Internal Cable Check Guide

15 Mins

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Phillips Screwdriver

To ensure your PC is functioning optimally, it’s important to check that all internal cables are fully and correctly seated. During transit, cables can sometimes become slightly unseated, so let's ensure everything is firmly connected.

Why Should I Check the Internal Cables?

Checking your internal cables helps ensure:

Stable Power Delivery: Ensures that your components are receiving consistent power.
Reliable Data Transfer: Properly seated cables prevent data transfer issues.
System Stability: Helps maintain overall system stability and performance.

Checking your internal cables helps ensure:

Stable Power Delivery: Ensures that your components are receiving consistent power.
Reliable Data Transfer: Properly seated cables prevent data transfer issues.
System Stability: Helps maintain overall system stability and performance.

Steps to Check the Internal Cables

Prepare the PC

Shutdown your PC and unplug it from the power source to ensure safety during the process.
Remove the side panel from your PC case. This will typically involve loosening screws or sliding the panel off.

Prepare the PC

Shutdown your PC and unplug it from the power source to ensure safety during the process.
Remove the side panel from your PC case. This will typically involve loosening screws or sliding the panel off.

Checking Main Power Cables

24-Pin Main Power Cable

Start by ensuring your PC is completely powered off and unplugged from any power source. This is crucial for your safety and to prevent damage to your components.
Locate the 24-pin main power cable on the right-hand edge of the motherboard.
Firmly push on the plastic framing of the cable while the PC is powered off, ensuring the latch is clipped in place.

24-Pin Main Power Cable

Start by ensuring your PC is completely powered off and unplugged from any power source. This is crucial for your safety and to prevent damage to your components.
Locate the 24-pin main power cable on the right-hand edge of the motherboard.
Firmly push on the plastic framing of the cable while the PC is powered off, ensuring the latch is clipped in place.

CPU Power Cable

Locate the CPU cable in the top left-hand corner of the motherboard.
Note: Some motherboards may have an additional 4-pin power connector. Please do the same with this.
Firmly push on the plastic framing of the cable while the PC is powered off. Ensure the latch is clipped in place. Push until you hear a click and see the clip lock securely.

CPU Power Cable

Locate the CPU cable in the top left-hand corner of the motherboard.
Note: Some motherboards may have an additional 4-pin power connector. Please do the same with this.
Firmly push on the plastic framing of the cable while the PC is powered off. Ensure the latch is clipped in place. Push until you hear a click and see the clip lock securely.

GPU Power Cables

Locate the GPU power cables. These are most often located at the right-hand end of the GPU.
Firmly push on the plastic framing of the cable while the PC is powered off. Ensure the latch is clipped in place. Push until you hear a click and see the clip lock securely.

GPU Power Cables

Locate the GPU power cables. These are most often located at the right-hand end of the GPU.
Firmly push on the plastic framing of the cable while the PC is powered off. Ensure the latch is clipped in place. Push until you hear a click and see the clip lock securely.

Additional Cable Checks

Cable Sleeves (if applicable)

If your PC has cable sleeves, check to ensure these are fully connected. Cable sleeves are the braided cable extensions that add a nice look to the standard black plastic cables.
Open the back panel of your PC. Identify the cable sleeves and trace them back to where they meet the power supply cables.
Firmly push on the connection to ensure they are fully connected.

Cable Sleeves (if applicable)

If your PC has cable sleeves, check to ensure these are fully connected. Cable sleeves are the braided cable extensions that add a nice look to the standard black plastic cables.
Open the back panel of your PC. Identify the cable sleeves and trace them back to where they meet the power supply cables.
Firmly push on the connection to ensure they are fully connected.

Modular Power Supply (if applicable)

Locate the power supply at the top or bottom rear of the case.
Carefully push the connectors you can reach towards the power supply to check if they are clicked in all the way.
Only check the connectors you can reach without much effort. There's no need to force anything or reach into tight spaces.

Modular Power Supply (if applicable)

Locate the power supply at the top or bottom rear of the case.
Carefully push the connectors you can reach towards the power supply to check if they are clicked in all the way.
Only check the connectors you can reach without much effort. There's no need to force anything or reach into tight spaces.

SATA Cables (for Hard Drives and SATA SSDs)

Identify SATA cables. There are two types of SATA cables: one for Data, and the other for Power.
Locate the drive within your case. These are often located in enclosures at the bottom of the case, or mounted to the rear.
Identify the two cables connected to the drive, and confirm these are present. Ensure both cables are firmly connected to the drive.
Gently push the connector into the hard drive to ensure a secure connection. Do this for both cables.
Trace the Data cable around to its connection point at the motherboard. Push this connector firmly into the socket to ensure a full connection.

SATA Cables (for Hard Drives and SATA SSDs)

Identify SATA cables. There are two types of SATA cables: one for Data, and the other for Power.
Locate the drive within your case. These are often located in enclosures at the bottom of the case, or mounted to the rear.
Identify the two cables connected to the drive, and confirm these are present. Ensure both cables are firmly connected to the drive.
Gently push the connector into the hard drive to ensure a secure connection. Do this for both cables.
Trace the Data cable around to its connection point at the motherboard. Push this connector firmly into the socket to ensure a full connection.

Fan Cable Check (PWM and ARGB)

If your fans have RGB lighting, then there will be two types of connection: PWM for power, and ARGB for lighting. If you do not have RGB fans, then there will only be PWM.
For simplicity and neatness, we run all our fan configurations from a hub at the back of the PC.
On one side of this hub, there will be ARGB connectors for lighting, and on the other, there will be PWM for power.
If your system has more than 6 fans, then you may have two hubs! Firstly, check that all connections to the hub are present and fully seated. Do this by pushing them firmly into the connectors to fix any potential disconnects.
Trace the cable around to its connection point at the motherboard. Push this connector firmly into the socket to ensure a full connection and ensure the SATA power connector is fully connected

Fan Cable Check (PWM and ARGB)

If your fans have RGB lighting, then there will be two types of connection: PWM for power, and ARGB for lighting. If you do not have RGB fans, then there will only be PWM.
For simplicity and neatness, we run all our fan configurations from a hub at the back of the PC.
On one side of this hub, there will be ARGB connectors for lighting, and on the other, there will be PWM for power.
If your system has more than 6 fans, then you may have two hubs! Firstly, check that all connections to the hub are present and fully seated. Do this by pushing them firmly into the connectors to fix any potential disconnects.
Trace the cable around to its connection point at the motherboard. Push this connector firmly into the socket to ensure a full connection and ensure the SATA power connector is fully connected

What's Next?

After checking and securing all internal cables, reassemble your PC and power it on to ensure everything is functioning correctly. If problems persist, consider further troubleshooting with the following guides: