n00b question : How many HDDs?

[Dolby]

I have an Asus P5QC and was wondering how many HDDs I can have?



I see there are 6 red plugs towards the botton left (power?) , which go into the HDD. But there seem to be only 3 or so of the other type coming from (I think) the power supply?

How do I add more of the larger type?

 

[Chevron]

6.

 

[krono9]

Looks like 6 and 2 for some backup type of thing?

Think cable is power supply as far as i know.. same as the molex one on other end.. so use either or.. but not both?

Watch from 3:30

[video=youtube;8ptcrShDfE8]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ptcrShDfE8[/video]

 

[Dolby]

But where are the other cables from?
The larger wider type?

 

[agentrfr]

The smaller flat red one (sometimes black) is called a SATA cable. It carries data between the mobo and the Hard Drive / DVD player. The bigger one that sits next to the SATA plug is the power cord. Those come from your power supply. You can only get more of those if you buy a bigger power supply. Fortunately, power supplies are one of the few devices that you can buy and keep using in your next PC as they don't get outdated (unless they break).

I usually recommend a 650W PSU. They usually have about 6 SATA power plugs and even more adapters if you need them. It gives plenty of juice for gamer graphics cards and a bajillion (8 or so) hard drives. One like so: http://www.rebeltech.co.za/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=30&products_id=5675

 

[agentrfr]

You can also add a SATA hub in one of your PCI slots, so really there is pretty much no limit on the number of hard drives you can plug into your mobo so long as you have something to power them. (It would depend on the IRQ list but it will be something silly like 256 hard drives)

 

[supersunbird]

You need to buy a power supply with more connectors if your power supply only has 3 and you want to use all the SATA ports on your motherboard.

The red ones on the motherboard are for your data.

 

[Dolby]

The bigger one that sits next to the SATA plug is the power cord. Those come from your power supply. You can only get more of those if you buy a bigger power supply

Argh - and I bought a PSU yesterday and it seems like it only has 3

 

[supersunbird]

Argh - and I bought a PSU yesterday and it seems like it only has 3

Oops. Does it have any of the older thicker power adaptors? You can get adaptors for them that will give you two extra "new type" adaptors for each old one you have...

 

[Dolby]

Molex? It has Molex

So I can buy this ?

http://www.wootware.co.za/4pin-molex-to-sata-power-converter.html

 

[supersunbird]

Yeah, those will work, But as I said, I have some here and they eneable you to have two SATA powers on one Molex..

 

[riscbroker]

AFAIK you can use either power connector, but not both on the same drive. If the drive has a molex power connector (it might have a cover plate over it to make it look pretty) then use it, you don't have to get the adapter/converter

 

[Dolby]

Yeah, those will work, But as I said, I have some here and they eneable you to have two SATA powers on one Molex..

Thanks SSB.

I need to power 4 HDD's in total - so I guess that an option.

If the PSU is only 450w - will it manage?
Surely they only add 3 SATA for a reason?

 

[NomNom]

Your motherboard supports up to 8 hard drives: https://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P5QC/#specifications

The red ports on your motherboard are not for power they are for data.

You can install one of the following cards that will provide you with more ports:

Vantec UGT-IS100R - R278.00
Vantec UGT-ST622 - R318.00 (double the speed, but unnecessary for hard drives, only get this if you with to use it for SSD's)

You connect these to one of the small slots on your motherboard, you can install up to 3 of them, each has 2 ports for 2 hard drives, so you can have up to 6 hard drives extra.


This all depends how many SATA power connectors and Molex connectors your power supply has.

SATA power connector from your power supply: http://en.community.dell.com/cfs-fi...rive_2D00_power_2D00_cable_2D00_connector.jpg

Molex power connector: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/31/Molex_female_connector.jpg

You can use adapters to change Molex to SATA power connectors using these: http://www.theitbazaar.com/store/co...ge/product/25x_Pieces_Sata__4c3176ed30bd1.jpg

You can buy the adapters from here: http://www.wootware.co.za/4pin-molex-to-sata-power-converter.html

 

[NomNom]

Thanks SSB.

I need to power 4 HDD's in total - so I guess that an option.

If the PSU is only 450w - will it manage?
Surely they only add 3 SATA for a reason?

Yes it will manage, you can buy the adapter here to convert a Molex connector to a SATA connector: http://www.wootware.co.za/4pin-molex-to-sata-power-converter.html

 

[Dolby]

Thanks guys.

Will get adapters, as my HDDs don't have molex

 

[Dolby]

I'm guessing these converters aren't common enough that I can pick one up at a brick and mortar store today?

 

[P3wP3w]

You could try a Matrix Warehouse, they usually have these lying about.

 

[Dolby]

Thanks !