Can a SATA to USB converter from an old 5" HD used for SATA SSD ?

Question

Hi to all.

I have got just today the 120 Gb SSD SATA disk that will be the definitive external storage support for the PI master of the Meditech project. At home I have some SATA to USB converter boards recovered from old external USB HDD boxes that hosted 5 inches HD. These boards are powered with 12Vcc and - as I read on the SSD power: +5Vcc I want to be sure that I am not risking to fire immediately the SSD at the first boot.

The two following images shows the front and back of the SSD connected to the board (not yet powered!!!)

This is the first time I use an SSD so I really don't know if there are some differences in powering these devices (5Vcc 1,0 A) respect the traditional SATA HDD).

Thanks in advance. Enrico

rew · Accepted Answer

I'm not sure what you want to achieve. it is likely that the inductor on the PCB (the square black blob near the top on the first picture) is involved in making 5V from the 12V input. That would mean that the USB-5V is not used. Your "laptop format" drive most likely does not use the 12V and only the 5V. So: This will work, provided you provide a "12V" input on the power jack of the converter. you're mising "expensive" SSD technology with a "scrapyard" 5.25" usb-sata converter. I don't understand why you'd want to do that. Get a 64G SD card I'd say (can you get 128?). (A scrapyard 3.5" usb-sata converter would be a better fit at least you'd be able to dump the 12V powersupply). And again, the SSD is capable of say 200-300Mb/sec of performance, then you're restricting it to about 30Mb/sec by the USB-2 adapter, and then you're conneciting it to the 'pi that has a "not high performing performing" USB subsystem..... Peter types faster than me... Let me clarify: The SATA drive will only work on 5V -> The SATA drive (2.5" formfactor) will work on only 5V. word-ordering matters. :-)

Robert Peter Oakes · Answer

The SATA drive will only work on 5V, the adapter card you show has a big inductor and a buck regulator on it to convert the 12V from the barrel jack to 5V for the drive. Are you asking if you can run this from only 5V from the USB, or if you can hack it to run from 5V through the barrel jack or simply if you can plug in the SSD to the adapter and it will be ok if the latter, then yes it will be ok as the drive has select pins for the 5V and wont be an issue. Any 12V would have ben for an older mechanical drive that uses 12V for the motor, this does not use it but wont be damaged by it being their either.