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cplum

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jan 13, 2025
28
5
I have a 250gb Western Digital drive that based on the part number I think I pulled from an iMac G5 long ago. I'm considering using a SATA -> USB adapter like the following to see what's on the drive:


However, my drive has, in addition to the SATA power port, your typical 4pin power molex port. This is not typical of SATA drives. If I use the above adapter, will I also need to separately provide power to this port?
 
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I had SATA 1 drives with the Molex power socket as well as the SATA power pins. I used them with a G5 tower.
Either socket works fine.

This HD will be over 20 years old, and even when new it was a slow performer…

Like in this picture:
 
Last edited:
OP:

I'm thinking that you have a PATA drive (parallel ATA) and NOT a SATA drive.
It's definitely SATA. It's a WD2500JS. Clearly has SATA power and interface ports on it. Says "Serial ATA hard drive" on the label.
 
I had SATA 1 drives with the Molex power socket as well as the SATA power pins. I used them with a G5 tower.
Either socket works fine.

This HD will be over 20 years old, and even when new it was a slow performer…

Like in this picture:
Yes, that picture in the link is what mine looks like. So it looks like I should be able to use the SATA -> USB adapter I mentioned and just ignore the Molex power socket. I don't care how slow it is. I just want to see what is on the drive.

BTW, there is also a 4" 4-pin cable affixed to mini (1/2" square) circuit board on the side of the drive. I'm guessing it plugged into the motherboard of the iMac. Not to sure what it is for, but probably was done custom for Apple. Any ideas?
 
I have a 250gb Western Digital drive that based on the part number I think I pulled from an iMac G5 long ago. I'm considering using a SATA -> USB adapter like the following to see what's on the drive:


However, my drive has, in addition to the SATA power port, your typical 4pin power molex port. This is not typical of SATA drives. If I use the above adapter, will I also need to separately provide power to this port?
That's a "for legacy systems", you can use either power plug, you don't have to use both. Many early SATA drives had both power ports on them.
 
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@cplum "here is also a 4" 4-pin cable affixed to mini (1/2" square) circuit board on the side of the drive."

That sounds like it could be an iMac HD temperature sensor, so not needed to access the contents of the drive.
 
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