Question Two about SATA power cable plugs
Question Two about SATA power cable plugs
I faced difficulties installing a SATA SSD on my newly acquired PC. After several attempts, I realized the issue was with the SATA power plug I was using. Switching to a different plug on the same cable resolved the problem. Now I'm concerned about the safety of using this PC. I looked up whether it's safe to use a cable with a non-functional plug, and some sources warned that it could cause a short circuit. The problematic plug isn't currently connected, but the other plugs on the cable are. I don’t think I can fix the cable myself—it passes through a rubber-grommeted hole in the PSU cover, and I’m not planning to disassemble it. I still have the 30-day return period, so I could return the entire PC if needed. However, I’d prefer not to do that unless absolutely necessary. My second question is whether the order of using those SATA power plugs matters. There were two unused ones at the end of the cable. Initially, I used the one at the end because it fit better for cable management, but it didn’t work and nothing was connected to the plug before it. It occurred to me that perhaps the issue isn’t with the plug itself, but with how power is transmitted through it unless it’s connected to something. I apologize if these questions seem simple, but I’m not very familiar with hardware. I’ve searched online without getting clear answers.
Welcome to the forums, newcomer!
I connected a different plug on the same cable and it worked properly.
Can you elaborate on this? Are you referring to a different component on the harness or a different harness(assuming the PSU is a modular unit)?
The non-working plug isn't plugged into anything currently but the other plugs on the cable are.
So this is a harness with pigtailed SATA power connectors?
the whole PC
Please list the specs to your build like so:
CPU:
CPU cooler:
Motherboard:
Ram:
SSD/HDD:
GPU:
PSU:
Chassis:
OS:
Monitor:
if the make and model of the PSU isn't stated on the prebuilt's URL, please take pictures of the connectors and the PSU, host them on Imgur and then pass on a link for us to see.
My second question is does the order in which you use those SATA power plugs matter?
No but you should be wary of other devices hooked up to other SATA power connectors stemming from the PSU, that might be drawing higher power than a SATA device(multiple RGB controllers for example).
If it passes through a rubber grommet, your PSU is considered non-modular and likely a budget model. If one of the SATA power connectors fails, it suggests poor construction and inadequate quality assurance. I would consider returning the unit (or the entire PC if pre-built) while it's still covered by warranty.
Nope. You're free to use the power connectors in any sequence. You can select some or all as needed.
In a situation of necessity, the PSU might still function, unless there was a short circuit inside the faulty connector—unlikely given that protection circuits didn't trigger shutdown yet. But since the unit is under warranty, it's best to dispose of it now.
The sequence in which you use sata power plugs is irrelevant.
It seems there may be a faulty plug at the end.
Check closely to ensure all wires are properly connected.
Because you’re fine with the other, you might proceed without changes.
I’d think about returning the PC if shipping is covered.
This isn’t a strong suggestion regarding the builder’s standards.
Thanks!
I am sorry for not knowing the technical names for things. It was one cable coming from PSU that had three SATA power connection plugs on it. There is something else plugged into the one that's closest to the PSU end of the cable. That left 2 open ones at the end. I originally had the SATA SSD plugged into the third one, which was the last one on the cable at the end farthest from PSU. It wasn't working properly. So after trying many, many other things I plugged the SATA SSD into the middle one and it's working now.
Here's a diagram if that helps:
[PSU]----------SATA Power Plug 1---------SATA Power Plug 2---------SATA Power Plug 3 (at end of cable)
Plug 1 had something else plugged in from the factory. Plug 2 is where the drive is now, and it's working. Plug 3 is the one I originally tried and the drive didn't work. There is only one harness with SATA power plugs that I can see, so all of this occurred on the same one.
So, if something has to be plugged into Plug 2 for the power to pass through to Plug 3, then Plug 3 probably isn't broken. I just did it wrong. If the power should pass through Plug 2 when it's not connected to anything then Plug 3 is broken because it didn't power the drive.
If Plug 3 is broken, but nothing is plugged into it, is it still safe to use the PC or could it cause electrical shorts or other problems?
I had to google 'pigtailed SATA power connectors' but according to the description that is what it is. It's a single cable coming from the PSU that has 3 SATA power connector plugs on it.
Intel® Core™ Ultra 7 Processor 265F 2.4GHz
AIO liquid cooler, I don't know which brand
ASUS B860M Max Gaming AX
DDR5, 2x16gb
1TB M.2 2280 NVMe™ PCIe® 4.0 SSD (the one it came with, has OS on it, works fine)
2 TB PNY SATA SSD (the one I installed, now working properly as far as I can tell)
NVIDIA® GeForce RTX™ 5060 DUAL 8GB GDDR7
The PSU is listed as:
600W power supply (80+ Gold, peak 600W)
I can track down more information if you think it's necessary but can't take it back apart at the moment.
Windows 11
Acer Nitro KG271
Then the plug at the end must be defective, as it didn't power the drive but the middle one did. Is it safe to use?
I bought it from Walmart, and it's within the 30 day return window. I do not wish to return it to ASUS under the warranty because I would have to go through that whole process and not have a PC for months. Returning is easier if it is necessary.
