Blue-ray Drive Hookup

[mccoady]

I was going to post in the blue-ray forum but this really a computer question.

I have a 3 or 4 year old locally built desktop computer and my two internal hard drives are hooked up via SATA cables and my dvd drives are hooked up via IDE connection.

I just bought a blue-ray writer and I bought a SATA cable for it but the same power supply plug that fits my old dvd drives is too big to fit the new burner.

I noticed the power plugs going to my SATA hard drives takes a smaller plug like my blue-ray writer takes but I don't remember installing them so maybe I had someone else do.

Anyway is there an adapter plug/cable I need to plug into the power plug and the other end is smaller to fit the blue-ray?

[redwudz]

Yes, Molex (Four pin for IDE drives) to SATA power adapters are common. Same voltages, just different connector. You should be able to find one at a local computer store. I use them all the time as many power supplies don't have enough SATA power connectors.

[Magalhetas]

My blu-ray writer had one of these adapters, in the box.

[mccoady]

Thanks redwudz dumb me I got a SATA cable but didn't realize that the regular power supply cable wouldn't fit!

I ordered a OEM drive so it didn't include anything kind of kicking myself now because I live in a small town without a computer store so I've already had to order a SATA cable and now I have to order a power adapter cable I guess I should have bought a retail blue-ray writer.

[redwudz]

Unless they specifically mention it on the package, a retail drive may not come with a power adapter either. Since SATA is so common these days, companies may be economizing and not including them. The shipping will probably be as much as the adapter cable. I would buy a couple of them, along with some other common PC parts to make the shipping cost a bit for reasonable.

[mccoady]

Unless they specifically mention it on the package, a retail drive may not come with a power adapter either. Since SATA is so common these days, companies may be economizing and not including them. The shipping will probably be as much as the adapter cable. I would buy a couple of them, along with some other common PC parts to make the shipping cost a bit for reasonable.

Yeah I might buy a couple more SATA cables and extra power supply cables.

[drjtech]

While you're stocking up on cables you might want to buy a MOLEX to dual SATA adapter. I've had cases where there was an empty bay to install another drive, but no available MOLEX connecter.

[mccoady]

While you're stocking up on cables you might want to buy a MOLEX to dual SATA adapter. I've had cases where there was an empty bay to install another drive, but no available MOLEX connecter.

Yep ordered one of those while stocking up sometimes I'm a little slow to the party understanding what I originally need but once you point me in the right direction I'm all over it.

[jman98]

mccoady - On a related note, I recommend SATA cables with a right angle connector. I built a new PC earlier in the year and was using some SATA cables without right angle connectors and I couldn't get a reliable connection on some of my SATA devices. I replaced all the SATA cables with ones having a right angle connector (I used the right angle connector at the device itself and used the "normal" end on the motherboard) and my device problems went away. If you have any weird issues with SATA devices disappearing from a running system like I did, replace your SATA cables.

[redwudz]

The right angle SATA connectors also make cable runs a bit neater. I would also recommend latching SATA cables as I have had some non-latching cables fall out if plugged and unplugged often.

[mccoady]

When I placed my first order for a SATA cable I actually got a locking right angle one and a regular one to see which I like best. When I tried to connect the locking right angle SATA to my LG Blue-ray writer (right angle to writer) I found the connection on the LG was too recessed to make a good connection so I used the regular one.

While I really like the locking SATA cables I never plug and unplug things unless to replace.