This 8-pin CPU connector should work without problems if it matches your system requirements.
This 8-pin CPU connector should work without problems if it matches your system requirements.
It seems the device is damaged. Here’s another reason against skimping on a power supply—purchase a fresh one instead of a used or cheaper alternative.
I don’t see signs of burn marks I’d expect (I should have taken a photo beforehand), though the metal connector was slightly displaced. I tested the power supply using a motherboard that only requires a 4-pin connector, and it worked with the opposite side of the connector. I’m not sure what to conclude.
If the other 4pin is fine then that's good. The other side doesn't look so good.
If the previous owner forced it into an incompatible connector, they might have caused damage. Such a strong force would likely tear through metal, which seems unlikely here. If a short circuit occurred and forced a surge through the wire, I wouldn't rely on it anymore. The power supply unit probably triggered its overcurrent protection to safeguard itself, making the situation quite risky. Without knowing the exact cause or result, it's hard to advise plugging it in. If it isn’t visibly burned and there’s no sign of a pin being forced out (perhaps someone pulled the male end of the motherboard plug and used excessive pressure), the unit should still be safe. A simple replacement plug would suffice and cost very little. Regardless, using it in this way could lead to poor connections, causing dangerous voltage spikes or even damage.
Am I overcomplicating things? The wiring doesn’t match EPS or PCIe standards.
It’s unlikely you’ll establish a solid connection. With your current setup and not overclocking, the connector should work fine since all four pins are connected in parallel. Still, it raises concerns about why this is the case. Using more load on the remaining pins could worsen the situation and possibly harm the motherboard if it was removed from a similar system. This setup doesn’t meet specifications. If you decide to proceed with this power supply, you’re taking significant risk. It could damage the PSU, motherboard, CPU, and even cause a fire. I’d suggest replacing everything—power supply, cables, and especially checking the EPS connector on the motherboard.
Thanks for the responses. It doesn’t seem like things went wrong because I got it at a low price.