Ok, thank you. The one at the end definitely didn't work. I tried it on 2 different SSDs and it didn't work. Didn't see anything loose.
There is no shipping to return it, I can just take it back to Walmart and either get my money back or exchange it for another of the same PC. It's an Asus ROG, I thought they had a decent reputation when I bought it.
If it's not dangerous to use I might keep it. I'm not looking forward to shopping for and setting up another PC, I just wasn't sure if the broken plug would cause other issues.
If Plug 3 is broken, but nothing is plugged into it, is it still safe to use the PC or could it cause electrical shorts or other problems?
Broken is a relative term, if the pins inside the SATA connector are bent and possibly bridging, you're at risk of damaging more than just a 2.5" SATA SSD. Images of the damaged connector would help us two fold.
https://www.antec.com/product/power/imag...-pdt05.png
Draw your attention towards cables listed 2nd and 3rd from the bottom in the diagram.
DDR5, 2x16gb
Would be a good idea if you could pass on images of the stickered sides of the ram(kit).
600W power supply (80+ Gold, peak 600W)
That's the advertised wattage and 80+ efficiency rating, we'll need to know the make and model of the unit. Taking off the side panels when you were tinkering with the power cables would've revealed the stickered side(s) of the PSU. Pass on images of what you see.
Can you also identify the make and models of the storages?
The first place prebuilts tend to cheap out on is a lackluster PSU. I'd advise on returning the system if it's a collection of substandard part and build something from the ground up, that way you know what goes into a build and you can account for an upgrade path, now, for later down the road.
The brand is Tforce. It's hard to see the side without removing it.
Here’s the picture of the PSU and non-working connector:
https://imgur.com/a/BEnWJL8
Link to view: https://imgur.com/a/BEnWJL8
On the plug, nothing seems visibly damaged. The PSU model is LiteOn.
The SSD I installed is PNY, and the NVMe is ADATA Legend 800 Gold.
The issue is that I lack the funds to buy top-tier components and don’t have the expertise to assemble or fix a full PC. I might manage to sort it out eventually, but I don’t have the time or patience right now. I’m just trying to locate a suitable pre-built option for 1080p gaming—avoiding shooters and flashy titles, focusing on strategy games and Eurotruck 2 style.
The connector doesn't look physically damaged to me.
I do not wish to return it to ASUS
So this is an Asus prebuilt? I'm getting that idea after looking at the PSU's stickered side you passed on. What other options do you at your disposal if you did return the prebuilt?
Yes, It's an ASUS ROG G700TF-WB766 pre-built that I bought at Walmart. Here's the link on the Walmart site.
https://www.walmart.com/ip/ASUS-ROG...11...hbdg=L1600
Seemed like a pretty good deal for $1200 USD.
If I return it I could get my money back or just exchange for the same thing (hopefully that one would have working SATA power cable). I could contact ASUS because its under warranty but that would take too long.
I'm not sure what other options I'd have for getting a different PC. Alienware, I guess, but I feel like they overcharge for what you get ($200 to upgrade from 16gb RAM to 32gb, for instance). My last PC was an Alienware and it had a broken GPU when I received it. They did send a tech to replace it within a few days of contacting them however, so warranty support seemed good. After that it ran fine for something like 8 years, and I'm only replacing it because Win 10 is ending support. I'm wary of ordering a PC online aside from Alienware (Dell), because they have a decent repair warranty.
It looks like a solid offer for $1200 USD.
This is the idea I put together in just a few minutes;
PCPartPicker Part List
CPU:
AMD Ryzen 5 7600X 4.7 GHz 6-Core Processor
($179.90 @ Amazon)
CPU Cooler:
Thermalright Peerless Assassin 120 SE 66.17 CFM CPU Cooler
($34.90 @ Amazon)
Motherboard:
MSI MAG B650 TOMAHAWK WIFI ATX AM5 Motherboard
($189.99 @ Amazon)
Memory:
Crucial Pro Overclocking 32 GB (2 x 16 GB) DDR5-6000 CL36 Memory
($92.00 @ Amazon)
Storage:
Crucial P3 Plus 1 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD
($61.95 @ iBUYPOWER)
Storage:
Crucial P3 Plus 4 TB M.2-2280 PCIe 4.0 X4 NVME SSD
($219.99 @ Amazon)
Video Card:
XFX Swift OC Radeon RX 9060 XT 8 GB Video Card
($289.99 @ Newegg)
Case:
Lian Li Lancool 207 ATX Mid Tower Case
($81.99 @ Newegg Sellers)
Power Supply:
Montech CENTURY II 850 W 80+ Gold Certified Fully Modular ATX Power Supply
($89.90 @ Amazon)
Total:
$1240.61
Costs include shipping, taxes, and any available discounts
Created by
PCPartPicker
2025-09-30 15:07 EDT-0400
You can adjust the specifics with community input, but this serves as a practical example for your budget when building yourself.
Asus is currently struggling with business operations, which means their RMA team isn’t responsive right now. Dell’s Alienware remains a reliable choice, though it comes at a higher price point; other options below are not recommended.