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#1
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Added hard drive - but only have 4-pin molex - no available SATA power cables
I bought a hard drive for a dual-boot Win7/Win10 desktop, and bought the
SATA cable, but I didn't realize until I got home that the only unused power connector available out of the 530Watt power supply is the round-pin 4-pin molex type and not the flat wide SATA power connector. There are only 3 flat SATA power cables coming out of the power supply. + One flat SATA power cable is going to the dvd drive + One flat SATA power cable goes to disk1 + One flat SATA power cable goes to disk2 But I just put a third disk in place today which needs a power connection. Googling I saw that the flat wide SATA power connector has 3.3 volts (in addition to 5 & 12 volts) while the 4-pin molex does not have 3.3 volts (it only has the 5 and 12 volts). The hard drive is a brand new 1TB WD Blue which doesn't say on the box or in the instructions if it needs the missing 3.3VDC. But I need to buy "something" to power the new hard disk drive. Either a new power supply (which is probably overkill) because this power supply only has 3 SATA flat power cables, or an adapter from molex to SATA, or an adapter from one SATA to two SATA cable ends. What is generally the best idea when you need 1 more flat SATA power? |
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#2
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Added hard drive - but only have 4-pin molex - no available SATApower cables
Frank Weg wrote:
I bought a hard drive for a dual-boot Win7/Win10 desktop, and bought the SATA cable, but I didn't realize until I got home that the only unused power connector available out of the 530Watt power supply is the round-pin 4-pin molex type and not the flat wide SATA power connector. There are only 3 flat SATA power cables coming out of the power supply. + One flat SATA power cable is going to the dvd drive + One flat SATA power cable goes to disk1 + One flat SATA power cable goes to disk2 But I just put a third disk in place today which needs a power connection. Googling I saw that the flat wide SATA power connector has 3.3 volts (in addition to 5 & 12 volts) while the 4-pin molex does not have 3.3 volts (it only has the 5 and 12 volts). The hard drive is a brand new 1TB WD Blue which doesn't say on the box or in the instructions if it needs the missing 3.3VDC. But I need to buy "something" to power the new hard disk drive. Either a new power supply (which is probably overkill) because this power supply only has 3 SATA flat power cables, or an adapter from molex to SATA, or an adapter from one SATA to two SATA cable ends. What is generally the best idea when you need 1 more flat SATA power? You can get a Molex to single SATA connector (about 6 to 8" cable). There is also a Molex to two SATA connector cable, with the wires on that Y shape being maybe 12" or a bit more. I would not use a SATA to dual SATA Y cable, because that would potentially (worst case) violate the current rating of the connector on the PSU side. Whereas the Molex is rated 6-8 amps or so (depends on wire gauge crimped into the four pins). SATA fifteen pin is 1 ampere per contact, or 3 amps per rail. The SATA has 3.3, 5V, 12V. Only microSATA drives ever used 3.3V and they've disappeared from the market. Virtually all commonly available storage right now, works with the 5V and 12V (which is on the Molex source). Now, on NVMe, I understand there's 3.3V on that, but I didn't look it up and check, and at the moment, you're less likely to be dealing with "extension cords" for such things :-) What I did a year or two ago, is go to my one remaining good computer store in town, and buy a "mix" of cables. The store has its "own-branded" product, which is Chinese-sources, but the construction seems to be reputable. And I have one of the Molex to two SATA for powering a couple SSDs in the new computer. One thing my computer store doesn't have is ESATA cables, and they're a big zero on that stuff. But for internal drives, they have the red data cables in several formulations, and they have some Molex to SATA adapters. I like the single connector cable, as it doesn't get in the way a lot when I'm using it. The benefit of the Molex to two SATA, is in fact the longer cables. By being a bit longer, I can position the second (unused) end some place safe, rather than it getting pinched in the computer case side panel. The latching feature on this one, mine doesn't have that. And I haven't had any problems with the power ones staying on. I do like the latch on the data cables, but that doesn't work with WDC hard drives that have a gap where that latch would have worked. https://www.newegg.ca/Product/Produc...16812400307CVF Paul |
#3
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Added hard drive - but only have 4-pin molex - no available SATA power cables
On Fri, 1 Jun 2018 05:04:32 +0000 (UTC), Frank Weg wrote:
What is generally the best idea when you need 1 more flat SATA power? Since you have the molex connector available I'd just get a molex to sata cable such as; https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282806770551 -- Regards - Rodney Pont The from address exists but is mostly dumped, please send any emails to the address below e-mail rpont (at) gmail (dot) com |
#4
