As a computer user, you may have heard about the importance of a reliable power supply unit (PSU) for your PC. It is, after all, the component that provides the necessary wattage to power all the other parts, such as the CPU, graphics card, and storage drives, to name a few.

But have you ever wondered what those cables that come out of your PSU are for? Well, let’s take a closer look at the various types of power cables found in a typical PC power supply.

Motherboard Power Connectors

The motherboard power connectors, also known as the main power connectors, are the most important cables in your PSU. They come in two variants: the 24-pin ATX connector and the 8-pin EPS connector. The former provides power to the motherboard’s main circuits such as the CPU, chipset, and memory, while the latter is designed specifically for the CPU’s power requirements.

Graphics Card Power Connectors

If you’re running a discrete graphics card, you’ll need additional power to feed it. Modern GPUs require different amounts of power, but the most common power connector types are the 6-pin PCIe and the 8-pin PCIe connectors. These cables are crucial to ensure that your graphics card functions properly, especially under heavy loads.

Peripheral Power Connectors

If you have any other components that require power, such as hard drives, solid state drives, optical drives, and fans, you’ll need to use peripheral power connectors. These come in different variations, including SATA power connectors for storage drives, Molex connectors for legacy components, and fan connectors for cooling fans.

Modular Power Supplies

In recent years, power supplies have become more customizable with the introduction of modular cables. This feature allows you to connect only the cables that you need, reducing clutter and improving airflow inside your PC case. Modular cables can come in any of the three types mentioned above, depending on the component that requires power.