PSU Cable Pinout & Compatibility Checker for PC Builders
Okay, here's the analysis for the provided Reddit post:
Niche Market Opportunity: PC builders and enthusiasts often work with modular Power Supply Units (PSUs) and their proprietary cables. Using the wrong cables or pinouts can lead to significant component damage, even between PSUs from the same brand or different revisions of the same model. People are actively looking up pinouts to avoid this, which shows a real need for accurate and easily accessible information.
SaaS Opportunity: A user-friendly database and toolset focused on PSU cable pinouts and compatibility.
Product Form:
- Web Application (SaaS):
- PSU Pinout Database: A searchable database of PSU models (e.g., Corsair RM850x Type 4, EVGA G3 750W) detailing the pinouts for each connector type (CPU, PCIe, 24-pin ATX, SATA, Molex) on the PSU side.
- Cable Pinout Database: A database of common modular cable types, showing their end-to-end pinouts.
- Compatibility Checker:
- Select PSU A -> See known compatible official/third-party cable sets.
- Select PSU A and PSU B -> Highlight differences in pinouts for similar cable types (e.g., CPU 8-pin) to warn against direct swapping or guide repinning.
- Select PSU A and Cable X -> Confirm if Cable X is compatible or show pinout mismatch.
- Visual Diagrams: Clear, standardized diagrams for each pinout.
- User Submissions & Verification: Allow users to submit new pinout information (e.g., photos of multimeter readings, manufacturer diagrams) with a robust admin/moderator verification process.
- Repinning Guides (Advanced/Disclaimer-heavy): For users comfortable with modifying cables, provide guides on how to safely de-pin and re-pin connectors, along with necessary tools and safety precautions.
- Community Forum/Section: For users to discuss specific PSU/cable combinations and share experiences.
Expected Revenue:
- Freemium Model:
- Free Tier: Access to a limited number of PSU model lookups per month, basic pinout diagrams.
- Premium Tier ($3-$7/month or $30-$70/year): Unlimited lookups, advanced compatibility checker features, access to detailed repinning guides, ability to save PSU profiles, ad-free experience.
- Affiliate Marketing: Links to purchase multimeters, pin extraction tools, or compatible custom cables from reputable vendors (e.g., CableMod).
- One-time "Pro" Purchase (e.g., $20-$30): For users who only need the information for a single build/project and don't want a subscription.
Overall Revenue Potential: Low to Moderate. While this is a niche market, the cost of component damage is high, making users highly motivated to find accurate information. A well-maintained and user-friendly platform could attract a dedicated user base.
- Initial years: $500 - $5,000/month, depending on adoption rate, quality of data, and marketing.
- Growth Potential: With a solid reputation and comprehensive database, it could grow to $5,000 - $15,000+/month, especially if it becomes the go-to resource for system builders, repair shops, and enthusiasts. The key challenge is the effort required to build and maintain the accuracy of the database.
Origin Reddit Post
r/techsupport
PSU pin out question
Posted by u/bak3donh1gh•06/01/2025
Alright, I'm gonna start off by saying that yes, I know that mixing powers to play cables is not a good idea.
I have looked up the pin-out for both of my power supply cables. My old one is t
Top Comments
u/bak3donh1gh
The motherboard power supply cables, the ones specifically for the CPU, are all 12 volt. There's no mixing of voltages here. I apologize for not posting the pinouts. But If you're merely g
u/BearlyNotBankrupt
> So is this just something that my computer will figure out and draw power from correctly, or it might just shit out of luck.
No, your computer will not figure that out, but you will whe
u/USSHammond
It's not something your 'computer will figure out'. Your pc doesn't know what's wired how, neither does your PSU. All the PSU knows is to send a certain voltage on specific pins on the PSU to
u/sopcannon
Even the same brand can have different pin outs as well.
u/Deep_Mood_7668
Nah dude. You're trying to find a solution. I respect that.
Just double check with a multimeter when you're done.
u/bak3donh1gh
Okay, first sentence in the post. I know this is not a good idea. Thank you for telling me again. The pinouts for the CPU are all 12 volts. There is no other voltage, there's no 5, there's no
u/bak3donh1gh
I had not thought of moving the pins around. That's a good point. I may do that as for this it seems pretty straightforward.
Thank you and thank you for not treating me as someone who is men
u/Deep_Mood_7668
Do whatever you're comfortable with.
In the end it just matters that you got the right pinout on the mainboard. You can unlock the pins and pull them out to rearrange them in the connector.
u/bak3donh1gh
Yeah, on the Type 4 that seems to be the case, but on the EVGA that seems to be opposite. Other commenters have already said what I had already suspected that it is not a good idea. Well, the
u/Deep_Mood_7668
Top side with the clip all 12V pins, bottom side all GND PINS