It happens quite often when you are not satisfied with the length of cables of your new PSU. This issue can become more problematic when you have a bigger PC or PC Case with bad cable management. The best solution to this problem is to use PSU Extension Cables or Power Supply Extension Cable Kit. These extension cables increase the length of your existing PSU Cable with the same connector in place. A PSU extension cable consists of a female connector at one end and a male connector at the other. The female connector plugs into the male connector of the existing PSU cable and the male connector of the extension cable plugs into the internal PC component. The length of PSU Cables also plays a critical role in cable management because you can route the cables more efficiently around the corners or sides without having to worry that their length may fall short. Moreover, it also adds the convenience factor when adding/removing any component or assembling/disassembling a PC, and besides functionality, PSU Extension Cables also make your build look better and more appealing.
Are PSU Extension Cables Safe to Use?
High-quality PSU Extension Cables are safe to use and do not cause power drops of any kind. Low-quality PSU Extension Cables can cause serious issues that include the risk of fire, melting of cables/connectors, sparking, power loss, components damage, and overheating of the components or the cable itself. It may also cause your Power Supply Unit (PSU) to explode during high loads. So, selecting the right and high-quality PSU Extension Cable Kit is very important for the well-being of your PC components.
PSU Extension Cables vs Modular Cables Difference
PSU Extension Cables should not be confused with modular cables that come with modular power supply units. PSU Extension Cables are only used as an extension to the original or existing PSU cables to increase their length. PSU Extension Cables have female to male connectors where the female connector plugs into the male connector of the original PSU Cable and the male connector of the PSU Extension Cables plugs into the component’s female connector.
On the other hand, modular cables are male-to-male connectors where one special male connector goes into the PSU side female connector and the other male connector goes into the component. Do not ever plug PSU Extension Cable directly into the female connector of the modular PSU because you will end up damaging your PSU and the component. Always plug the female connectors of the PSU Extension Cables into the male connector of the original/modular PSU Cables and the male connector of the PSU Extension Cable into the component’s female connector.
PSU Extension Cables | PSU Modular Cables | |
End Connectors | Male to Female | Male to Male |
Connectivity | To Original/Existing PSU Cables (Modular or Non-Modular) | Into the Modular PSU Female Ports |
Use / Function | Extends the length of Original PSU Cables and Provide Power to Components | Provides Power to Components |
Availability | Aftermarket / Does not come with PSU | Comes with PSU / Aftermarket also available for some PSU models |
Note: It should be noted that most PSU Extension Cables Kits are available only for the motherboard (24 pin), CPU EPS (8 pin/4+4 pin), and PCIe (6+2 pin) connector cables.
What to look for in a PSU Extension Cable?
Below are the important things that you should keep in mind when buying a PSU Extension Cable Kit.
Wire Thickness & Material
The first thing to check before buying a PSU Extension Cable is its wire thickness and material. The wire thickness of most PSU cables is expressed in AWG or American Wire Gauge. AWG is an American standard for denoting wire thickness or gauge. The higher AWG number, the thinner the wire is and the lower AWG number denotes thicker wire e.g. 18 AWG cable is thinner than 16 AWG cable. The thicker the wire, the higher current it can support e.g. an 18 AWG wire can support a maximum of 10A current while a 16 AWG wire can support a 13A current. The higher the current carrying capacity of a wire, the higher power or Wattage it can support. For example, an 18 AWG wire can support 120W at 12V [10 x 12, Power (P) =Voltage (V) x Current (A)] and a 16 AWG wire can support 156 W (13×12) at 12V. So, if you have a high-end graphics card having higher power consumption then it is better to choose a PSU Extension Cable having 16 AWG wire thickness.
In countries other than America, the thickness of wire is specified in metric units which is square millimeters (sq mm or mm²). A 16 AWG wire is 1.2 sq. mm thick while an 18 AWG wire is 0.82 sq. mm thick). You can check the conversion of AWG to Sq mm in the table below.
The wire material is also very important when choosing a PSU Extension Cable. Always get PSU Extension Cable with pure copper wires because it is one of the best conductors of electricity and has very less resistance. Never buy a PSU Extension Cable with aluminum wire or copper-coated aluminum wires. If wire material is not specified in the description or specifications of the cable then it is better to avoid it unless the cable is from a well-reputed brand like Corsair, Antec, etc.
