Question What is this connector on HDD PCB?

[EeKoBuS]

Hi, I have a few 6TB WD Red harddisk (WD60EFRX), and I notice there is this odd protruding connector on the PCB. I tried looking it up on google and multiple forums, and have not seen any reference to it. I have not found a single photo online showing such a connector. Even WD own HDD specification sheet does not show such a connector.

Does anyone know what is the connector for, what is its name and use purpose?

Thanks.

 

[AllanGH]

J1, as far as I can tell is a diagnostic/programming interface. Why they would have even soldered it to the board is a bit beyond me.

I'd be probing that with an o'scope, while the drive is operating, to see if data appears there during reads and writes.

 

[popatim]

I'd be sending it right back or, if you want to have fun, go ask WD how this got out the door like that! Hahaha

 

[hotaru251]

gave quick search (and look) at the model and seeing as it isnt normal it's likely a mixup and/or a testing pcb accidently placed on it.

 

[AllanGH]

The pads are definitely present, and it appears to ba labeled as 'J1", if my eyes are seeing it correctly; but, yeah....I don't think that it was meant to go out the door like that. You might test it out to see if it's a wildly high throughput drive. It might be a bit of a boon for you if it's better than the average bear.

 

[fzabkar]

ICBW, but it looks like a JTAG connector.

I would advertise the drives at HDD Guru. I expect that there are data recovery guys who would be willing to buy them at a nice price. With any luck they will be prototypes with special factory firmware or other goodies.

Edit: I have already put the word out.

https://forum.hddguru.com/viewtopic.php?f=13&t=38448

 

[AllanGH]

Heck, even though I'm not a big user of WD, I'd buy one, just to experiment with it a bit.

 

[jsmithepa]

OBD for HDD?

 

[AllanGH]

Maybe OBD3?

 

[fzabkar]

It's an old PCB, but the information is very useful:

Marvell 88i6745n JTAG:
https://forum.hddguru.com/viewtopic.php?t=20324