That's the optional 12v plugin in case your power supply lacks sata type power connectors. You'll see that standard on sata drives while the thinner wider plug is generally used when available. Plus with more then one sata installed you would use the same 12v rail rather then stretching a second one over for the molex type connector.
Ah, so I won't have to worry about that one. I already ordered 2pcs 6" Molex to SATA Power Adapter Cable New - eBay (item 400131149460 end time Aug-22-10 21:33:35 PDT) today, which should be all I still need. Hope it gets here soon.
I have two of the same WD model 500gb drives as well as a 500gb Green Power model still in the old case here. If you present supply lacks the standard sata power connector that will work out. If the supply only has two already taken up then this is also a good move as well since sata is in and ide is eventually phasing out.
There are six extra 4-pin female Molex connectors spare in my tower, which is more than I should ever need. What do the standard sata power connectors look like?
The photo posted earlier is for the 15pin sata power connector. That plugs in to the left of the thinner data cable when looking at the rear of the drive.
You'll notice them on the present drives that are already installed. That will likely have another connector available on the same rail depending on what they put in for a supply. Generally they allow for someone adding a second drive in on most desktop models.
Yes, that is how I see it, and why I ordered these cables: 2pcs 6" Molex to SATA Power Adapter Cable New - eBay (item 400131149460 end time Aug-22-10 21:33:35 PDT)
Like I said, I have six Molex females on my wire bundle. For future connections I suppose, which I will never need.
If you ever plan a server case and only have 6 connectors on a supply but intend 8 drives a few of those will never hurt to have onhand as well as adding in a sata drive with some old supply in an old case where the board has ports but the supply lacks the connectors.
All the new supplies however depending on size small maybe only seeing 4, mid range seeing 6, and extra larger seeing 8 connectors wouldn't be a problem for a new custom case while prebuilds and old pcs can be limited. I don't think you could beat the price seen either!
I am not likely to ever build a sever, and in my current PC there is only room for 2 drives anyway.
Maybe not!
As far as only allowing two HDs!Well that's the trend you can expect to see since drive capcities have certainly increased over the last few years as well as people preferring more compact cases as well as energy saving being built into new systems which companies like!
I'll be dropping the new OS host/boot drive into another new build(microatx mid tower) that only allows two drives there. The one already in is a 1tb drive for storage. The supply however still provides 6 connectors being a 600w supply.
Originally if you had one of the older Sata I and some early Sata II drives you would see the 12v molex connector(pointed to in the attached image) where you now see a gap on that corner.
The other arrows going to the left in reverse order show DM(unused) for drive mode, D for 7pin data cable typically red when ordering a new main board separately, and pwr for power being the 15pin connector you saw posted earlier.
Yes, it's pretty clear now. The 8-pin drive mode connector had me wondering what it was for.
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