How can I power an older IDE Hard Drive with a Power Supply with Only SATA power?

Question

I just bought a new computer, a DELL Inspiron 530. It has none of the older 4-pin power cables from the power supply; only the newer SATA power devices.

I have an older hard drive, that connects via IDE cables (the gray ribbon). Ive already bought the card that converts the IDE to SATA, and it is connected to the mother board.

Here is the problem: the IDE Hard Drive is powered with the 4-pin power supply that Ive seen on EVERY power supply before this one. The IDE to SATA converter came with an extension for that 4-pin power supply. But the power supply in the tower DOESNT HAVE ANY 4-PIN POWER ADAPTERS. It has one free SATA power.

Im looking to take the SATA power from my power supply, convert it to the old-style IDE 4-pin power supply (female) and plug it into the 4-pin extension (male) that powers my hard drive and SATA-IDE converter.

Most converters go the other way... Please post links with examples of parts, since I cannot find anything that lets me do what I am looking to

Answer 1

I am having a similar problem. I think I bought the same converting part you did, except the power cable that came with mine, while appearing like a 4-pin connector, only has two pins.... very strange (the other two spots where pins should be are just empty).



Anyway, I think I have found a cable that will work. The trick is that the adapter card requires it's own power, so you have to power both the drive and the card itself. What I found is a three way cable. it connects to the little power plug on the adapter card (i believe it is a "floppy plug"), it also connects to the 4 pin power on the old IDE hard drive. The third plug will allow you to connect an SATA power cable from the mother board.



I hope you were able to follow that. I haven't bought this cable yet becasue I am still researching this myself, but I think it is the perfect cable for what we need. I'll put a link to it below.



If you descover any other useful info on this, or better/cheaper cables that work please let me know. My email address is [e-mail]. I can keep you posted on anythign new I find as well if you'd like.



LINK: http://www.startech.com/item/LP4SATAFMD-LP4-to-SATA-15-Pin-Power-Adapter-FM-with-Floppy-Power.aspx



best of luck.

Answer 2

The SATA motherboard uses probably ATX or MicroATX. These are motherboard independant, but for SATA drives you need a SATA power adapter (it converts the 4 wire MOLEX into a flat SATA power cable). Most SATA drives come with this or even the motherboard does. if your power supply is ATX and your Motherboard is ATX then it will work (granted the wattage is enough for all your devices).

Answer 3

I am afraid you are a victim of the penny pinching that companies like Dell need to do to make the machines at the price you want to pay for them.



I would always recommend buying from a proper store (bricks and mortar) and taking a good look inside before parting with your cash. There are plenty of suppliers out there who will build a PC for you and look after you.

Answer 4

Click on this link:



http://www.satagear.com/SS-PW2MA1_SATA_Adapter.html