Why not combine power and data cables for the harddrive standard like 80 pin SCSI?

[FishTankX]

It seems like this would vastly simplify power. You could easily just use like, a 15 pin SATA cable or something, and have drives and cards support the special connectors, maybe just 1 or 2 on the card. Then plug in a molex into the card itself, much like the graphics cards of today.

 

[FishTankX]

bumpity

 

[sharkeeper]

It could be done, but it would require lots of re-engineering of hardware to facilitate reliable, error free operation. SCA was designed from the ground up in this regard.

Cheers!

 

[FishTankX]

Really? Well, couldn't there be a way where you could combine the two cables into one super cable, slightly thicker, then have it terminte into the SATA power connector and the SATA data connector, then have the card supply power through a molex?

 

[imported_Phil]

It'd require way too much effort on the part of the hard disk standards authorities.

</sarcasm>

 

[FishTankX]

Actually, I don't think it'd require any standards work at all. Just merge the SATA power and data cables and get them apropriate shielding, the major work would be on the part of the card makers.

 

[Gunbuster]

Why do you keep saying "The Card" most IDE/SATA are on the mainboard.

I for one dont see a good reason to be pushing power for 4-8 drives throught the mainboard. Just adds another point of failure

 

[fevoldj2]

Well ya, it could all run thru a connectors on the mobo, just put 8 power plugs on there after making those plugs smaller with wire covers.... it wouldn't be too hard and it would clear up clutter

 

[FishTankX]

Well, as I understand it, each PCI slot carries ~20w, and the PCI-E slots carry even more power. Adding one or two powered connectors for system builders and such would likely improve airflow and allow for better routing.

Plus, it would allow for a vastly simplified hotswap system, if the power connectors and the data connectors were physically bound together.