MSI Sata power cable missing orange wire.

[JSLIM]

ok, I noticed my Neopower came with sata power cable has an orange wire, but this adapter doesn't have the orange wire which came with the mobo, will this be a problem? And whats the orange wire for?

linky

 

[GuileVsGuile]

i think the orange wire is +3.3V...for the hdd's circuitry

 

[JSLIM]

so does that mean I can't use that adapter in the picture??

 

[blodhi74]

Cant access the pic

 

[Cheezeit]

Originally posted by: blodhi74
Cant access the pic

 

[CrashX]

I believe he is talking about SATA power connectors have 5 wires instead of 4 like the old style Molex connectors. Instead of red-black-black-yellow they are yellow-black-red-black-orange.

But Molex to SATA power adapters don't have the orange (3.3V) on the end because it wouldn't connect to anything. I assume at this point the 3.3V isn't really needed?

 

[us3rnotfound]

link is fvcked up

 

[JSLIM]

Originally posted by: CrashX
I believe he is talking about SATA power connectors have 5 wires instead of 4 like the old style Molex connectors. Instead of red-black-black-yellow they are yellow-black-red-black-orange.

But Molex to SATA power adapters don't have the orange (3.3V) on the end because it wouldn't connect to anything. I assume at this point the 3.3V isn't really needed?

this is exactly what im talking about. would it be ok to use the adapter w/o the orange wire.

fyi: sorry about the link, was working

 

[CrashX]

I use the adapter on several machines. I've never had a problem. I imagine the adapter wouldn't be included with so many motherboards if it wasn't known to work.

 

[JSLIM]

Originally posted by: CrashX
I use the adapter on several machines. I've never had a problem. I imagine the adapter wouldn't be included with so many motherboards if it wasn't known to work.

yes I understand it works, but I want to know if there is a downside to not having the orange wire.

 

[JSLIM]

anyone with a definite answer, come forward. lol

 

[imported_Kensai]

None of them have the "orange wire".... They never do. It isn't used by the hard drives. HDs only draw off the 5V and 12V lines to my knowledge.
Unless you have a special HD, you don't need it.

 

[Topweasel]

I just Looked at the specification for sata and it calls for the cables having 5 volt 12 volt and 3.3 volt connectors I then states that if any of the three rails is not being used then the drive needs to terminate the line. This would answer why there is a minor increase on power usage with SATA, if the drives where not using 3.3 volts it would still draw a little power at the point it is terminated. Chances are that since most drives right now are designed to use both SATA and IDE and also have the legacy power connectors, they don't use the 3.3v line and the adapter people are aware of this. If drive manufacturers Did use the 3.3 then the adapters would be worthless because the drive probably wouldn't even spin up at startup.