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Added hard drive - but only have 4-pin molex - no available SATApower cables
On 06/01/2018 12:37 AM, rp wrote:
On Fri, 1 Jun 2018 05:04:32 +0000 (UTC), Frank Weg wrote: What is generally the best idea when you need 1 more flat SATA power? Since you have the molex connector available I'd just get a molex to sata cable such as; https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282806770551 There's a funny thing on there. Says it ships worldwide, and then excludes most of the world. Typical "give and take" language (the first part gives you something, then the second part takes most of it back). |
#5
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Added hard drive - but only have 4-pin molex - no available SATApower cables
On 06/01/2018 9:17 AM, Sam E wrote:
On 06/01/2018 12:37 AM, rp wrote: On Fri, 1 Jun 2018 05:04:32 +0000 (UTC), Frank Weg wrote: What is generally the best idea when you need 1 more flat SATA power? Since you have the molex connector available I'd just get a molex to sata cable such as; https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282806770551 There's a funny thing on there. Says it ships worldwide, and then excludes most of the world. Typical "give and take" language (the first part gives you something, then the second part takes most of it back). Pretty crappy company, would never give them a penny far less a nickel, even if they did ship to Canada. Rene |
#6
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Added hard drive - but only have 4-pin molex - no available SATApower cables
On 01/06/2018 06:04, Frank Weg wrote:
I bought a hard drive for a dual-boot Win7/Win10 desktop, and bought the SATA cable, but I didn't realize until I got home that the only unused power connector available out of the 530Watt power supply is the round-pin 4-pin molex type and not the flat wide SATA power connector. There are only 3 flat SATA power cables coming out of the power supply. + One flat SATA power cable is going to the dvd drive + One flat SATA power cable goes to disk1 + One flat SATA power cable goes to disk2 But I just put a third disk in place today which needs a power connection. Googling I saw that the flat wide SATA power connector has 3.3 volts (in addition to 5 & 12 volts) while the 4-pin molex does not have 3.3 volts (it only has the 5 and 12 volts). The hard drive is a brand new 1TB WD Blue which doesn't say on the box or in the instructions if it needs the missing 3.3VDC. But I need to buy "something" to power the new hard disk drive. Either a new power supply (which is probably overkill) because this power supply only has 3 SATA flat power cables, or an adapter from molex to SATA, or an adapter from one SATA to two SATA cable ends. What is generally the best idea when you need 1 more flat SATA power? As mentioned by 'Paul', the 3.3v is not required. Here is a search string for what you require "4-Pin IDE Molex to 15-Pin Serial ATA SATA" Example; https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Pin-IDE-M...oAAOSwiHpaL5D- |
#7
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Added hard drive - but only have 4-pin molex - no available SATA power cables
On Fri, 1 Jun 2018 09:17:59 -0500, Sam E wrote:
What is generally the best idea when you need 1 more flat SATA power? Since you have the molex connector available I'd just get a molex to sata cable such as; https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/282806770551 There's a funny thing on there. Says it ships worldwide, and then excludes most of the world. Typical "give and take" language (the first part gives you something, then the second part takes most of it back). It was only for an example of the type of cable. I didn't look at the company or where it would ship expecting the OP to find their own source. -- Regards - Rodney Pont The from address exists but is mostly dumped, please send any emails to the address below e-mail rpont (at) gmail (dot) com |
#8
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Added hard drive - but only have 4-pin molex - no available SATA power cables
Frank Weg wrote:
I bought a hard drive for a dual-boot Win7/Win10 desktop, and bought the SATA cable, but I didn't realize until I got home that the only unused power connector available out of the 530Watt power supply is the round-pin 4-pin molex type and not the flat wide SATA power connector. Molex to SATA power adapter: https://images10.newegg.com/NeweggIm...61-02.jpg?ex=2 https://images10.newegg.com/NeweggIm...72-02.jpg?ex=2 Or use a Y-adapter to make 1 SATA power connector into 2: https://images10.newegg.com/NeweggIm...68-04.jpg?ex=2 |
#9
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Added hard drive - but only have 4-pin molex - no available SATA power cables
In message , Patrick
writes: On 01/06/2018 06:04, Frank Weg wrote: [] What is generally the best idea when you need 1 more flat SATA power? As mentioned by 'Paul', the 3.3v is not required. Here is a search string for what you require "4-Pin IDE Molex to 15-Pin Serial ATA SATA" Example; https://www.ebay.com/itm/4-Pin-IDE-M...ATA-SATA-Hard- Drive-Power-Adapter-Cable-2pcs/232601974008?hash=item36282874f8:g:EJoAAO SwiHpaL5D- I think that string might exclude too many: I'd just use "Molex to SATA", unless that generated too many. -- J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf Have the courage to be ordinary - people make themselves so desperately unhappy trying to be clever and totally original. (Robbie Coltrane, RT 8-14 Nov. 1997.) |
