SATA hard drive question

  • Thread starter Thread starter sdeyoreo
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sdeyoreo

Do SATA hard drives have different power connectors than regular PATA
harddrives? If so, can you get an power connector adapter? I was
looking at a seagate manual for thier SATA 80 Gb hd and the power
connector sure looked like it had many more pins.
 
Do SATA hard drives have different power connectors than regular PATA
harddrives? If so, can you get an power connector adapter? I was
looking at a seagate manual for thier SATA 80 Gb hd and the power
connector sure looked like it had many more pins.
Click to expand...

SATA drives do use different power connectors. Some brands
(such as WD) support both while others (such as Seagate) only
use the new type.
 
Thanks. The 80 Gb Seagate drive I saw for sale was for $74 with no
cables, no s/w, no manuals.
 
SATA has a different power connector, which supports +12v,
+5v, +3.3v, and ground. It is also designed to mechanically
connect the ground pins before the voltage pins (if you look
closely, you might notice the different length pin/traces).

PATA has a power connector which supports +12v, +5v, and
ground; no 3.3v.

If you have a SATA drive which actually uses the +3.3v
connection, you can't use an adapter. If you are lucky
and your SATA drive doesn't use the +3.3v connection, then
you can use an adapter.
 
Oh man, I'll have to look into this some more!
SATA has a different power connector, which supports +12v,
+5v, +3.3v, and ground. It is also designed to mechanically
connect the ground pins before the voltage pins (if you look
closely, you might notice the different length pin/traces).

PATA has a power connector which supports +12v, +5v, and
ground; no 3.3v.

If you have a SATA drive which actually uses the +3.3v
connection, you can't use an adapter. If you are lucky
and your SATA drive doesn't use the +3.3v connection, then
you can use an adapter.
Click to expand...
 
Know of a particular SATA hd (around 80 GB) that can use an adapter
from a PATA connector?
 
Know of a particular SATA hd (around 80 GB) that can use an adapter
from a PATA connector?
Click to expand...

WD and Maxtor SATA drives can use regular 4-pin PATA power connectors.
 
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