Can PSU extension cables be used "alone" as main PSU cable?

Luddy † · October 30, 2018

I have some braided extension cables for PSU and I'm wondering if I can use them alone and not as extensions directly to my PSU? What would be the consequenses?

mariushm · October 30, 2018

Yes, you can if the connectors on the power supply are the same. Often they're not.

No consequences, they're just dumb wires with a sleeve on them

NickPickerWI · October 30, 2018

No, you should not do this.

The connector on the motherboard/graphics card/molex end of a stock PSU cable has everything in the correct order. However, the connector that plugs into the PSU may follow a different pin order, with the wires crossing in the cables that come with your PSU. The wires on an extension do not cross in any way.

You risk blowing out your motherboard, graphics card or other components if you do what you're talking about doing. That's why, on sites that sell custom PSU cables (like CableMod), they have you enter what power supply you are using.