Wasted $120 on a cheap PSU adapter kit that melted on first test

I found an old Compaq Deskpro case from 1995 at a flea market and thought it would make a killer sleeper. Bought a $120 adapter kit online that claimed to convert the proprietary front panel connector to standard ATX. Hooked everything up, hit the power button, and smelled burning plastic within 10 seconds. The adapter actually melted one of the pins on the motherboard header. Lost the whole build because the board's connector got warped beyond repair. Turns out the kit had no thermal protection and the gauge wire was way too thin for the draw. Has anyone else gotten burned by those cheap adapter cables on eBay?

2 comments

2 Comments

dakota_rivera20d agoMost Upvoted

My buddy tried one and his rig wouldn't even POST.

troyjackson19d agoTop Commenter

Read Gamers Nexus did a teardown of those, total fire hazards.