Questions for using old laptop SATA drive in desktop

Toggle sidebar Toggle sidebar
B

bphillips79

Distinguished
Sep 4, 2012
27
0
18,530
Hey folks. I realize there are quite a few threads on this topic, but I didn't see answers to my questions so I'm posting here. I'm hoping to use a Hitachi 5K320-250GB. When I pulled it out of the laptop, it had an adapter on it that took up up both of the "ports". The only thing that can plug into the adapter is the SATA cord, with no spot for the power cord. My harddrive looks like this:

plugs.jpg


The only difference is that on the far left side in the pic below there's a power port, mine is empty. There is just a hole and no power plugs. So, on to my questions:

* Does the SATA port on my motherboard power the drive as well as being a data port? I'm assuming no and that the adapter was unique to that laptop
* How can I tell which cable on my PSU is the 5v? I don't have the manual anymore and I can't find it on the interwebs

Motherboard: ASUS M5a97
PSU: PC Power and Cooling Silencer Mk II 750W
HD: Hitachi 5K320-250GB
 
Solution
Solandri
Not sure what the problem is. That looks like standard SATA data (left) and SATA power (right) ports.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA#/media/File:2.5-inch_SATA_drive_on_top_of_a_3.5-inch_SATA_drive,_close-up_of_data_and_power_connectors.jpg

The old-style molex power connectors were put on some drives with the SATA power ports during the time we were transitioning from IDE to SATA. Many power supplies only had the molex power plugs. So the HDD makers put on both SATA and molex power plugs so the drive could be powered with either older or newer PSUs.

Edti: The 5 V cable from your PSU is colored red (ground is black). You really should be using standard power connectors though, instead of trying to rig up your own...
Sort by date Sort by votes
Solandri

Solandri

Illustrious
Jan 4, 2012
4,919
98
39,240
Not sure what the problem is. That looks like standard SATA data (left) and SATA power (right) ports.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA#/media/File:2.5-inch_SATA_drive_on_top_of_a_3.5-inch_SATA_drive,_close-up_of_data_and_power_connectors.jpg

The old-style molex power connectors were put on some drives with the SATA power ports during the time we were transitioning from IDE to SATA. Many power supplies only had the molex power plugs. So the HDD makers put on both SATA and molex power plugs so the drive could be powered with either older or newer PSUs.

Edti: The 5 V cable from your PSU is colored red (ground is black). You really should be using standard power connectors though, instead of trying to rig up your own.
http://www.helpwithpcs.com/hardware/img/power-supply/atx-psu-pinouts.gif

If you need to convert from molex to SATA power, you can buy adapters from most computer stores.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200061
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
Solution
B

bphillips79

Distinguished
Sep 4, 2012
27
0
18,530


So my confusion came from misreading the specs of the HDD. I thought it needed less than 5v and I see now that it uses the regular 5v SATA. Fortunately, my PSU has those. So I feel very silly now. I appreciate your help because your response help cleared up my confusion!
 
Upvote 0 Downvote
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Latest posts

Moderators online

Share this page

COMPANY
RESOURCES
FOLLOW
Top Bottom