Molex is an older power connector Pc#

If you’re not paying attention to your drive’s power requirements, you can easily cause damage.

Molex is an older power connector Pc#

However, there’s another way to damage your PC with a molex to SATA adapter. That’s downright terrifying! So how do you avoid it? Under the “right” circumstances, your computer can catch fire. An improperly-manufactured molex to SATA adapter can pose a serious safety risk.Īnd we don’t just mean that you can lose your hard drive. There’s a saying in the IT world: “Molex to SATA, lose all your data.” Now, this is a bit of an exaggeration, but there’s some truth to it. We’ve picked three of the industry’s leaders, and taken an in-depth look to see how they perform. Today, we’ll be looking at the best molex to SATA adapters that money can buy. On the other hand, it also ties up one of your PCI Express slot, limiting your options for future upgrades. Some newer SSDs plug directly into your PCI Express slot, eliminating the need for a SATA cable altogether. Then plug your hard drive into the other end, and you’re good to go.Īs SSD drives have gotten smaller and smaller, you actually have a third option. Instead, all you need to do is plug the adapter into your PSU. By going this route, you won’t need to worry about swapping out your power supply. Replacing a power supply is equivalent to major surgery.Īnother option is to use a molex to SATA adapter cable. Adding a hard drive is a relatively painless, plug-and-play operation. This is especially true if you’re adding a drive to an existing build. But upgrading your PSU isn’t always a convenient option. This way, you can get the SATA connections you need. One option is to simply purchase a newer PSU. And if you’re re-purposing an older power supply for your new build, you’ll almost certainly be dealing with molex. And as smaller drives have become the norm, SATA has gradually been replacing molex as the format of choice.īecause of these twin standards, even newer PC power supplies often feature a molex connector or two. However, molex connectors are too big to fit on a 2.5-inch drive. Typically, molex connections are found on older drives, or on larger 3.5 or 5.5-inch drives.

SATA connections, on the other hand, have a flat, 15-pin design that looks much more advanced. Molex connections have four large pins, which are shaped similar to the ground prong on an AC cord. When you’re installing a new SSD or HDD drive, there are two primary types of connection: molex and SATA. It’s safe to say that, no matter what you need, at least one of these adapters will be right up your alley. Considering the fact that technology is constantly advancing, it’s good to have a way to re-use your older drives. Instead of connecting newer drives to an older PSU, it’s ideal for connecting an older drive to a newer PSU. Finally, the StarTech adapter is the oddball on our list.This is useful if you’re using an old PSU that doesn’t have a lot of plugs. It also gives you the ability to connect multiple drives into a single plug. The four integrated SATA plugs are attached to a single cable, which makes cable management a snap. Alternatively, the Monoprice adapter is a much better choice if you’re building a PC from scratch.While there are better options for connecting multiple devices, it’s good to have options. It’s 6 inches long, and it adapts your female molex port to a female SATA port. For connecting a single hard drive to an older power supply, the Cable Matters adapter is our top choice.