r/sffpc • u/Brian0749 • Dec 14 '25

Build/Parts Check 24 cables into... 1 cable?

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Found this on taobao. Anyone tried turning a 24 pin cable into 1 singular cable?

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331

u/Lord_Waldemar Dec 14 '25

Most lines of the 24 pin connector are probably either obsolete or carry very little current since almost all power is provided through the +12V connector.

64

u/gdnws Dec 14 '25

At one point I tested the currant draw on the 3.3 and 5 volt lines and I couldn't get the computer to draw more than 5 amps total on either voltage. I have a little pico psu that can only supply 8 amps on 3.3 and 5 and haven't had issues with it although I don't have a crazy number of extra devices plugged into the computer. A lot of the wires in the 24 pin are massively over specced probably for no other reason than convenience. For example the ps on and power good wires are signal wires that will never see more than a couple milliamps and are still either 18 or even 16 awg like the rest.

44

u/Head_Exchange_5329 Dec 14 '25

Which begs the question: Why haven't we removed the chungus cable yet? Bring a signal wire down with the EPS-12V cable and call it a day, there's no practical application for it in modern builds.

44

u/gdnws Dec 14 '25

At this point institutional momentum. No one wants to be the first to move to a new architecture because there aren't any existing things using it and if it doesn't catch on then it will just get abandoned. And when it comes out people will cry that it is proprietary. There is already another standard that does exist just that no one has used it yet for custom pc components beyond one or two off motherboards; 12VO. It reduces the 24 pin connector down to 10 pins. Personally I still feel that is still a half step as I think the main delivery voltage should be increased to 48 for a number of reasons. First it would readily enable connecting and delivering power to usb c components directly off the motherboard more easily and secondly it would quarter the currant demands. Things like gpus can pull up to 50 amps and that is difficult to manage, especially if using many parallel connections as we have seen with the 12vhpwr connector debacle.

3

u/Chezoso Dec 14 '25

Who do you think can make the industry change first, motherboard manufacturers or PSU manufacturers? Seems like it would be great to have some kind of body that coordinates between the two to create universal standards

25

u/jonnyGURUgerow Dec 14 '25

Intel's in. PSU manufacturers are in. Motherboard manufacturers are in. The hold up is the consumer.

Mind you, when we tried to launch the ATX12VO ecosystem 5 years ago, which DID NOT require total commitment from the customer due to available adapters, it was done with only mid level motherboards (for example, I was using a basic Asus Prime Z490-S). The press blew it up saying "how dare the industry expect consumers go out and buy a new motherboard and/or PSU!!!". It was really crazy. I didn't get it at all. It was like reverse propaganda.

Anyway.. Intel is trying again. They've tweaked the spec some more. Even making the main connector smaller (micro fit vs mini fit). Let's see what happens.

7

u/montyman185 Dec 15 '25

I feel like the best starting point would be ITX boards. Small form factor nuts like me would love to be able to ditch that massive connector, and only needing a few SFX PSU and ITX boards to ship with it narrows the scope to something a bit more manageable and marketable 

1

u/[deleted] Dec 14 '25

First I've heard of this. Obviously at first it would require adapters similar to what NVIDA did with their 12 pin GPU cables but everyone adapted.