EVGA PSU pinout change - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: NiHaoMike
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2024, 12:41:24 pm
content: https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/power-supplies/evga-power-supply-allegedly-blows-up-22tb-of-customer-storage-revised-model-from-rma-had-a-different-pin-layout-and-killed-all-sata-powered-devicesQuote

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2024, 12:47:21 pm
content: Wow. That's particularly braindead to not just change the pin functions (which is bad enough in itself) but to then ship a unit requiring the new cables when they know full well it's replacing an old one where he still has those cables,andnot then shipping the right ones with it (along with a WARNING note)... it's almost deliberate.

author: Ranayna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2024, 12:57:57 pm
content: Ooof. I have heard about different pinouts for different models in the same series of power supplies.But changing it within the same model? That is bad.

author: BrokenYugo
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 25, 2024, 01:15:37 pm
content: Typical gamer pc stuff more concerned with appearance than function meets modern corporate cheapassery. Pretty impressive screw up* but I'm not surprised.*They missed the opportunity to also change the connector slightly to force sales of a bunch more cable assemblies that don't break things. Major failure in the quest for more money.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2024, 01:51:58 am
content: Never was a fan of PSUs with detachable cables anyway... except those with standard Molex connectors of the opposite gender, and the expected correct pinout.

author: AVGresponding
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: March 27, 2024, 08:21:22 am
content: Detachable cables for PC PSUs are a great idea, for reducing the clutter inside the box. I use one myself, though not an EVGA. Molex connectors are dogshit.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 02:58:15 am
content: QuoteSo they colour all of the wires black and change the pinout making it difficult to identify. When I saw this practice starting out some years ago I always thought that was a very stupid idea asking for trouble and avoided them like that. I always want to know the colours associated with the voltages so I can see what I am doing, easily identify, trace and measure the outputs if I suspect something isn't right.If the colours were different between the modular wires that he had and a picture of the power supply with the correct leads that would have said something wasn't correct.If they are going to start messing about with the colours and pinouts better not buy a modular on. Then at least you know that the connectors that are fixed will always be the same if it had to go back and no accidentally plugging the wrong connector in as manufacturers who do this can no longer be trusted to detail pinouts, colour code the cables and keep track of what they changed when handling RMA's for older models.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 06:51:41 am
content: QuoteIt may have given a clue, but he could easily put it down as a change due to aesthetic fad. Whatshouldhave been done is to change the connector so incompatible cables could not be connected regardless of colour.It would be bad enough if it were a different model of PSU, but for them to do it with the same model is just gob-smacking.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 12:23:20 pm
content: That has got to be the least they could do then the customer knows straight away when they find it doesn't fit rather than damage their kit.I had in the past brought some off different manufacturers (when I couldn't find from the same manufacturer) with the same plug and fitting and changed the wires around and they worked without a problem.One of them was for a second hand Enermax Revolution 87+ 850 Watt Power Supply and it had this 5 inline connector for the SATA connectors and found I needed some more but couldn't find that exact same one selling for Enermax so I found one from OCZ with the same connector and just needed to change the wires around.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 01, 2024, 02:53:02 pm
content: I just found this:https://gadgetmates.com/are-modular-power-supply-cables-universal-interchangeable#:~:text=StickWith Your Brand/Model,looks like it would fit).QuoteReading this and I thinking I need a sanity check. It is a frigging cable with a standard pin and connector. Colour codes to help identify what voltage it is for (until they made them black) and thickness or size of cable to take in consideration for things with high power draw like GPU's.QuoteThat's because they made them like that, all black or to one colour to make it difficult to identify.I see high end/high wattage OEM ATX power supplies still using colours so I might consider those and even though they may not be braided at least I have the benefit of identifying what colour cable is for.I can't tell if this is out of stupidity, requests from consumers (below) or deliberately done which also sounds to me like the case with the way that author was writing about it. I see the majority are all like that with all black cables.https://forums.tomshardware.com/threads/power-supplies-with-black-cables.2297442/QuoteThose ugly coloured ones are coloured for a reason did it not occur to them.I also noticed they make them flat all the way instead of putting a braid around them. What if they get caught and pinched as on the door or metal in the case as opposed to a loose lot in a braid.QuoteI didn't think the manufacturers would care whether the pin out was standardized or not and this is when they colour coded the cables as any cable that may fit may show a different colour arrangement and if the fitter happened to be paying attention, noticed it and they'd have that benefit to investigate further instead of blindy or no possibility to see where they'd have to think about getting a volt meter out. I am surprised when they cared to colour the cables to one colour and not bother to make their own "proprietary" connector to go with it so it don't fit on others as PlainName pointed out.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2024, 03:21:43 am
content: HW News - EVGA Responds, Apple Sued by US, ASUS ROG Ally Price Drop, RTX 50 RumorsGamers Nexus2.17M subscribers 355,183 views27 Mar 2024QuoteLooks like they explained the issue and compensated the customer.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2024, 07:36:03 am
content: Looks to me like they noticed the shit hitting the fan and got out some wet wipes.

