Can you connect 2.5" hard drives to a desktop?

[Dougx1317]

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.

 

[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).

 

[Dougx1317]

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?

 

[cjl]

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.

 

[Dougx1317]

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