Getting those damn PSU connectors out

**VOP2288** · June 24, 2007, 03:35 PM

I just recently purchased a new PSU (power supply upgrade) for my PC and it should arrive within a few days time.

For the moment though I wanted to make sure I could effectively get my old PSU out to put the new one in...this is where my question comes in.

The little connectors that connect the hard drive, cd/dvd drives, motherboard, etc to the PSU are buggers! I can't pry them loose at all! Is there a special way in which to get them out? It only appears that they just plug right in so why is it such a pain to get them out?

**Erik** · June 24, 2007, 04:30 PM

The 4-pin molex connectors (used for ATA drives and some other things) you need to just pull, but they are tight so this takes some effort.

Mother board connectors have clips to lock them in place, you need to squeeze the side of the clip to disconnect.

I think SATA power connectors also have some kind of clip, but I'm not entirely sure about that.

**spartan_phalanx** · June 24, 2007, 05:22 PM

Yes they can be tough to pull out and if your not careful you can slip and ruin a component by hitting it with your hand. I did this with an old computer I was tinkering around with and ultimately hit the ram slot with my hand. The slot doesn't work anymore as a result.

**VOP2288** · June 24, 2007, 06:12 PM

I didn't try the other ones with any great amount of force yet but I did try the 4 pin one attached to my hard drive...it's such a bugger! I swear if I pulled any harder a part of the Hard drive was gonna come off.

So there's no other "safer" way to do it other than pull? As far as the connectors attached to the hard drive and CD/DVD players?

**Erik** · June 25, 2007, 09:13 AM

Originally Posted by VOP2288

I didn't try the other ones with any great amount of force yet but I did try the 4 pin one attached to my hard drive...it's such a bugger! I swear if I pulled any harder a part of the Hard drive was gonna come off.

So there's no other "safer" way to do it other than pull? As far as the connectors attached to the hard drive and CD/DVD players?

I use a combination of pulling and wiggling it from one side to the other.
That way they usually come out slowly.

**Incinerate_IV** · June 24, 2007, 11:28 PM

I usually just use some pliers and force it out slowly, just be careful not to hit anything with it suddenly come lose.

**OTZ** · June 25, 2007, 06:48 AM

Pliers!?! That seems a little extreme, no? I can't recall ever having to use that much force to disconnect a molex...and I've gone through dozens of builds over that last few years.

**Incinerate_IV** · June 27, 2007, 10:50 AM

Originally Posted by OTZ

Pliers!?! That seems a little extreme, no? I can't recall ever having to use that much force to disconnect a molex...and I've gone through dozens of builds over that last few years.

Well I don't use too much force, the pliers just help me get a good grip on it.