Should I reject a free PSU?

[NeoIsBad]

Just dropped like 700 bucks on PC parts to build one from scratch for the first time.

 

A friend sent me a few parts, including a PSU, which will arrive in a couple days.

 

He also sent me the message:

"The power cables in with the PSU are from more than 1 PSU...I didn't bother to sort it out, you just got them all"

 

From "tip" videos I've seen, you should never mix and match PSU cables since their output pinouts aren't standardized, and you can end up frying your components. Should I use this PSU with unlabelled, mismatched cables? I don't have a multimeter to check continuity. Is best practice just to pass on this free PSU and use my own?

[IkeaGnome]

If you don't have a multimeter, don't use them. You can get a cheap multimeter that will check conductivity. If you know the brand and model of the PSU, you can look up what pins should be what voltage then test across the cables.

https://www.amazon.com/WeePro-Vpro850L-Multimeter-Voltmeter-Continuity/dp/B07VHC1NMC/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?dchild=1&keywords=multimeter&qid=1611278004&refinements=p_36%3A1253528011&rnid=1243644011&s=hi&sr=1-1-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUE3T1hERlJFQzBERE8mZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTA1ODE5MzdIMkQ2TkEzMjU1WVkmZW5jcnlwdGVkQWRJZD1BMDkyMjczMjFGTzZYUlVZUkVBMzkmd2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGYmYWN0aW9uPWNsaWNrUmVkaXJlY3QmZG9Ob3RMb2dDbGljaz10cnVl

[Radium_Angel]

3 minutes ago, NeoIsBad said:

From "tip" videos I've seen, you should never mix and match PSU cables since their output pinouts aren't standardized, and you can end up frying your components.

This is true.

Go on, ask me how I know this.

4 minutes ago, NeoIsBad said:

Should I use this PSU with unlabelled, mismatched cables?

No, not unless you are absolutely certain you have the right cables.

[it_dont_work]

spare psu's always come in handy, especially for hobby projects, good to keep a klew around. 

 

just look up the manufacturers specs to work out which cables go with it, it's honestly not hard to check. Even if you need to check with a multimeter, once again pretty easy 

[trag1c]

I agree with@it_dont_work. Having a spare PSU is fantastic if you ever need to diagnose an issue, or if you have hobbies like embedded electronics/iot projects they work great as a power source for clean 12/5/3V power.