SATA hard drive power connector

[dejunjing]

I just received Western Digital SATA hard drive. Inside the package there is a data cable, no power cable.

I saw the power connector on this drive is completely the same as the 4-pin connector on ATA drive. But as I often saw from this forum, SATA hard drive generally use different SATA power cable. Lots of PSU specifications also say that they include SATA cable. Also, my Asus A8V came with two Y-shape cable adaptor for converting 4-pin to SATA connector.

I am confused now. The Antec True550 that I ordered is on it way, so I do not know what connector will come (it says 2 SATA connectors are included.)

So, for this Western Digital HD, I just use the ordinary 4-pin power cable of PSU? The voltage will be the same? Thanks for your answer.

 

[jparnell]

Yes...its exactly the same.
My SATA Maxtor drive has two power connectors..one SATA and one 'normal 4 pin' connector. Ive used the normal connector as the SATA one would have meant using the adaptor supplied with the motherboard..and it wouldnt make any difference to the operation of the HDD or anything

 

[dejunjing]

Thank you for your answer.

So why some motherboard come this kind of adaptor? Also some PSU indicate they include SATA cable?

Maybe except West Digital, SATA HD from other company has the 'True' SATA connector instead of traditional ATA connector? Just curious about it. This is my first time to have a SATA HD.

 

[airfoil]

The HDD manufacturer seems to have left the older power connector on as an option, to make it easier for new folks to use SATA. There will probably be 3 sockets available on your drive:

1. SATA data scoket
2. SATA power socket
3. IDE power socket, which can be used in place of #2

 

[AnotherGuy]

My Seagate SATA did not have a regular 4pin power connector slot... but mobo and psu had a 4pin sata inverter(adapter) to make it adaptable for the Sata.

 

[dejunjing]

Originally posted by: airfoil
The HDD manufacturer seems to have left the older power connector on as an option, to make it easier for new folks to use SATA. There will probably be 3 sockets available on your drive:

1. SATA data scoket
2. SATA power socket
3. IDE power socket, which can be used in place of #2

Yes, from the manual, the wider end of the cable has both SATA data scoket and SATA power socket, meaning that the power and data sockets are combined together in one cable.

So I can not use power from PSU, and looks like I have to use power from motherboard SATA socket. Since I will use 2 such SATA HD, I am concerning whether motherboard can provide sufficient power? Do you think my concern is unnecessary? Thanks.

 

[duke2106]

I have a SATA drive that does not have the traditional 4 pin connector, but it does not draw power from the motherboard. It still draws it's power from the power supply.

 

[helpmeout]

Your Antec power supply will come with two SATA power connectors. You can't draw power through the data cable from the MOBO.

 

[imported_Mitchell]

Basically you take your pick.

 

[dejunjing]

Originally posted by: helpmeout
Your Antec power supply will come with two SATA power connectors. You can't draw power through the data cable from the MOBO.

Since the data socket and power socket are combined together (arranged in line and also very close) on one end of cable, how can I use PSU power? I can only get power from motherboard, since the other end of the cable is for SATA motherboard socket.

 

[airfoil]

Originally posted by: dejunjing

Originally posted by: helpmeout
Your Antec power supply will come with two SATA power connectors. You can't draw power through the data cable from the MOBO.

Since the data socket and power socket are combined together (arranged in line and also very close) on one end of cable, how can I use PSU power? I can only get power from motherboard, since the other end of the cable is for SATA motherboard socket.

I'm not sure what you mean. SATA DATA cables only have 2 ends, one end plugs into the HDD and the other into the motherboard. These cables are normally red in color. Data & power cables are logically never paired together.

If your issue is not knowing what POWER connector to use, if your HDD has an SATA power socket and your PSU has a SATA power connector, then that's the ideal way to go. The data & power cables will seat themselves close to each other on the HDD.

Now if your PSU does not offer you an SATA power connector and you have the option of powering your HDD with a regular power connector, then thats your next option.

 

[helpmeout]

Airfoil explained it very well.

 

[dejunjing]

There is only one cable coming with the retail box. At one end, it is a very wide end where the cable connect is arranged side by side with the power connect. I can not separate the two connects. If I insert the data connect to the HD soket, the power connect also goes into the power socket on the HD. This is why I can not use PSU SATA connector.

According to the manual of HD, only this cable need to be plugged to the HD socket, which simultaneously plug data and power sockets.

