Stupid question here

Steve325

Senior member
Aug 3, 2005
521
0
0
The cheapest one I can find B&M is 19.99. I was hoping to get this thing working ASAP! I thought my motherboard may have came with a SATA cable, but open boxes from Newegg are hit and miss, and I missed!
 

Elixer

Lifer
May 7, 2002
10,371
762
126
Just what are you trying to do?
All SATA cables are pretty much the same, in that, they should work in 1.5 mode.
Monoprice.com sells cheap/good SATA cables.
 

Steve325

Senior member
Aug 3, 2005
521
0
0
Originally posted by: taltamir
ebay.com
~3$ shipped for a cable.

I'm trying not to wait for them. I know shipping will take until next week for one.

I'm asking if the SATA cables, that comes with (branches off) the power supply, will power up my hard drive? I don't understand how this would work though because there's nothing going to the motherboard, so this is why I'm asking
 

VirtualLarry

No Lifer
Aug 25, 2001
56,587
10,225
126
You need both a SATA power cable, as well as a SATA data cable. The data cable connects to the mobo, and the power cable connects to the PSU. You need both of them connected, for the drive to work.

If your PSU doesn't have any SATA power cables, they make molex-to-SATA adaptors. If your mobo didn't come with any SATA data cables, you can buy them for under $10.
 

BlueAcolyte

Platinum Member
Nov 19, 2007
2,793
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Originally posted by: VirtualLarry
You need both a SATA power cable, as well as a SATA data cable. The data cable connects to the mobo, and the power cable connects to the PSU. You need both of them connected, for the drive to work.

If your PSU doesn't have any SATA power cables, they make molex-to-SATA adaptors. If your mobo didn't come with any SATA data cables, you can buy them for under $10.

So according to what Larry said, your hard drive will spin up if you plug the power into it, but your computer will not detect it since it is unconnected.
 

killster1

Banned
Mar 15, 2007
6,205
475
126
if you dont know about cables you might want to get someone to help you with your computer! sounds dangerous
 

Zap

Elite Member
Oct 13, 1999
22,377
7
81
Originally posted by: Steve325
I'm trying not to wait for them. I know shipping will take until next week for one.

Time to find a local mom&pop type computer shop. Shouldn't cost any more than from a legit e-tailer with shipping, and you'll have it RIGHT NOW TODAY.

Originally posted by: killster1
if you dont know about cables you might want to get someone to help you with your computer!

D'oh!

Seriously though, you have a friend local to you that has put computers together? It can be a great help and avoid a lot of frustrations.
 

Adam8281

Platinum Member
May 28, 2003
2,181
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Power and data are 2 separate things. You need the SATA cable from the power supply to make the hard drive spin, and you need a SATA data cable to connect from the hard drive to the motherboard.