SATA power from PS w/orange wire?

[Lou]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

The SATA power cable that comes from my new power supply has an orange wire
(along with the black,red and yellow). The instructions show this wire to
have 3.3vdc . Other power cable adaptors for SATA (that connect to the
normal 4 wire power plugs) that I have seen do not have this orange 3.3v
wire. What is the extra wire for and why would I want to use it?

Thanks,
Lou

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 20:22:33 -0700, "Lou" <no-spam@sonic.net> wrote:

>The SATA power cable that comes from my new power supply has an orange wire
>(along with the black,red and yellow). The instructions show this wire to
>have 3.3vdc . Other power cable adaptors for SATA (that connect to the
>normal 4 wire power plugs) that I have seen do not have this orange 3.3v
>wire. What is the extra wire for and why would I want to use it?
>
>Thanks,
>Lou
>

It is 3V on the orange wire.
Eventually SATA drives may (should) use 3.3V but for the time being the
industry is operating in "compatibility" mode as a transition (users don't
like compatibility problems and manufacturers don't like product returns)
and so drives are usually able to run from 5V given the right adapter.

You'd want to use the plug because it fits the drive.... sounds too
simple? Well, that's what it's there for, if a drive isn't able to use
the 3V for power it won't matter that the plug has 3V on it.

 

[Lou]

Archived from groups: alt.comp.hardware.homebuilt (More info?)

"kony" <spam@spam.com> wrote in message
news:e3lk70p4460h80m0mm6nuotc2787jjag28@4ax.com...
> On Sun, 11 Apr 2004 20:22:33 -0700, "Lou" <no-spam@sonic.net> wrote:
>
> >The SATA power cable that comes from my new power supply has an orange
wire
> >(along with the black,red and yellow). The instructions show this wire to
> >have 3.3vdc . Other power cable adaptors for SATA (that connect to the
> >normal 4 wire power plugs) that I have seen do not have this orange 3.3v
> >wire. What is the extra wire for and why would I want to use it?
> >
> >Thanks,
> >Lou
> >
>
> It is 3V on the orange wire.
> Eventually SATA drives may (should) use 3.3V but for the time being the
> industry is operating in "compatibility" mode as a transition (users don't
> like compatibility problems and manufacturers don't like product returns)
> and so drives are usually able to run from 5V given the right adapter.
>
> You'd want to use the plug because it fits the drive.... sounds too
> simple? Well, that's what it's there for, if a drive isn't able to use
> the 3V for power it won't matter that the plug has 3V on it.


OK thanks. So It does not make any difference in drive operation to use or
not use the 3v for now.
Thanks,
Lou