Let me say in this way: The pin in the socket of HD divides into two parts just like memory, one for power, one for data

 

[dejunjing]

I know what airfox explained, but the problem is he mis-understood me. My fault, I did not express clearly.

I know what airfox said (thank him very much). He means: use the red data cable (I have it coming with my motherboard) to connect HD SATA data socket and motherboard SATA socket. Then use another power cable to connect between HD power socket and PSU. I also have this cable. SO I can do this according to what airfox said.

The problem is (maybe I am too curious) is: there is only one blue cable coming with WD SATA HD. At one end it includes both SATA and power connector, which can not be separated. Also, according to the manual, this cable is recommended to use. However, use this cable, how the power come? SInce the other end is only connected to motherboard. So will power be extracted from motherboard? This is just my curiosity.

 

[KamiXkaze]

just like what everyone else has pointed out it all depends on psu that either
a)came with your case
b)bought seperately(most of the time because of getting a better one versus the generic)

 

[helpmeout]

I have Seagate SATA hard drives, not familiar with WD. It sounds strange to me though. Maybe someone with Western Digital HD will see this and post.

Here is what I found in WD SATA drives description on ZipZoomFly:
Edit:

FlexPower? ? connector technology that accepts power from both industry-standard and new SATA power supplies

My advice: use SATA data cable that came with motherboard, and power cable built into Antec power supply.

 

[dejunjing]

Originally posted by: helpmeout
I have Seagate SATA hard drives, not familiar with WD. It sounds strange to me though. Maybe someone with Western Digital HD will see this and post.

Here is what I found in WD SATA drives description on ZipZoomFly:
Edit:

FlexPower? ? connector technology that accepts power from both industry-standard and new SATA power supplies

My advice: use SATA data cable that came with motherboard, and power cable built into Antec power supply.

Thanks a lot. I guess I will follow your suggestion, using two separate cables. The WD blue cable is very tempting, since only one cable, very neat, including both data and power cables.

 

[kaborka]

I found this old thread while searching for SATA power info. I've got the same question as dejunjing had. The WD 120 SATA drive I got has a combined SATA data + power cable (the "blue cable" dejunjing mentioned). It has the regular SATA controller connecter at one end, but the other end has a different connector that plugs into both the SATA data and power connectors on the drive. So, it looks like if the controller is set up to provide power through this combination cable, there's no need to use a connector from the PSU. Does anyone use their drives this way? Are all SATA controllers capable of providing power through the single cable (is it part of the SATA standard)?

 

[DS Delaroca]

kaborka if im not mistaking the cable that u and the other guy are using, are what WD call secure connect cables, but the problem with this cables its that when u use them instead of the regular red sata cables its that they block the sata power connection in the drive, so therefore u are only to use the 4ping power cable, here its the secure connect cable wich if im not mistaking its what u got http://www.newegg.com/app/view...=22-999-801&depa=0 and here its a regular SATA cable http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=12-105-911&depa=0 As u can see the difference its on the tip of the data connector.

 

[her34]

and what was the reason for creating a new power connector for sata drives, when they can perfectly make sata drives using the old connector?

will sata optical drives use the new power connector also?

 

[stevty2889]

DS is right, that cable doesn't provide both power and DATA, it is just used to help keep the cable securly connected to the hard drive. The connectors are the drives are pretty fragile and can easily break, and the secure connect cable from WD helps to prevent this mishap by having the cable secured to both the data connector and the power connector. You can power the SATA drive with either a sata power connector from the PSU, or with the standard 4 pin molex. Just don't use both. As for the secure connect cable, I wouldn't mind having one right now, one of the Data connectors broke on one of my raptors. It still works, but the cable is on very loosly, and could fall off at any time.

 

[kaborka]

It is indeed a "Secure Connect" cable. But you'd think WD would at least have friggin explained that it doesn't provide power! As a newbie to SATA, I wasn't sure. This drive has both power connectors, so I'll use the WD cable + a molex from my PSU.

her34: The SATA standard includes 3.3V on the new SATA power connector. I don't know of any drives that need it, though. On new PSUs with SATA power connectors, you'll see the orange wire on the SATA power connector. SATA power adapters that plug into a standard Molex have only the 12 and 5V lines, so you need to be sure your drive doesn't need 3.3V -- a sure bet if the drive also has a Molex connector on it, like my WD drive.