Can I connect a 5V 2.5 HDD from a laptop to my desktop?

[Karl Castillo]

 Can I connect a 12V sata power cable to a 5V 2.5 HDD from a laptop to connect it on my pc? (edited)

Edited August 2, 2021 by Karl Castillo
Clarification

[Helpful Tech Witch]

What laptop That you have has a molex power for its internal hdd? I’ve got nearly 15yo ones that use Sata

[kelvinhall05]

7 minutes ago, HelpfulTechWizard said:

I’ve got nearly 25yo ones that use Sata

lolwut, sata was announced in 2000 and 1.0 released in 2003 

[Karl Castillo]

My bad, let me clarify my question once more. Can I connect a 12V sata power cable to a 5V 2.5 HDD from a laptop to connect it on my pc?

[kelvinhall05]

1 minute ago, Karl Castillo said:

My bad, let me clarify my question once more. Can I connect a 12V sata power cable to a 5V 2.5 HDD from a laptop to connect it on my pc?

If it's a sata 2.5" drive, yes. Sata power carries 3.3v, 5v, and 12v, the drive will run happily off just 5v. SSDs also run on 5v only.

[RejZoR]

15 minutes ago, Karl Castillo said:

Can I connect a 5V 2.5 HDD from a laptop to my desktop even though the molex pins are rated for 12V?

Yes you can. The issue is in other direction if you want to put a desktop HDD that runs at 12V and stick it in laptop. Connector is the same, but pins aren't as laptops usually lack 12V entirely on SATA power connectors.

 

It's why Velociraptor drives couldn't be fit into laptops even if they could physically go. They required 12V at 2,5" format. SATA drives are happy with 5V which is why they work everywhere no problem.

 

Reason for this is mostly because laptops are powered from battery at lower voltage, stepping it far up is a huge loss and would require a lot of extra circuitry. So they just use 5V which is used across many things including USB ports (which also run at 5V).

[Helpful Tech Witch]

4 minutes ago, kelvinhall05 said:

lolwut, sata was announced in 2000 and 1.0 released in 2003 

15yo* 

I’ll go fix that

[Helpful Tech Witch]

5 minutes ago, Karl Castillo said:

My bad, let me clarify my question once more. Can I connect a 12V sata power cable to a 5V 2.5 HDD from a laptop to connect it on my pc?

Yes. Sata has 12v and 5v, and 3.3v iirc, it a a standard conector

[Karl Castillo]

Some guys told me I have to remove the yellow wire (12V) for not to toast my HDD, is it really necessary?

[kelvinhall05]

Just now, RejZoR said:

Reason for this is mostly because laptops are powered from battery at lower voltage, stepping it far up is a huge loss and would require a lot of extra circuitry. So they just use 5V which is used across many things including USB ports (which also run at 5V).

Afaik the reason is that the drive being physically smaller and having lighter (and often fewer) platters means it doesn't require 12v to spin the motor, 5v is sufficient. As for stepping it up from 5v, not only can that be made very efficient with a constant current load to build your boost converter around (>85-90%), but you can always just step it down directly from the battery's voltage (often 18-20V).

2 minutes ago, Karl Castillo said:

Some guys told me I have to remove the yellow wire (12V) for not to toast my HDD, is it really necessary?

That guy is an idiot. You're fine.

[kelvinhall05]

4 minutes ago, HelpfulTechWizard said:

15yo* 

I’ll go fix that

[Karl Castillo]

Thanks guys I'll give it a go.

[MarcWolfe]

yes, the end

[LogicalDrm]

-> Moved to Storage Devices

[Helpful Tech Witch]

8 hours ago, kelvinhall05 said:

yes, thats how math works. But it came out after 2003 so about 15yo is accurate