Equivalent paperclip test for 8-pin CPU power cable?

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galvinator

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May 17, 2014
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I need to test my Corsair CX600M's in-built 8-pin cable as I suspect it may be faulty and have come across the "paperclip" test for the main 24-pin connector but I need to test the 8-pin cable and was wondering if there is an equivalent test. I don't have any other electrical testing equipment or a spare PSU to use instead so the paper clip test would be ideal for me as I can do it with what I have, but I don't know if it can be performed on the 8-pin cable.

If anyone is interested in the problem I'm having, I have a thread open elsewhere with more details:
http://www.tomshardware.co.uk/answers/id-2146802/troubleshooting-succesful-boot-install.html#13315107

Thanks!
 
Solution
Someone Somewhere
Use the paperclip test on the ATX connector.

Then grab a fan, pull the wires out of the plug, and connect the 12V wire to the yellow wires, and gnd to the black ones.

If the fan spins, it's OK.

However, it's very difficult for anything to be wrong with a particular cable on a PSU.
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Someone Somewhere

Someone Somewhere

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Sep 23, 2012
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Use the paperclip test on the ATX connector.

Then grab a fan, pull the wires out of the plug, and connect the 12V wire to the yellow wires, and gnd to the black ones.

If the fan spins, it's OK.

However, it's very difficult for anything to be wrong with a particular cable on a PSU.
 
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Solution
InvalidError

InvalidError

Titan
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May 18, 2007
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In most PSUs, all the 12V outputs come off the same output rectifiers. The only difference between rails is that groups of output wires are on different over-current sensing circuits. If you have 12V on one wire, you have 12V on all 12V wires unless broken.
 
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galvinator

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May 17, 2014
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Thank you all very much, I suspected that the PSU unit was fine and my problem lies with the motherboard but I wanted to be able rule out the PSU lest I return the motherboard and it turns out it wasn't the problem!
 
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InvalidError

InvalidError

Titan
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The paper clip "test" only tells you whether the PSU might be completely dead or not. It tells you absolutely nothing about the output voltage quality and the dozens of factors that might influence it.

The "paper clip test" may be better than nothing but by no means proof that the PSU is operating properly... you could have a PSU spewing out garbage that fries your components that still passes this test like Diablotek units often do.
 
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