Is it OK to connect hard drive to fan header on motherboard?

[rsuryase]

My PSU doesn't come with molex connectors, so is it OK to connect hard drive to fan header on motherboard? This is what the manual of the case manufacturer stated. I was thinking of using this cable from newegg, http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812119149

 

[jsc]

No. Two reasons.

THIS adapter will not work. Look close at the molex end of the adapter. There's only two wires - red and black. There's no yellow wire, therefore no 12 volts.

The pinout for a 4 pin CPU fan header is, from pins 1 through 4, CONTROL, SENSE, POWER (12 volts), GROUND. 3 pin header is SENSE, POWER, GROUND. No 5 volts on either.

I think you misunderstood the case manual. Many motherboard have extra fan headers on them to power and control case fans. Or the case fans can be plugged into an IDE drive type power connectopr. I really doubt the case manufacturer recommended powering a hard drive from a motherboard fan connector.

What kind of PSU does not have and IDE drive power connectors? Since IDE drives are still very common, I can't see a "latest design" PSU dispensing with them.

 

[akhilles]

Take a look at this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Computer_power_supply#Connectors

 

[rsuryase]

The server case I'm using is TST ESR-524
http://www.tstcom.com/product_details.asp?id=6
You can download the manual there. In the manual, it says to connect to fan power board on page 59. I guess the only other source of power on the case is a male molex connector (JP19), so it means I would need a 24' female to female molex cable, I haven't been able to find one through google.

 

[rsuryase]

I've called the company TST to purchase the female to female molex connectors. Thank you all for the advice.