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I have installed this Corsair CV550 PSU in my computer. In the specification it says it has 2 PATA connector in single cable. Check the following image:

enter image description here

As I don't have or need any PATA powered device, I didn't really bother about this 2 PATA connector because this PSU has 7 SATA power connector which will be sufficient for my need. I looked over the internet and found that, following is a general PATA connector:

enter image description here

In my PSU, the said PATA connector doesn't look like the above PATA connector in any way. It looks like the following, just like a MOLEX connector, which match my older MOLEX cable in shapes & sizes.

enter image description here

Here is an older MOLEX connector of mine from an older PSU:

enter image description here

My question is, are they actually MOLEX power connector in my PSU? If so, why the manufacturer called them as PATA connector? Thanks!

AL-zami
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2 Answers2

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"Molex connector" is actually a rather imprecise term, since the Molex company makes many, many different connectors. Including the main 24-pin ATX motherboard power connector! And companies other than Molex also make the connector you know as a "Molex connector", notably AMP but also many unbranded/generic ones are also available.

The 4-pin power connector that is commonly called a "Molex connector" is really more a general purpose peripheral power connector that delivers 12 V and 5 V power. It was most commonly used with pre-SATA hard drives, which are nowadays referred to as PATA (previously called IDE) drives.

Therefore, a power connector referred to as a "PATA" or "IDE" power connector is likely to be a "Molex 4-pin power connector" or "peripheral power connector" and looks like your latter pictures. Despite the different names, they are the same thing.

Your first pictured connector is actually a PATA/IDE ribbon data cable. Not power.

The ATX power supply specification actually refers (§ 4.2.2) to them as a "peripheral connector", specified as "AMP* 1-480424-0 or Molex* 15-24-4048 or equivalent". Note that AMP and Molex are two different manufacturers, and those are just part numbers.

Note also that the main 24-pin power connector (§ 4.2.1) is specified as "Molex* Housing: 24 Pin Molex Mini-Fit Jr. PN# 39-01-2240 or equivalent" -- another, different, "Molex" power connector.

Bob
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Top photo is the signal connect from drive to motherboard. The 4 pin connectors are power for old PATA drives. I assume that is just to avoid confusion with SATA type power connector.

Examples with photos:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parallel_ATA

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA

oldfred
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