Type & Number of Connectors
When getting a PSU Extension Cable kit, you should know the type of connectors and their numbers included in the kit for your requirement. Most PSU Extension Cable Kits available in the market come with 24-pin Motherboard connector, 8-pin (4+4) CPU connector, and 8-pin (6+2) PCIe power connectors. If your requirement also includes SATA and Molex connectors then you have to look for that PSU Extension Cable kit that includes them too. Some people may also require special connectors like the new 16-pin 12VHPWR connector for the latest Nvidia graphics cards which you have to buy individually as they are included with most PSU Extension Cable kits available today.
Cable Protection (Sleeved / Non-sleeved)
Most good PSU Extension Cables available are sleeved i.e. they come with nylon mesh protection around the rubber insulation of the wire. Sleeved cables do offer better protection from cuts and damage but they are less flexible than the non-sleeved cables. Also, some sleeved cables are more flexible than sleeved cables from other manufacturers because of the quality of the material used for braiding. I think it is better to go for sleeved PSU Extension Cables only because of the added protection from heat and physical damage.
Colors / Aesthetics
Most manufacturers offer PSU Extension Cable kits in different colors. Choosing a PSU Extension Cable kit in a particular color is a subjective choice and depends upon the user’s color scheme for their build. Color does not affect the performance or reliability and you can choose any color depending on the availability in choosing a PSU Extension Cable Kit. However, color should not be the first preference when selecting the PSU Cable Extension Cable Kit and you must keep the above-mentioned factors as top priority.
Accessories
Some manufacturers do offer extra cable combs for better cable management, aesthetics purpose, and also for replacement as they can break quite easily if you are not careful. Cable combs are also available separately if some of your original cable combs get damaged. It would be better to look for a PSU Extension Cable Kit that comes with extra pair of cable combs so that you won’t face any inconvenience or have to buy them separately if a couple of them breaks down.
PSU Extension Cables Compatibility
PSU Extension Cables are universally compatible with original or existing PSU Cables.
How to install PSU Extension Cable?
Just plug the female end of the PSU Extension Cable to the male end of the original/existing PSU Cable. The male end of the PSU Cable is plugged into the component.
Some Good PSU Extension Cables
Below are some very good PSU Extension Cables that you can buy for your build.
AsiaHorse 16AWG Pro PSU Extension Cable Kit
[Dual EPS Connectors for Dual CPU Support, Gold Plated Terminals]
AsiaHorse is a Chinese brand and is well known for its high-quality PSU Extension Cables. The company also manufactures budget-range RGB PC Case Fans that are also quite popular and are usually pretty good for the price. Here we have AsiaHorse 16AWG Pro PSU Sleeved Extension Cable that comes with one 24-pin ATX, two 8-pin EPS (4+4), and three 8-pin (6+2) PCIe extension cables. The cables use high-quality UL1015 16AWG tinned pure copper wires and have gold-plated connector terminals to prevent oxidation or corrosion. The cables are sleeved and use high-density PET braided mesh tube on the outside and the inner double-layer structure making it soft and easy to bend and they will not sag, shrink or swell once molded. For cable management, four cable combs per cable are included. The cables are 30cm in length which is sufficient for most of the systems or PC Cases including the bigger Full-Tower ones. This PSU Extension Cables Kit is available in a variety of attractive color options which you can check in the table below.
Note: If you do not need dual EPS connectors and three 6+2-pin PCIe ports then a more economical version (non Pro) is also available that comes with one 24-pin ATX, one 12V 8-pin (4+4) EPS connector, two 6+2-pin PCIe, and two 6-pin PCIe extension cables. You can also check this version from the links below.
