USB to SATA Cable compatibility with 3.5" drives

Chain Smoker

Hey guys,

I need to backup some stuff asap, I've seen in my local CEX that they've a bunch of western digital 3.5 inch western digital HDDs that are still sealed available in the used pile for way less than I'd pay elsewhere on such short notice (ideally I can get this stuff backed up tomorrow). I've a USB to SATA cable (which resembles this one) and was wondering whether it would work with a 3.5 inch drive or whether they'd require an additional power source of some kind?

bonzodog2

I believe for a 3.5" drive you will need an external power source, and a different cable

edit: try something like this
http://www.ebay.ie/itm/USB-2-0-to-IDE-SATA-2-5-3-5-Hard-Drive-HD-HDD-Converter-Adapter-Silver-Cable-Y5-/252722379231?hash=item3ad76d79df:g:~jYAAOSwOdpXydll

ED E

A single port one won't work for sure. A 2x will have 950mA or so and might just manage on some two platter drives.

extra-ordinary_

ED E wrote: »

A single port one won't work for sure. A 2x will have 950mA or so and might just manage on some two platter drives.

A 3.5" HDD needs 12v to spin up as opposed to a 2.5" HDD needing only the 5v of a USB port to spin up.