Tom's Hardware > Forum > Storage > Hard Disks > [Solved] Can you connect 2.5" hard drives to a desktop?

[Solved] Can you connect 2.5" hard drives to a desktop?

Forum Storage : Hard Disks - [Solved] Can you connect 2.5" hard drives to a desktop?

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Best answer from cjl.

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Dougx1317   10-20-2009 at 02:09:57 AM

Can you connect a 2.5" SATA notebook drive directly to a desktops power and data cables? I have read some people say yes, and some people say it's too much voltage. What is the answer? The drive is a Seagate Momentus 7200.3.

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Best answer from cjl
Yes. The pins are exactly the same. It's true that notebook drives only require 5V and 3.3V, and desktop drives require 12V, 5V, and 3.3V, but the pin arrangement is exactly the same (there just isn't anything connected to the 12V pin on a notebook drive).
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Bronze Storage badge cjl   10-20-2009 at 03:04:11 AM
Best answer

Yes. The pins are exactly the same. It's true that notebook drives only require 5V and 3.3V, and desktop drives require 12V, 5V, and 3.3V, but the pin arrangement is exactly the same (there just isn't anything connected to the 12V pin on a notebook drive).

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Dougx1317   10-20-2009 at 03:20:17 AM

So, I don't have to buy a converter or unplug the yellow cable on the drive? The hard drive will take care of the differences itself? Would it make sense to unplug the 12v cord just in case?

 

Is there any attractive way to mount a 2.5" drive in a 3.5" bay without a mounting kit?


Message edited by Dougx1317 on 10-20-2009 at 03:24:09 AM
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Bronze Storage badge cjl   10-20-2009 at 03:23:26 AM

Correct - you can simply plug the drive directly into the standard SATA power and data cables, and it should work just fine. As for an attractive mounting method? None that I know of without a mounting kit.

------------------------------ Asus P6T deluxe
i7 965 @ 4.2GHz (200*21), 1.384V
12GB Corsair Dominator DDR3-1600 CAS 7
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Dougx1317   10-20-2009 at 04:54:17 AM

Thanks. It works perfectly and has faster transfer rates than my 3.5" 7200.10. Thanks for the help.

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