Serial ATA Power Connections

**EricG** · 03-10-2006, 09:29 AM

Hi

I have 2 Serial ATA HDDs currently connected to two 4-pin auxilliary (legacy) power connections. I am intending to upgrade my PSU and notice that some recent PSUs have dedicated 5-pin SATA power connectors. The difference seems to be that the SATA connectors have an additional wire of 3.3V.

What is the purpose of this additional connection and what are the benefits or advantages of using it, if any?

**linderman** · 03-12-2006, 08:02 PM

not sure on the needs of the 3.3Volt "extra" wire but most all new PSU's have the dedicated sata connectors and they work like a charm

just amke sure when you buy your new PSU get a good quality one and a big one too !!!! avoid the junk and the market is full of it !!!!

Top of the line PSU's will cost over $100.00

the "hot deal now" is the Antec SP-500 for about $68.00 but I personally am a die hard Enermax ONLY lover now!

crazijoe · 03-12-2006, 08:37 PM

SATA power connectors will start carrying +3.3v, as well as +5 and +12. Current drives don't use the lower voltage option, but surely will in the future. Plus this is needed for the hot swap feature of the SATA drives.

**EricG** · 03-13-2006, 03:03 AM

Hi

Thanks for the explanation - it did seem strange that my very sparse HDD manuals both mentioned that either the 15-pin SATA (not 5-pin as I said earlier) or the 4-pin Legacy power connectors may be used without explaining the difference.

I did note the SATA Connectors had the extra voltage wires and wondered whether these gave additional features somehow.

03-10-2006, 09:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
EricG I helped the forums. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cumbria, England, UK Posts: 207 OS: Windows XP Home Edition My System	Serial ATA Power Connections Hi I have 2 Serial ATA HDDs currently connected to two 4-pin auxilliary (legacy) power connections. I am intending to upgrade my PSU and notice that some recent PSUs have dedicated 5-pin SATA power connectors. The difference seems to be that the SATA connectors have an additional wire of 3.3V. What is the purpose of this additional connection and what are the benefits or advantages of using it, if any? __________________ Eric G

03-12-2006, 08:02 PM	#2 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	not sure on the needs of the 3.3Volt "extra" wire but most all new PSU's have the dedicated sata connectors and they work like a charm just amke sure when you buy your new PSU get a good quality one and a big one too !!!! avoid the junk and the market is full of it !!!! Top of the line PSU's will cost over $100.00 the "hot deal now" is the Antec SP-500 for about $68.00 but I personally am a die hard Enermax ONLY lover now! __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

03-12-2006, 08:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
crazijoe Registered User Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Omaha, The Center of the Universe Posts: 7,632 OS: WinXP, Win2K3 My System	SATA power connectors will start carrying +3.3v, as well as +5 and +12. Current drives don't use the lower voltage option, but surely will in the future. Plus this is needed for the hot swap feature of the SATA drives. __________________ Microsoft MCSA + Messaging, MVP, A+, Network+ http://i16.photobucket.com/albums/b3...other/Help.jpg Do you want a real Republican? HDD diagnostic tools / HDD data recovery software

03-13-2006, 03:03 AM	#4 (permalink)
EricG I helped the forums. Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Cumbria, England, UK Posts: 207 OS: Windows XP Home Edition My System	Hi Thanks for the explanation - it did seem strange that my very sparse HDD manuals both mentioned that either the 15-pin SATA (not 5-pin as I said earlier) or the 4-pin Legacy power connectors may be used without explaining the difference. I did note the SATA Connectors had the extra voltage wires and wondered whether these gave additional features somehow. __________________ Eric G