pins. This raised lines (or ridges I guess they could be called, whatever the opposite of a groove is) are a single line, a double line, and a triple line.

Corsiar cables are also slightly thicker than Rosewill ones.

Finally, my Rosewill cables have white lettering printed onto the cables, they're hard to read but look something like:

E525572 C"backwards-R-symbol" AWM I A I8AWG 80"degrees-symbol"C 300V VW-1 C"backwards-R-symbol" AWM I A I8AWG 80"degrees-symbol"C 300V VLB

Not sure if this will help anyone else, unless they specifically are looking to tell the difference between Corsair CX750M and Rosewill HIVE 1000s cables.