Another SATA 7 pin interface cable, splitter question.

[389poncho]

Great morning to you all,
I do understand, from much reading, that the rule is only 1 drive per 7-pin port is allowed. I have 3 HDs hooked up to my Dell E510 [W10, W7, XP]. All works well, but being short one 7 pin sata interface port [I only have 2], requires me to move that cable from one drive to the third drive to run it.

I use an Orico HD-PW4101 SATA power switch to control these 3 drives. It works great and completely cuts all power to the 2 drives that are not being used. It powers only one at a time. So because of this, my question is: Shouldn't I be able to use a SATA interface/data cable "Y" splitter, 7 pins at both ends, to connect two drives? One of the two drives will always be dead and the MB port should only recognize the powered drive, right? [hard cable to find I do understand]

IF this will work OK, has anyone seen such a 7 pin [at both ends] splitter cable? I have not yet but am still looking. I do see many with a 36 pin connector at one end.

I would very much appreciate any help.
T'care,
Mike

 

[giantbucket]

simpler to just buy a 4-port PCI or PCIe SATA card. then you can have a few more drives and not have to screw around with moving cables.

 

[389poncho]

simpler to just buy a 4-port PCI or PCIe SATA card. then you can have a few more drives and not have to screw around with moving cables.

Giantbucket,
Thank you for the reply. You beat me to it. I am in the process of doing just that and was going to report back in after I got the card. I found a card specifically for this E510 from Discount Computer. It was only $12.00!!! Heck, that specialized cable, IF I ever found one, would likely be more than that.
Thanks again.
T'care,
Mike

 

[giantbucket]

yup, those cards are handy. i have one PCI and one PCIe that sometimes get used, sometimes sit in a box. great to have spare parts kicking around! at $12, that's better than what i paid for mine! i think they were $25 to $35 each.

 

[389poncho]

yup, those cards are handy. i have one PCI and one PCIe that sometimes get used, sometimes sit in a box. great to have spare parts kicking around! at $12, that's better than what i paid for mine! i think they were $25 to $35 each.

Maybe it's $12.00 because it's only a 2-port card, but that will still give me one more port than I need right now.
There is an obsolete, unused ethernet card in that slot now that should come out anyway [a win/win actually [;-) T'care