How To Correctly Insert Cables into your PSU

With every build you will need to connect your PSU cables, so it’s important you know how to do this to ensure there are no nasty surprises down the line with improperly connected cables.

Often these are fit and forget. After all, how often you do you unplug the cables from your PSU? The answer is not very often. So, it’s important to make sure you get it right the first time.

This is especially important if you're connecting 12V-2x6 / 12VHPWR cables to the PSU, as these types of cables require a very secure fit.

Firstly, you want to make sure know which cables go into which connection on your PSU and motherboard.

Today though we are going to focus on one cable particular, the 8-Pin PCIe cable. Depending on which PSU you are using the connector will vary, but overall they follow the same principle.

To start with, you need to make sure that the PSU is supported. So either screwed into the case, or you can fit the cables with the PSU out of the case. For this it’s always worth supporting the power supply to make sure they cables seat securely.

Now your PSU is supported, you can now start plugging in the cables. But how should you hold them?

These are all bad examples of how to hold the cable you're connecting, when you go to seat the connector the cable will flex and you will not be able to put enough pressure onto the connector for it to click into place securely.

Below is the best way to connect the cable into your PSU, by holding the connector, this means you can ensure it seats fully and you should even feel it click into place when you do this, which is a great way to be sure its connected properly.

Why does this happen? It could be as shown above the cable not being held correctly meaning it wont engage into the connector fully.

But there are other reasons which we will explore. Did you know that PSU cables have what is known as Keying? This means the ports are designed for one cable only, but much like pushing a round peg into a square hole, you can force the wrong cable into the wrong connector which you must avoid. Lets look at an 8-pin PCIe cable as an example.

Basically all PSU cables have these notches, or keying. This is on both the cable and PSU. This should mean only that one cable fits that connection. But again you need to check the cable and connector for debris, obstructions, misaligned pins, or damage which may prevent it from going in and making a secure connection. Often the cause is another cable or a cable tie. Both can easily happen if working in a confined space.

Make sure you hold the PSU cables securely as mentioned. So it may be worth planning ahead and attaching the PSU cables before you fit your PSU if you won't be able to easily access them once it is fitted. The chief benefit of the RMx SHIFT PSUs is that the cables stay accessible even when the PSU is installed. So, consider one of these if you want to make your life way easier.

If the cable does not fit nicely, don't force it. Check the connector and pins for damage or misalignment. Also remember that if you are holding the cable you can actually move the pins slightly out of alignment which can stop them fitting, which is why holding the connector block and not the cable is important.