Question System not recognising my SATA SSD's, what could be wrong?

[Spartak]

Hey all, I just assembled my new build but it's not recognising my SSD's. It is however recognising my optical drive so there is power and the SATA ports appear to be working.

This is my system:
Asrock Z370M-ITX w/ Intel i5-8600K
Corsair MP500 M.2 > recognised
Optical drive SATA/floppy connector > recognised
2x Corsair 2.5" SSD SATA with power through a 4pin MOLEX to SATA splitter >not recognised
Windows 1511 --> 1803 both windows versions didn't recognise the SATA SSD's

Here's what I tried:
* making sure the ATX power connectors were properly fixed. They weren't at first so I thought this would solve the issue, but sadly it did not.
* make sure the power and sata connectors were properly connected
* swap the SATA ports, try only one
* swap the 4pin MOLEX to SATA splitter for another one

So at this point I think I excluded every part from failing or not being properly connected. The SSD's have been in use prior to this build so it can't be the SSD's either...

Anybody have any idea what the issue could be?

 

[hayhayhayday]

drives dont show in bios or just windows?

 

[Spartak]

they don't show up in BIOS

 

[LTC8K6]

I'll guess that they don't have power for some reason.

 

[VirtualLarry]

You don't have regular SATA power leads coming off the PSU spare for the SSDs? I agree, sound like they're not getting power correctly.

 

[Spartak]

There is one direct SATA power lead but that one doesn't work either (it was a pain to test as I had to disassemble the entire PC to disconnect the connector to the optical drive first...gotta love SFF chasis when you need to troubleshoot!).

I'm thinking it's the power delivery indeed, I have a new DC-ATX PSU and that might be the problem...might as well order a second one since it's not so expensive.

 

[Spartak]

Hmmm, i just checked the voltages and both the SSD's and the optical drive use the 5V rail. The optical drive gets power and I've had just a single SSD connected at some point so if it powers the optical drive it should have no issue powering the SSD either.

 

[LTC8K6]

"If M2_1 is occupied by a SATA-type M.2 device, SATA3_0 will be disabled. "

Not sure if that would apply?

 

[Spartak]

Asrock support just wrote the same! But no, the Corsair Force MP500 is PCIe3.0x4.

I did short the system with a DIY AC connector. Maybe it killed both SSD's. Guess I'll need to check one at work. I wanted to check with my old system but strangely enough it doesn't power on with the new DC-ATX unit. Pretty sure everything was connected as should.

Damn these self-builds can be a PITA especially in combo with exotic DIY power solutions.

 

[aigomorla]

SSD's need power off the 5V.
IF your PSU is not outputing on the 5V rail then it wont show.
This is why SSD's can be run off USB without an additional power supply.

I always have something like this on hand:
https://www.amazon.com/SATA-Drive-A...DYS8W8Z6H2F&psc=1&refRID=DBP71V6WNDYS8W8Z6H2F
for situations like this.

If it doesn't work via USB, then the drive is dead, or your board has a bad usb header.

 

[Spartak]

That's a handy device!

I just tested on my old system and the power on it is flaky, will only restart after a hard power unplug/replug. Also, some of the USB ports not working.

OTOH on my new system the optical drive was working which also runs on 5V. But it does seem there are issues with the 5V rail.