#10
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Added hard drive - but only have 4-pin molex - no available SATA power cables
On Fri, 01 Jun 2018 01:34:12 -0400, Paul wrote:
You can get a Molex to single SATA connector (about 6 to 8" cable). There is also a Molex to two SATA connector cable, with the wires on that Y shape being maybe 12" or a bit more. I would not use a SATA to dual SATA Y cable, because that would potentially (worst case) violate the current rating of the connector on the PSU side. Thanks for that advice to tie to the 4-pin molex and not use the existing SATA cable (for amperage purposes), which makes a lot of good sense so I'll go with the molex to SATA or even molex to dual SATA (which seems like a good idea if I want to add another disk later). Whereas the Molex is rated 6-8 amps or so (depends on wire gauge crimped into the four pins). SATA fifteen pin is 1 ampere per contact, or 3 amps per rail. Thanks for letting me know the logic of your recommendation, which I accept (which tells me, electrically, molex to SATA is better than SATA to SATA). The SATA has 3.3, 5V, 12V. Only microSATA drives ever used 3.3V and they've disappeared from the market. Virtually all commonly available storage right now, works with the 5V and 12V (which is on the Molex source). Thanks for letting me know that the 3.3VDC need is rare, so that helps. Now, on NVMe, I understand there's 3.3V on that, but I didn't look it up and check, and at the moment, you're less likely to be dealing with "extension cords" for such things :-) I also just independently confirmed the lack of 3.3 volts by pulling out the new drive and looking at the label on the drive, which says the 12 and 5 volts but no 3.3 volts so that confirms there is no 3.3 volts on this new drive, as you said it would be. (I wish they just said that on the box or in the instructions that came with the box.) What I did a year or two ago, is go to my one remaining good computer store in town, and buy a "mix" of cables. The store has its "own-branded" product, which is Chinese-sources, but the construction seems to be reputable. And I have one of the Molex to two SATA for powering a couple SSDs in the new computer. I think that's good advice to buy a few when cheap and then connect the spare molex to the spare molex-to-SATA cable inside the desktop case when you buy a new desktop! That way you're always prepared. One thing my computer store doesn't have is ESATA cables, and they're a big zero on that stuff. But for internal drives, they have the red data cables in several formulations, and they have some Molex to SATA adapters. I had asked what cables I need when I was at the store and they said there usually are plenty of power connections, but mine only had 3 SATA and one Molex. I didn't know what to look for, but now I do. Thanks. I like the single connector cable, as it doesn't get in the way a lot when I'm using it. The benefit of the Molex to two SATA, is in fact the longer cables. By being a bit longer, I can position the second (unused) end some place safe, rather than it getting pinched in the computer case side panel. Unless the cost is prohibitive, I'll go with the one molex to two SATA. That way I have a spare. The latching feature on this one, mine doesn't have that. And I haven't had any problems with the power ones staying on. I do like the latch on the data cables, but that doesn't work with WDC hard drives that have a gap where that latch would have worked. Speaking of latches, I didn't realize the DATA connector for SATA is latched, so I broke one end. It stays on OK though. Thanks for the advice. I will plan on picking up a molex to two SATA which is a good compromise. |
#11
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Added hard drive - but only have 4-pin molex - no available SATA power cables
On Fri, 1 Jun 2018 16:04:43 +0100, Patrick wrote:
As mentioned by 'Paul', the 3.3v is not required. You are right! I put in the new WD Blue hard disk and it works fine at SATA2-0 as the boot disk (with the SATA power connector), and each of the other two disks independently work fine as ancillary disks - but until I pick up the cable, I'm one power cable short. Now I'm just curious if it matters that I pull off the SATA data cable from the one disk that doesn't have power? I've been swapping both connectors each time I need data from those two old disks, but since I have plenty of SATA data cables, would it be "safe" to just leave the SATA data cable on the one disk that doesn't yet have a power connector? I googled and didn't find anyone that reported a problem but I'm just asking about your experience where I already know it's "safer" to NOT have the data cable without a power cable. But I was just wondering if anyone knew if it's literally safe to have just the data cable on a disk? |
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Added hard drive - but only have 4-pin molex - no available SATApower cables
Frank Weg wrote:
But I was just wondering if anyone knew if it's literally safe to have just the data cable on a disk? AFAIK, SATA data lanes are capacitively coupled. Leaving the cable connected, shouldn't leave DC bias on them. GND GND TX+ ---||-------------------- RX+ TX- ---||-------------------- RX- GND GND RX+ --------------------||--- TX+ RX- --------------------||--- TX- GND GND That's reasonably fool-proof. ESD still wouldn't be very healthy for it. Since the PCB on disk drives is turned upside-down, it's not possible to easily verify this by visual examination near the connector say (i.e. look for the two matched caps). On modern drives, you can only see the solder-side. ******* In years past, data connections between subsystems were DC-coupled. If the power went off on one subsystem, current would flow from CMOS I/Os on the powered systems, into the unpowered systems. Sufficient current can flow, to charge the rails on the unpowered subsystem, and it continues to run. We got a great demo in the lab one day. Our resident genius in the lab, he was in charge of thinking up crazy failure scenarios. So while we're watching, he shuts off the power on something he's not supposed to shut off. And... the second subsystem, the status LEDs are *still* lit, and "sane looking". The subsystem runs off a 5V supply, and the DC leakage from the powered system managed to charge the rails in the unpowered subsystem to 3.6V, which was barely enough to cause it to be fully functional and running! It was funny as hell. Especially the look on his face, when it doesn't (really) shut off... Today, if called upon, we fix that with transmission gates, and those can cut off the current flow. With an extra I/O delay of 250pS or so. If the coding scheme allows it, being able to capacitively couple the I/O is a nicer kind of bound. Some early fiber optics bits and pieces, used to use 8B10B for that reason, making receiver design a bit easier (receiver doesn't have to work all the way down to DC). PCI Express has switched to 128b/130b for revision 3, but I don't know what that means for the spectrum of the signals as it's running. It's probably still capacitively coupled. My guess is, the electrical properties aren't going to be nearly as nice. Since all the standards tend to evolve and share ideas at the same time, you'd expect SATA to be tempted to do that also. And that coding scheme is stretched pretty far. If they no longer like that one, the next option would be "scramblers". Which have almost zero overhead, and the properties aren't nicely bounded. HTH, Paul |
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Added hard drive - but only have 4-pin molex - no available SATA power cables
You can by-pass all this, and reduce the clutter
and tangle by using one of these..... https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2-5-...354341581.html I have two for 3 HDD & an SSD and I'm getting a third for some old IDE HDDs. Note for the power they plug into a wall socket via a small transformer. |
#14
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Added hard drive - but only have 4-pin molex - no available SATApower cables
Peter Jason wrote:
You can by-pass all this, and reduce the clutter and tangle by using one of these..... https://www.aliexpress.com/item/2-5-...354341581.html I have two for 3 HDD & an SSD and I'm getting a third for some old IDE HDDs. Note for the power they plug into a wall socket via a small transformer. And how many wall adapters do you have so far ? I have eight of them right now. I don't really have room for any more. There are no good bays left for them. (Some of mine are mounted in 3D, using cross-shaped 1 to 3 adapters.) These things are great. And give you extra mileage from your power strip. You may not be able to use these on adjacent strip outlets, as you need them to be spaced to make room for the height of the adapter. I have around four power strips (the one for the wall adapters is switched). https://www.amazon.com/3-grounded-Ou.../dp/B0065N2T5A ******* Some of the docks aren't properly ballasted so they stay put. They can also transfer vibration to the drive (versus a tray that uses silicon grommets for shock relief). Paul |
#15
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Added hard drive - but only have 4-pin molex - no available SATA power cables
On Fri, 1 Jun 2018 05:04:32 +0000 (UTC), Frank Weg
wrote: I bought a hard drive for a dual-boot Win7/Win10 desktop, and bought the SATA cable, but I didn't realize until I got home that the only unused power connector available out of the 530Watt power supply is the round-pin 4-pin molex type and not the flat wide SATA power connector. There are only 3 flat SATA power cables coming out of the power supply. + One flat SATA power cable is going to the dvd drive + One flat SATA power cable goes to disk1 + One flat SATA power cable goes to disk2 But I just put a third disk in place today which needs a power connection. Googling I saw that the flat wide SATA power connector has 3.3 volts (in addition to 5 & 12 volts) while the 4-pin molex does not have 3.3 volts (it only has the 5 and 12 volts). The hard drive is a brand new 1TB WD Blue which doesn't say on the box or in the instructions if it needs the missing 3.3VDC. But I need to buy "something" to power the new hard disk drive. Either a new power supply (which is probably overkill) because this power supply only has 3 SATA flat power cables, or an adapter from molex to SATA, or an adapter from one SATA to two SATA cable ends. What is generally the best idea when you need 1 more flat SATA power? SATA drives still have the round pin power connector or you could use an adapter. |
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