Discussion How would you power a sata SSD using thin mini itx motherboard DC-Input?

[BobyMadrox]

Hi, it's probably a stupid question but I can't wrap my head around it, how would you power a SATA SSD on this motherboard (Asrock IMB-1215) using DC-Input PSU:

I notice SATA ports but nothing to power it, not sure?

 

[watts_happening]

On the right side, there is a header labeled SATA_PWR1. You would need to find the specs for the connector and pinout, or maybe ASRock makes an adapter cable.

 

[BobyMadrox]

@watts_happening Wow ok, great observation skill man, thank you for spotting that.
Do you think if it's possible to power 2 SATA devices with that?

 

[watts_happening]

From what I've seen, the manufacturer documentation usually doesn't specify a maximum power draw. I can say I'm powering 4 Samsung SSD SATA drives off a similar connector on a Supermicro server motherboard. I would be careful about powering spinning drives, but if only 2 or so seems like it should be fine. Best guess is 20W or below through a connector like that to be safe.

 

[Stevo_]

You can also get 9-pin USB2 to sata power cables. I've seen SATA power cables for that motherboard 4-pin connector for thin-client systems.

 

[BirdofPrey]

@watts_happening Wow ok, great observation skill man, thank you for spotting that.
Do you think if it's possible to power 2 SATA devices with that?

If it has 2 SATA data ports, then it should be able to power 2 SATA devices.
The official requirement is about 12 watts per drive split between 12VDC and 5VDC and a bit less than a watt of 3.3VDC (a note that the Thin mITX standard hasn't been updated or revised any time recently, 3.3V has been removed from basically everything else)

That said, I wouldn't put i past manufacturers to go out of spec here and there, but I doubt they'd NOT supply enough power for all of their data ports. Though as mentioned 3.3VDC has been dropped everywhere, so I'd be surprised if anyone DID provide that voltage.