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Trying to plug both SATA power and data cable in HDD bay

R

RT Wolf

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Sep 7, 2012
15
0
Hi there,

I'm in a bit of a pickle with a 2009 Mac Pro. I installed a USB3 card and got power for it from the back HDD bay. I'd like to use the SATA data part of it to make it an esata connector using an extender cable, but normal sata cables won't fit in there. So basically I need something like this: http://eshop.macsales.com/item/OWC/CBLSATA22PX/ but instead of simply extending, it splits into seperate power and data connectors. Googling turned up nothing so far. Best idea I have so far is the buy one of those and then solder the two different ends I need.

Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!
 
Hello,

Don't know if it will work with your USB3 card, but if you're looking for strange cables, look on eBay, not the typical resellers.

Loa
 
Thanks for the tip! Ebay turned up nothing.

I realized the reason teh sata data cable wouldn't fit next to the power adapter cable is the adapter's end is too wide. I'm gonna try filing the plastic down and see if that does it.

Cheers!
 
RT Wolf said:
Any ideas?

Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...


let me get this straight: you want to run the SATA from the 5.25" Optical bay outside the case?

It may be easier than you think!

Those Optical Drive SATA ports are on the motherboard! Make sure you're not unplugging your superdrive.

http://echeng.com/journal/2010/08/30/5th-and-6th-sata-drives-in-mac-pro-mid-2010/

echeng100830_0263884.jpg


Just unplug one and plug it into one of these (you will need a very long one)

31CX7ExuzzL._SL500_AA300_.jpg


----------

another pic

zuuu1.png
 
Last edited:
slughead, Unfortunately we've got a second superdrive in there. I'm contemplating ripping it out but we do dvd dupes often enough that we sorta need it.

Loa, that's exactly what I was looking for! Only catch seems to be the sata data cable needs to be a female one for pretty mcuh all the esata extenders i've seen. I'm gonna go have another look. Perhaps I can find a female-female adapter to attach two sata data cables...
 
Okay I'm lost. There are 6 SATA ports on the mac pro motherboard, you want to take 1 outside of the case. Which one?
 
Sorry, I should be more clear...I got a USB 3 card that needed power, which I got from the 4th HDD bay (closest to back of the computer) using a SATA-to-molex cable. The port is a combo dealie so it's data+power in one molded unit. Since I can't use that port for a harddrive, I thought I might be able to get the data part of the cable converted to eSata so it's not wasted. But the power adapter is a bit too wide so I can't plug in the sata data cable. I'm gonna try filing the power adapter down and if that doesn't work, order the cables lao posted.

Is that clearer?
 
RT Wolf said:
Sorry, I should be more clear...I got a USB 3 card that needed power, which I got from the 4th HDD bay (closest to back of the computer) using a SATA-to-molex cable. The port is a combo dealie so it's data+power in one molded unit. Since I can't use that port for a harddrive, I thought I might be able to get the data part of the cable converted to eSata so it's not wasted. But the power adapter is a bit too wide so I can't plug in the sata data cable. I'm gonna try filing the power adapter down and if that doesn't work, order the cables lao posted.

Is that clearer?
Click to expand...

Oh LOL I thought you had gotten power from the 5.25" drive bay for some reason. That is more clear now, thank you.

Yes, Apple has certainly screwed you.

What I would do instead is take power from the 5.25" bay and pull it down into your PCIe bay to power your USB. Therefore, you'd be forgoing the external plug altogether. You need to solder to do this, but I did it by taking one of these:

https://www.google.com/search?q=sata+power+and+data+extension

And soldering in my own leads to a 4 pin molex:

http://latewire.com/1183#taplead

Please note you will need to run the 4 leads through your case BEFORE you solder on the molex, since it wont fit through the crevices and holes.

Basically, forgo the external drive altogether. Since Apple does not support hot plug with these ports, it shouldn't affect things that much.

I know this changes your plans but it may make things easier and definitely neater looking.
 
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