AsiaHorse 16AWG Pro PSU Extension Cable Specifications | |
Wire Thickness | 16 AWG |
Cable Length | 30cm |
Cable Protection | Sleeved |
Wire Material | Tinned Pure Copper Wire |
Type & Number of Cables | 24-Pin ATX Motherboard x 1, CPU (4+4) Pin EPS x 2, 8-pin (6+2) PCIe x 3 |
Colors Available | Black, White, Red, Bright Black, Bright White, Snow Red, Snow-Red Grey, Snow-Violet, Snow White, Black Grey, Black White, Brown Black, Purple, Red White |
Buy AsiaHorse 16AWG Pro PSU Extension Cable Kit
Buy AsiaHorse 16AWG PSU Extension Cable Ki
Antec PSU Sleeved Extension Cable Kit
[Branded & High Quality, More Flexible Version Also Available]
A high-quality branded PSU Extension Cable Kit. It comes with braided 16AWG cables that are 300mm (30cm) in length and use pure copper wire. The cables include one 24-pin ATX, one 8-pin (4+4) EPS, two 8-pin (6+2) PCIe, and two 6-pin PCIe extension cables. The cable adopts a three-layer braiding design where the outer layer is ultra-dense braiding for protection from sharp objects and the middle insulation layer is acid and alkali resistance, flame resistance, moisture resistance, mildew resistance, etc. The cables are flexible and they do not sag, shrink or expand causing interference with other components. This Antec PSU Extension Cable Kit is available in a wide range of colors or color schemes which can check in the table below.
Note: A Flex version of this extension cable kit is also available that has 262 tinned copper wires in each cable, which is softer and more flexible for easier routing within the PC Case. You can also check the Flex version from the links below.
Antec PSU Sleeved Extension Cable Kit Specifications | |
Wire Thickness | 16 AWG |
Cable Length | 300mm (30cm) |
Cable Protection | Sleeved |
Wire Material | Tinned Pure Copper Wire |
Type & Number of Cables | 24-Pin ATX x 1, CPU (4+4) Pin EPS x 1, 8-pin (6+2) PCIe x 2, 6-pin PCIe x 2 |
Colors Available | White, Black, Blue-Grey, Grey-White, Purple-Black, Purple-White, Red-Black, White-Black |
Buy Antec PSU Sleeved Extension Cable Kit
Buy Antec PSU Sleeved Extension Cable Kit (Flex)
CableMod Pro ModMesh Sleeved Cable Extension Kit
[Premium Quality PSU Extension Cables, Hybrid Cable Combs]
CableMod is a well-reputed company specializing in computer cables, especially customized power supply cables. The PSU Cables and other cables from CableMod are of top-notch quality and also a bit more expensive than the competition. Here we CableMod Pro ModMesh Sleeved Cable Extension Kit that comes with one 24-pin ATX, one 8-pin (4+4) pin EPS, two 8-pin (6+2) PCIe and one 6-pin PCIe extension cables. The extension cables come with pure copper wire, have pre-installed combs, and are sleeved. Also, the cables are 100% Heatshrink-free and have got precision molded connectors to ensure a secure and proper fit. To maintain flexibility, the 8-pin (4+4 pin) EPS cable comes with Hybrid Cable Combs. A variety of color options are available for this PSU Extension Cable Kit which you can check out from the table below.
Note: This Cable Extension Cable Kit is also available with 16-pin 12V HPWR Cable Extension where in place of 8-pin/6-pin PCIe Cables, a single 16-pin 12V HPWR to three 8-pin PCI-e Cable Extension is included. You can also check this cable extension kit from the links mentioned below.
CableMod Pro ModMesh Sleeved Cable Extension Kit Specifications | |
Wire Thickness | Not Specified |
Cable Length | 30cm (ATX), Others (45cm) |
Cable Protection | Sleeved |
Wire Material | Pure Copper |
Type & Number of Cables | 24-pin ATX x 1, 8-pin (4+4) EPS x 1, 8-pin (6+2) PCIe x 2, 6-pin PCIe x 1 |
Colors Available | Black, White, Red, Black+Blood Red, Black+White, Carbon, Black+Blue, Black+Light Green, Black+Red, Light Blue |
Buy CableMod Pro ModMesh Cable Extension Kit
Buy CableMod Pro ModMesh 12VHPWR Cable Extension Kit
CORSAIR Premium Individually Sleeved PSU Cables Pro Kit
[Premium & Long Cables, Includes SATA & Molex Connectors Cables, In-Line Capacitors Built-in]
If you are looking for a premium PSU Extension Cables Kit with all connectors including SATA and Molex then CORSAIR Premium Individually Sleeved Type 4 generation 3 cable kit is what you should get. The kit has longer PSU Extension Cables which are sleeved and has a heat-shrink-less connector design. It comes with one 24-pin ATX, one 8-pin (4+4) EPS, two PCIe 6+2-pin dual connectors, two PCIe 6+2-pin single connectors, four SATA, and four Peripheral/Molex cable extensions. A salient feature of this PSU Extension Cable Kit is that 24-pin ATX, 12V EPS, and PCI-Express Cables come with in-line capacitors on them for reducing ripple and noise and ensuring clean voltage. The kit also contains modular cable combs that are easy to install and remove for good cable management. You will also get a fabric bag along with the kit to store extra cable combs. The PSU Extension Cables are also available in different colors mentioned in the specifications table below.