author: Ranayna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2024, 11:57:53 am
content: Yes, at least they did the minimum required to reimburse the customer.And i hope they have had a *very* stern talk to their OEM.All the color coding of cables and keying of connectors will not help if someone down the line changes the design without notification.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 10, 2024, 12:53:36 pm
content: QuoteThinking about it, that's probably the legal minimum - I am sure they could be sued for damages in this kind of case, so they are lucky the customer complained to the media rather than going down that route first.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 12, 2024, 01:53:52 pm
content: Quote from: Ranayna on April 10, 2024, 11:57:53 amI see so they changed the pinouts in a way where they didn't take enough care and wouldn't have checked to assign the correct pin outs if they were colour coded. The staff working there at the time might not have known about this change and could have sent that power supply with an older set of colour coded cables if the customer happened to notice no change and nothing would look amiss.Louise Rossman said something about that it would be unreasonable to expect their customers to check their stuff using a volt meter.

author: Ranayna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: April 15, 2024, 09:34:58 am
content: Quote from: MrMobodies on April 12, 2024, 01:53:52 pmEVGA didn't even send a new set of cables.In the standard RMA process, the customer does not send the cables back. Saves on shipping cost, and the cables are almost never an issue, unless connectors melted or something.So without new cables, with the explicit instruction by the manufacturer to keep the existing cables, would anyone check voltages?That is why this issue was obviously EVGAs fault.

author: ktulu
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: August 16, 2024, 11:00:27 am
content: Hi.Does anybody have/know by any chance the pinout for the Be Quiet! STRAIGHT POWER 11 750W PC power supply connectors? It is a fully modular one. I'm mainly interested in the 20 and 8 pin motherboard connectors.https://www.bequiet.com/en/powersupply/1359Thanks.

author: helius
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2024, 07:27:10 am
content: Play stupid game(r)s, win stupid prizes. There's a whole argot of mysterious phrases spoken in the PC-building community. "Molex connectors" as if it made sense to refer to a connector style by the name of a company that doesn't make that style of connector. "DuPont connectors" are another infamous example.Quote from: MrMobodies on April 01, 2024, 02:58:15 amThe colors of wires in ribbon cables do not indicate voltages or anything other than pin sequence. Brown-red-orange-yellow-green-blue-violet-gray-white-black. When cables are made of individual hook-up wire, wire color can be more descriptive. But whether the cables are colored or not is irrelevant to the assignment of the pins inside the unit.The signal failure in this case is not providing a legend on the unit notating pin functions. If this was standard practice (as it is on industrial equipment) then the latest poster would also know the answer to their question.

author: Ranayna
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2024, 11:35:19 am
content: Quote from: helius on August 20, 2024, 07:27:10 amI count myself as a member of the PC Buidling community.And yes, i have always used the name "Molex-Connector" when refering to the old style hardisk power connector. And even if i know better now, i will continue to use that term in the context of PC building. If i start calling it an AMP Connector (as that is as far as i know one of the true manufacturers), no one would know what i mean.But indeed i was always somewhat curious why that name stuck. It has been in use for at least 20 years i would estimate, if not for as long as that connector exists.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2024, 01:10:18 pm
content: Perhaps it easily identified one connector from the many others with similar characteristics.

author: MrMobodies
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 20, 2024, 06:10:36 pm
content: Quote from: helius on August 20, 2024, 07:27:10 amI can see that generally but I should have been more specific. Pretty much most the ATX power supplies and I mean the drive connectors and even GPU I have seen (except for Dells that had the same connector and a few really old ones) had Yellow (12v), Black (Ground) and Red (5v) and orange if on sata cable 3v until they went all black.I know they could vary on other connectors but I meant for the drives.

author: amyk
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2024, 02:07:15 am
content: ...and people still don't learn or listen to the news, apparently:https://old.reddit.com/r/PcBuildHelp/comments/1esltd5/did_i_just_fry_every_component_by_using_incorrect/Does anyone have the actual two pinouts which changed?Quote from: ktulu on August 16, 2024, 11:00:27 amDo you not have the PSU? Best to check directly with a multimeter (even a cheap one is perfectly fine for this purpose), as the title of this topic evidences!

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 21, 2024, 02:22:06 am
content: Quote from: Ranayna on April 15, 2024, 09:34:58 amEspecially considering the replacement was of the "same" model. I've got burnt on it about 15 years ago when had two different modular PSUs with apparently compatible cables. Turned out not at all as HDD cables had same the connectors but different pinout on PSU side. Thankfully it resulted in just shorted TVS diode on HDD PCB with no other damage.

author: PlainName
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 21, 2024, 06:37:05 am
content: Not only the 'same' model but the blanking contact is in the same place too! Wouldn't've taken 30 secs to move to another position so the cables couldn't physically be swapped.