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
- KCORES License 1.0 (permissive)
- repo
- repo ACTIVE599 stars
●●●●○ · a long weekend · KCORES License 1.0 (permissive) · 599 stars · repo ACTIVE
WHAT YOU’LL NEED
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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
GOOD TO KNOW
- —Gerber files and the BOM are in the releases; the getting-started guide (in Chinese) walks through ordering and assembly.
- —Soldering guide walks through testing after each stage — assembly photos for every step.
- —No firmware is needed to power a PC; an optional I2C PMBus header and companion software (Arduino library, KCORES Link) let you read the server PSU's telemetry.
- —Licensed under the KCORES License 1.0 — permissive, any use allowed with attribution and a note that the work is part of KCORES.
- —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.
Parts to buy
4 itemsFrom our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.
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.
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.
More builds like this
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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 tests: the guide has you solder in three stages and check the output voltages after each, and it warns that the ATX control IC is very sensitive to static, so test it before soldering or fit a DIP-8 socket.
- Opening the server PSU itself to inspect or modify it — the PFC capacitors can hold lethal charge for hours after unplugging.
- Never plug or unplug the board while the server PSU is powered: disconnect mains first and wait until the PSU fan has stopped.
- The 12 V capacity comes from the server PSU, but the board's own 5 V and 3.3 V rails are limited to 5 A each (4 A recommended continuous), which matters for drive-heavy builds.
- Mixing up parts: the Mini560 step-down modules are not marked with their voltage, so keep them in their packaging; the cheap WingTAT CSPS connector is only recommended for 460 W and 750 W supplies (use the FCI connector for bigger ones); and the ATX sockets must be the solid-pin type.
What is the actual 12 V capacity I get?
Whatever the server PSU's label says for its 12 V output; the board just passes it through. The 5 V, 3.3 V and 5 V standby rails are 5 A each, and the README advises not to run 5 V and 3.3 V above 4 A for long periods.
Can I use a different server PSU brand?
Yes, if it is a Common Slot (CSPS) unit — the README names HPE and Huawei as the main makers. The shape may differ slightly between brands, but the gold-finger connector must match the reference picture in the README.
Do I need the KiCad files or can I just use the gerbers?
The Gerber package and BOM in Releases are all you need to order and build the board. The KiCad schematic and PCB source files are also in the repository if you want to modify the design.
What licence does this carry?
It uses the KCORES License 1.0, a permissive licence written by the group: you may use, copy, modify, distribute and sublicense the design for any purpose, as long as you keep the copyright notice and licence and credit the KCORES open hardware organisation in your documentation.
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 board turns a salvaged server power supply into a full ATX supply with a 24-pin and five 8-pin CPU/GPU connectors. 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.
CompareeTEAM1mo agoedited
Practical notes from our verification: the repository includes the KiCad schematic and PCB files, a schematic PDF and connector datasheets, with Gerbers and a BOM spreadsheet attached to the v1.0 release, plus an Arduino library for reading the supply over its PMBus/I2C interface. It is licensed under the KCORES License 1.0, which allows use for any purpose, including modification and redistribution, as long as you keep the licence and credit KCORES. The README, the getting-started guide and the project video are in Chinese. The board only works with CSPS (Common Slot Power Supply) units — HPE and Huawei made them in large numbers — and the gold-finger contacts on your supply must match the diagram in the README. The 5 V and 3.3 V rails are rated at 5 A each, and the README advises against running them above 4 A for long periods. Sourcing a compatible server PSU locally is the part to check first. Correction (4 October 2026): we re-checked this page line by line against the project's own repository, documentation and videos, and fixed errors in earlier versions.