Which PSU cables go where?

Building a PC is mostly easy, and once you have all the components in hand, the fun part begins. Connecting all the cables from your power supply is an essential part of your building experience, but can sometimes be a bit overwhelming when it comes to plugs that look similar but are actually completely different. All connectors are keyed, so theoretically you cannot connect anything wrong.

Let's take a look at it together so you can be sure you have the right plug for the right socket when it comes to connecting a power supply to your mainboard, graphics card and other components such as iCUE Link System Hub controllers or SSDs.

The 24-pin ATX connector is the most important connector for powering your motherboard. It has a latch to ensure that it is properly seated and locks into place when fully inserted. Make sure the latch is facing the right way when you plug it in and that it is fully seated. To remove the connector, press the latch and pull the connector out of the socket.

Depending on the motherboard you are using, it may use a combination of 4-pin, 4-pin and 8-pin, or even two 8-pin connectors to provide additional power to your system's processors. If you have two 8-pin connectors, you should check your motherboard's manual to see if you really need to connect both, as this may only be necessary if you plan to overclock your processor. However, there is no downside to having both, so if you have the necessary connectors on your power supply, you can simply connect both. Make sure the latch is facing the right way when you plug it in and that it is fully seated.

If your motherboard only uses a 4-pin ATX12V connector, you can use an 8-pin EPS12V connector and simply pull it apart in the middle to split it into two 4-pin ATX12V connectors. It does not matter which one you use to connect to the 4-pin ATX12V connector on the motherboard. Again, make sure that the latch is facing the right way when you plug it in and that it is fully seated.

6-pin and 6+2-pin connectors are commonly found on graphics cards. There may be a combination of 6-pin and 8-pin connectors. Note that 8-pin connectors on video cards are NOT THE SAME as EPS12V connectors. So be sure to use the correct cable if you need a PCIe power connection. The correct cable for the 8-pin PCIe connectors on your video card is a 6-pin connector with another 2-pin connector dangling off to the side. The 2-pin connector usually has small plastic guide pieces on the side that need to be held in place next to the 6-pin portion, and then inserted into the 8-pin PCIe socket on the video card. Recently, we have seen motherboards that use PCIe connectors to provide additional power. If your motherboard requires such a PCIe connector, be sure to use a PCIe cable to connect to it. A 6+2 connector can also be used with just the 6-pin portion. The small 2-pin connector can be left unconnected under these circumstances.

The 12V-2x6 connector is found on NVIDIA graphics cards as well as on CORSAIR PSUs, such as the RMx Series and RMe Series. Other CORSAIR PSUs will come with the necessary cable to connect your graphics card with a 12V-2x6 connector.

SATA power connectors are typically used for HDDs, SSDs, or RGB and fan controllers. On a power supply you will sometimes find the straight or angled kind. If your device, like the CORSAIR iCUE COMMANDER CORE XT Smart RGB Lighting and Fan Speed Controller, requires a SATA power connector for power, you can use any of the available connectors on your power supply. The connector is keyed, so that you can only connect it only in one way.

The Molex connector is often used for older devices such as older hard drives, CD/DVD drives, or some case fans. In modern systems, it is hard to find a device that relies on Molex power. As this power connector becomes more of a legacy power source, power supplies may or may not be shipped with it. The connector can only be plugged in one way and can sometimes be quite tricky to insert and even remove.