CORSAIR Premium Individually Sleeved PSU Cables Pro Kit Specifications | |
Wire Thickness | Not Specified |
Cable Length | 610mm (ATX 24-pin), 750mm (EPS 4+4-pin, SATA, Peripheral), 650mm (8-pin (6+2) PCIe) |
Cable Protection | Sleeved |
Wire Material | Pure Copper |
Type & Number of Cables | ATX 24-pin x 1, 8-pin (4+4) EPS x 2, PCIe 6+2-pin dual connector x 2, PCIe 6+2-pin single connector x 2, SATA x 4, Molex x 4 |
Colors Available | Blue, Black, Red, White, Blue-Black, Red-Black, White-Black |
Buy CORSAIR Premium Sleeved PSU Cables Pro Kit
Thermaltake TtMod Sleeve Extension Power Supply Cable Kit
[Branded High-quality Cable Extension Kit, Funky Colors Available]
A basic high-quality PSU Extension Cable Kit from a reputed and big brand Thermaltake. Thermaltake TtMod Sleeve Extension Power Supply Cable Kit comes with 16AWG sleeved 300mm long extension cables that include one 24-pin ATX, one 8-pin (4+4) EPS, two 8-pin (6+2) PCIe and two 6-pin PCIe extension cables. The cables feature a heat-shrink-less design with Triple Layer Cable Weaving Design for protection as well as flexibility. The extension cables are available in various vivid colors and you can check the color options from the table below.
Thermaltake TtMod Sleeve Extension Power Supply Cable Kit Specifications | |
Wire Thickness | 16 AWG |
Cable Length | 300mm |
Cable Protection | Sleeved |
Wire Material | Pure Copper |
Type & Number of Cables | 24-Pin ATX Motherboard x 1, CPU (4+4) Pin EPS x 1, 8-pin (6+2) PCIe x 2, 6-pin PCIe x 2 |
Colors Available | Rainbow, Black, Black & Blue, Black & Green, Black & Pink, Black & Red, Black & White, Black & Yellow, White |
Buy Thermaltake TtMod Sleeve Extension PSU Cable Kit
Special PSU Extension Cables
Some special single PSU Extension Cables that you may need.
AsiaHorse 16AWG PCI-e 5.0 12V HPWR PSU Cable Extension
A high-quality 12+4-pin 12V HPWR Cable Extension for the latest flagship graphics cards from Nvidia that include RTX 3090 Ti, RTX 4070 Ti, RTX 4080, and RTX 4090. The cable comes with three female 8-pin PCIe ports at one and a male 16-pin 12V HPWR port at the other. It is a 16AWG thick cable that is PCIe 5.0 ready and can support up to 600W of power. The length of the cable is 30cm and cable combs are included for cable management and providing a neat look. Available in black, white, black-purple, black-red, white-grey, and pearl-white colors.
Lian Li Strimer Plus V2 24-Pin ARGB Power Extension Cable (PW24-PV2)
If you are an RGB enthusiast and want to add extra RGB lighting to your PC Case then Lian Li Strimer Plus V2 24-Pin ARGB Power Extension Cable will not disappoint you. It is the best RGB 24-pin Extension Cable in the market right now. It is an 18 AWG thick cable and is 220mm long. The cable features Addressable RGB Lighting that is bright and depicts accurate colors. A total of 120 ARGB LEDs light up the entire cable. The cable comes with L-Connect 3 RGB controller and has 12 lighting modes. Lian Li Strimer Plus V2 RGB PSU Extension Cable series also include 8-pin and 16-pin (12+4) 12V HPWR extension cables which you can also check out from the links below.
Check Lian Li Strimer Plus V2 RGB PSU Extension Cables
Queries?
If you have any queries regarding PSU Extension Cable or having trouble finding the right PSU Extension Cable for your build then do let me know in the comment section below.
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