Modular power cables: all interchangeable?

[scorza]

Hey all! First time builder with a basic and possibly dumb question about PSU power cable compatibility:

I have a Corsair AX760 PSU + the blue power cable kit powering my first build. I'm thinking of getting the EVGA 1300 while it's on sale today so that I have wattage and overhead for a second 780 Ti in SLI later this summer.

Will the blue Corsair cables work fine with the EVGA PSU? Asking because the Corsair site has compatibility lists for the different PSU / cable combinations, which threw me since I thought modular cables were interchangeable...

Thanks!

 

[Pondering]

No but every modular power supplies comes with enough cables for what it can handle. So there is no need to worry about not having enough cables for what it can handle unless if the cables were misplaced.

 

[scorza]

Thanks for responding, but I should have clarified: I was hoping to keep the blue cables + the cable management job if possible...i.e. just take out the Corsair and pop in the EVGA, leaving the cables where they are?

 

[Pondering]

That won't work.

Modular cables are even different in from one series to the next from the same manufacturer.

I have no cable management at all since it is a giant case but there is no room to route cables in the back part of the case so it seems that the back panel is just there to make replacing the CPU cooler easier at least in my case. I just bundled all the unused cables and laid in on the bottom of the case. In my case with the semi modular power supply, I only used one PCI-E cable and one SATA cable but it is still a mess.

I swap out my power supplies all the time so I would go crazy if I ever bothered with cable management that involved anything more than velcro straps.

 

[scorza]

Ah drat. Thanks for answering...

So the connectors are the same, but the pinouts can be different, is that it?

 

[Pondering]

http://www.evga.com/articles/00803/

http://www.overclock.net/t/1420796/repository-of-power-supply-pin-outs

Please note that the AX860I, 1200I, and AX760I all have the same pinout!

Here is the specific information. I have no idea.

 

[BeatSynch]

Modular power cables , and pinning on the PSU side are NOT interchangeable, generally. We changed PSU from Chieftec to Corsair yesterday, assumed they were interchangeable and blew 2 HDs and a DVD-drive because 5+ and 12V are swapped at the PSU side.
Take care!!
'

 

[ryuki7]

Take it from someone who fried 3 hard drives. They are not interchangeable. I'm more partial to non-modular PSU's after that event.

 

[greenman9]

My 2 cents, This is unethical engineering! If the plugs fit across PSUs, and not to be interchanged, they should have, loud, eye catching warnings, of swapping cables!
I too, am a victim of Unethical Engineering!

 

[edavidii95]

My 2 cents, This is unethical engineering! If the plugs fit across PSUs, and not to be interchanged, they should have, loud, eye catching warnings, of swapping cables!
I too, am a victim of Unethical Engineering!

You're not a victim of "unethical engineering". You just assumed that they were interchangeable and did so without asking Google or anyone else first. Everyone makes mistakes, but don't blame your mistake on the mfgs.

I have a modular thermaltake, but am replacing it with another modular psu (evga or corsair. Thermaltake is nothing but poor QC, nightmares waiting to happen). I googled whether or not I could just swap out the psu without changing cables. Found out I can't. Mistake avoided, and I haven't even bought the new one yet.

Edit: I'm not replacing it just because it's made by thermaltake. My pc is restarting itself every time I want it to work a little harder. Temps are good, CPU works fine in another system, mobo should be fine, so it has to be the psu. I also had issues with a $170 thermaltake case. Power button broke within a few months. Cheap plastic build quality.