YOU CAN TURN A RETIRED SERVER POWER SUPPLY INTO A MONSTER PC POWER SUPPLY
A retired data centre power supply can run your gaming PC if you build the adapter board that bridges the gap.
by KCORES
WorkshopOpen-hardware
- difficulty
- ●●●●○
- time
- a long weekend
- license
- license not specified
- repo
- repo ACTIVE594 stars
●●●●○ · a long weekend · license not specified · 594 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
- 3D printer + filament — printable parts — files are in the repo
Partner
COMPAREE VERDICT
This is a board for someone who already knows why they want a server PSU in their PC and has the soldering skill to build it without supervision. The promise is real: data centre hot-swap supplies are built for continuous duty at high efficiency, and the second-hand market sells them for a fraction of original cost because on their own they cannot talk to a motherboard. The KCORES board fixes that with a CSPS connector, step-down modules for the 5 V and 3.3 V rails, ATX power-on control, and standard output connectors. The 12 V capacity is whatever the server unit delivers, which is the entire point. The documentation is thorough — staged assembly with test points, clear photos, and blunt safety warnings about charged capacitors and hot-plugging. What will go wrong: this is a multi-hour soldering project with through-hole and SMD components, and if you have never worked with mains-adjacent hardware the safety margins will feel thinner than they are. The board also assumes you already have or can source a compatible Common Slot PSU; if you cannot find one locally the cost advantage disappears. If you are comfortable with the soldering and the safety rules, the design is solid and the savings are genuine.
IN THE REPO
NOT IN THE REPO
- —Gerber files, KiCad source, and staged BOM are in the repository and releases.
- —Soldering guide walks through testing after each stage — assembly photos for every step.
- —No firmware required; this is a hardware adapter with passive control circuitry.
- —Repository carries no licence file — files are published but usage terms are not stated.
- —You must source a compatible Common Slot server PSU separately; the board is the adapter only.
- —The board does not convert the PSU itself — it provides the connector, voltage rails, and ATX signalling a motherboard needs.
Can I build this?
This build involves mains voltage — for adults comfortable with electrical work only.
Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.
Partner · KickstarterHeyGears G1: 10M+ colors and transparent parts in one print, plus UV printing on flat objects. Figures, parts and labels — no painting.
Videos
KCORES CSPS-to-ATX Converter demonstration
Project creator's video showing the board in use powering a gaming PC. No step-by-step build shown; the repository assembly guide is the primary instruction.
Gallery
Start here
Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.
- 1.Read the safety notes in the repository before ordering anything (Mains voltage and charged capacitor warnings are not optional reading.)
- 2.Source a compatible server PSU locally or second-hand(HP Common Slot is the primary target. Confirm compatibility before ordering boards.)
- 3.Download the gerbers and BOM from releases and order the PCB (Check the BOM for current part numbers; some step-down modules have newer equivalents.)
- 4.Follow the staged assembly guide and test after each section(The guide includes photos and test points. Do not skip the tests.)
Resources
Documentation, files and community threads for this build — we link straight to the original sources and never rehost the creator’s files.
KNOWN ISSUES
- The single biggest mistake is buying the wrong server PSU before confirming it matches the board's CSPS connector — there are multiple server PSU form factors and not all are compatible.
- Skipping the staged testing means you will not know which component failed when the board does not work at the end.
- Opening the server PSU itself to inspect or modify it — the PFC capacitors can hold lethal charge for hours after unplugging.
- Hot-plugging the board while the server PSU is connected to mains will destroy components and may arc.
- Assuming the 12 V capacity on the salvaged PSU label is usable in a PC without reading the PSU's own specs — some server units have shared rails or require minimum loads.
- Ordering the cheapest step-down modules without checking the current rating — the BOM specifies parts for a reason.
What is the actual 12 V capacity I get?
Whatever the server PSU's label says for its 12 V rail. HP Common Slot units range from around 460 W to over 1200 W on 12 V depending on the model. Check the label on the unit you source.
Can I use a different server PSU brand?
Only if it uses the same Common Slot connector pinout. The board is designed for HP CS units; other brands may have different signalling or pin assignments.
Do I need the KiCad files or can I just use the gerbers?
The gerbers in releases are enough to order the PCB. The KiCad source is there if you want to modify the design.
What licence does this carry?
The repository does not include a licence file. The files are published but the terms for commercial use or redistribution are not stated.
How loud is the server PSU fan?
Server PSUs are louder than consumer PC supplies because they are built for rack cooling, not silence. Some builders replace the fan or run the PSU outside the case.
Community builds
No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.
Discussion1
FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM
The video shows a gaming PC running off one of these — graphics card, the works. If you have used a salvaged server PSU in a build, what surprised you about the fan noise or the efficiency under real load?
KCORES
KCORES publishes the adapter board design to solve the specific problem of salvaging high-capacity server power supplies for desktop PC use. The staged assembly guide and safety warnings suggest experience with both the hardware and the mistakes people make.
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DISCLAIMER
- Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
- Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
- Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
CompareeTEAM11d ago
Practical notes from our verification: the repository carries no licence file, so while the gerbers and BOM are published the terms for commercial or derivative use are not stated. The demonstration video is on KCORES' YouTube but is not a build guide — the staged assembly instructions with photos are in the repository itself and those are the real instruction set. The single part most people underestimate is sourcing the server PSU: availability and price vary wildly by region, and if you cannot find a compatible unit locally the cost advantage over a new ATX supply disappears. The safety warnings about charged capacitors and hot-plugging are not filler — this is mains-adjacent hardware and the margins are thinner than consumer gear.