If you are a storage connectivity nerd have one CD ROM drive and one hard disk, then you will essentially need a SATA data cable or and one with 0cuLink to 4 SATA cables. You might be surprised by the mention of OcuLink as a storage expansion port. To simply put, OcuLink offers similar performance to Thunderbolt 3 in a different form factor and is a competitor for Thunderbolt and cabled PCI Express connectivity.
If you have the OcuLink port, the serial advanced technology attachment (SATA) or Serial ATA are used to connect the devices to the computer cable. Basically, each drive requires a SATA cable and a power cable to operate. The power cable is provided with the power supply unit and the SATA are provided with the motherboard.
That means, if you have more than two drives on your computer, then you will need to get an additional converter cable for each drive. There are also cases where OcuLink cables or any other cables have split ends with SATA cable at each. This way you may be able to supply power to multiple drives using a single cable.
Drives That Require SATA Power & Data Cables
The SATA interface can connect a range of devices, but here are three drives that require the SATA interface:
- Hard disk drives: This is the primary storage drive for any computer and your average spinning hard drive.
- Optical drives: From CD to Blu Ray, all require a SATA interface to work with.
- Oculink technology to SATA, the application of these cables is not to be confused as these connect the PCIe interface.
Another important thing to note is the application of SATA cables:
- For power supplies: When it comes to SATA power cables, each having a different number of ways, power, and data all have the same pitch of connector pins. It is also worth noting that different adapters are available, featuring alternative types of power supplies.
- Hard disks typically feature multiple inlet ports, and you will find at least one of the ports which will be OcuLink compatible. The cable will also help to save space and boost performance while being responsible for supplying power to the hard disk.
- And most importantly for the laptop users, the chances are that the laptop's storage devices, whether an HDD or SDD, can be attached directly to the motherboard. You can then opt for an OcuLink cable specially designed for convenience.
The Appearance of SATA Power Cables
A standard SATA power connector comes with a power connecting unit with a long 15 pin connector one ended towards the PSU and the other to the connected drive. However, there are OcuLink cables that have split ends with SATA cables split at the end. Using just a single power cable you can supply power to multiple drives. The most common power cable you will find in a OcuLink split power cable hosting a 4 SATA cable.
Now that the basics of the SATA cables are clear, you will be able to judge how many SATA power or data cables you need depending upon how many drives or devices you want to connect.
Installing a SATA cable is not a complicated task, but it is still important to choose the correct one. Here are some of the prominent features of SATA cables and connectors:
- Hot-swapping: These employ a two-step mating process to avoid any arcing or power drops that might affect other loads. You can simply plug or unplug a device without the need to power down your computing unit. The ground pins are no longer a reason so they make contact when first mated. Devices connecting to SATA have 3, 7, or 13 pins for the same reason. So this is the only feature of the SATA controller.
- To avoid any kind of accidental disconnections and ensure a solid connection, SATA cables and converters typically feature latching connectors.
Learn more about OCuLink Products to understand this technology with the help of presentations based on OCuLink technology.
