WD Sata Raptor Cables the wide connector

[ikonia]

Hi,

this may seem silly but I was just about to plug in a second WD Raptor into my system, I reached for the sata cable and noticed its actually quite different from the one in the first raptor.

I remember ordering a special wd sata cable when I bought my first raptor but I thought this was just a better quality cable that locked in place better. Actually looking at the back of the raptor the actual interfact is different from my none raptor sata disks. I have the normal sata connection, but with a long wide connection also, almost like scsi and wide scsi. what the long part of the connection used for ? as the raptor works fine with a normal sata cable connected to it, that doesn't connect to the wider part of the disk.

Thanks

[arthurleung]

The wider part should be the SATA power (Is it also L-shaped?)

[ikonia]

no, there is a standard molex connection for power

[herulach]

Yes, but i belive there should be a sata power connector too. a lot of older drive designs had that.

[Paul Adams]

Is it the same as this diagram?
Link to review on Raptor disks in RAID array

(Been reading up on the performance of 10k rpm disks and happened to read this article this morning.)

[ikonia]

Paul / herulach spot on it is the power connector.

So I assume that if i'm using the larger WD connector I won't have to use the molex connector as it will get power from the board through the sata cable ?

thanks guys.

[herulach]

Paul / herulach spot on it is the power connector.

So I assume that if i'm using the larger WD connector I won't have to use the molex connector as it will get power from the board through the sata cable ?

thanks guys.

Only if the board/controller supports, which i doubt any of them do. If youre using a sata power connector from the power supply youre golden, (do not use both) but i dont think youll be able to draw any power from the mobo.

[ikonia]

makes perfect sense.

Thank you.