Sata Power cable adapter question

[root]

I noticed that power supplies that provide SATA cables
have 5 wires going to the drive. In order the colors
are yellow-black-red-black-orange. The little cables
that connect to the IDE molex connectors have only
yellow-black-red-black. What is the orange wire for
in the power supply cable?

 

[Mike Paff]

I noticed that power supplies that provide SATA cables
have 5 wires going to the drive. In order the colors
are yellow-black-red-black-orange. The little cables
that connect to the IDE molex connectors have only
yellow-black-red-black. What is the orange wire for
in the power supply cable?

3.3V

 

[root]

3.3V

Thanks. The molex-sata power adapters don't have 3.3v
then. Do SATA drives need 3.3v?

See my next post for explanation.

 

[Mike Tomlinson]

Thanks. The molex-sata power adapters don't have 3.3v
then. Do SATA drives need 3.3v?

Yes. But if they are fed 5v they will use that and convert it down
internally.

As you surmised, a 4-pin Molex has 12v (yellow), two 0v (black) and 5v
(red). A SATA power connector has an additional 3.3v wire (orange).

What you MUST NOT do, if the drive has both Molex and SATA power
connectors on the back is connect both. Either is fine but never both.