I need to connect a 2.5" SATA disk to a Desktop PC internally, not through USB.

Since 2.5" SATA disks require 5V unlike 3.5" SATA which need 12V, is it still alright to connect a 2.5" SATA Disk to a Desktop PC's power using a Molex to SATA power connector? This has the yellow 12V cable. Is the 2.5" SATA disk able to auto-select just 5V and not be fried by the 12V?

Thanks in advance all.

psu does not push it's power to a component, it provides just as much as it needs. no prob

I think this advice is incorrect and potentially dangerous (likely only to the drive, not your house or anything). The PSU will not push down more amps than the device connected to it requires, but hooking up 12V power to something that's designed for 5V is NOT a good idea. You try plugging your 120V TV into a 220V dryer socket, and see what happens. That's why they make the plugs a different shape.

To the OP, I'd recommend talking to the manufacturer. I don't know if it will work or not, but I wouldn't try it based solely on the first response.

Clint

Thanks DkN & Clint.

Could you please check out the following & help me decipher if that sheds any light?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA#Power

I'm still in the dark after reading it together with your responses. I hope we can all benefit from this discussion & I really appreciate your time & contributions.

Thanks again.

Thanks DkN & Clint.

Could you please check out the following & help me decipher if that sheds any light?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA#Power

I'm still in the dark after reading it together with your responses. I hope we can all benefit from this discussion & I really appreciate your time & contributions.

Thanks again.

The drive will use whatever power connections it requires (5V/12V/both), any unused lines will just be ignored.

You wont have any problem at all. I did that same thing on my E6550 system to achieve a reduction in sound coming from my case and heat generation. I have a 2.5 inch 160gb SATA drive hooked and it's perfect.

On a side note, it is the most quiet computer I have ever heard...or not heard for that matter.

Thanks so much MrLinux & pbrigido.

pbrigido,

To confirm, you connected your 160GB 2.5" SATA to your Desktop PC's Molex power connector using a Molex to SATA Power adapter?

Thanks.

DONT DO IT!

I had to send my laptop off for service so I pulled the brand new 250gb samsung sata drive and sent the laptop on it's merry way.

A few days later I desperately needed to access some info on the drive and on closer inspection I couldn't help notice that the 2.5" sata hd connectors are the same as a 3.5" model.

Now industry standards being relatively reliable with something like sata leads me to think that of course it'll be safe. The 12volt line can't possibly be connected in the drive right. Then I browsed some forums just to double check and like this thread, the overall vibe was no probs. So I went ahead and (very stupidly) connected both the 250gb samsung drive, and the original 60gb drive figuring why should 60gb lay waste when it fits in my gaming pc.

Nada, nothing... no sign of the drives in my desktop pc bios. I have a Seasonic M12 psu, I happened to have a molex to two sata adapter cable on hand so rather than fumble about in the back of the loft looking for the official M12 modular psu sata power lead, I just connected this molex to sata adapter.

Yeah so no life from the drives. I figured ah well, mustnt work.

Anyway, my laptop returned from service yesterday. I reconnected the 250gb drive and what do you know.... DEAD AS A DODO!!! then I tried the 60gb in the laptop, also dead! and I'm talking no spinup, nothing.... dead.

So guys i advise against this.. Use a usb external enclosure adapter or at least an internal 3.5" to 2.5" bracket with a power line adapter that only supplies 5v to the drive, if such a thing exists.

Might be a workaround for the power issue...buy a 5V voltage regulator and run your power through it. All a voltage regulator does is dissipate the extra voltage, and you should have a stable 5V. You just have to make sure that you buy a +5 Volt regultor (negative voltage models are available, you don't want these), and that its rated for higher than the 3-4 watts your drive will probably consume. You should be able to buy one at a radio shack or something like that. Here's one:

http://www.radioshack.com/pwr/prod [...] -7805.html

Ok...to connect it...the picture they have there is upside down, the pins should be pointing down, and that orientation is where I give the directions here from. All you really need to do is connect the input pin (left side of the regulator looking at the front) to your 12V power, your output pin (right side of regulator) supplies the 5V power to your drive, and connect the center lead to your negative/ground wire. You'll probably need to splice it directly into the wires...so only do it if you're really sure you want to use this drive for a while.

If you want to have a little more fun with it, How Stuff Works has a guide for it at the following URL...ignore the references to a transformer and all, you just want the filter info...and you honestly don't need the capacitors, since the incoming power is already filtered...it goes so far as to show you how to add an LED into the circuit too, so you'll know if you did it right and have power:

http://electronics.howstuffworks.c [...] onics4.htm

Same connector, See here: http://techreport.com/articles.x/9378