External SSD

Off-Topic Games, Gaming and Hardware
21

I have two MX500’s, both are 525GB varieties, in my son’s PC and my wife’s laptop. Going on three years for both, i think.

My PC: 1TB 660P, 1TB Samsung 860 EVO
Wife’s PC 1TB Samsung Evo
Wife’s laptop: 525GB Crucial MX500
Son’s PC: 525GB Crucial MX500
Daughter’s PC: 480GB PNY CS1311
TV PC: 120GB PNY SS1311; 120GB SanDisk SSD Plus

The PNY drives are eh just okay, and the SanDisk SSD Plus is about 5 years old now, I think. It was my first SSD that I ever purchased.

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22

Sure… but why?

Your board and case should have enough room to support another drive (I haven’t seen a board in years that doesn’t have at least 4 SATA ports for hard drives).

You’re better off just getting an extra SATA cable and checking to see if you need a power splitter (in case you’ve used up all your power lines in your case, you can split one) and just mounting the drive internally instead.

heck, you can buy a bigger SSD than the one you have and clone it and increase the partition size.

I did this recently going from a 1TB to a 2TB internal drive and the program was free.

1 Like
23

My collection
Crucial M4 2.5 64GB - retired, my first SSD and costs as much as my 1TB drives now
Crucial MX100 2.5 256GB - retired
Samsung 850 EVO 2.5 256GB - retired
Crucial MX500 256GB M.2 x2
Sandisk Ultra 3D 2.5 500GB
WD Blue 3D 2.5 500GB
Crucial P1 NVMe 500 GB x2
Crucial MX500 2.5 1TB
WD N550 NVMe 1TB

And I think I have another samsung SSD somewhere…

2 Likes
24

Yes I am going to go with a new internal SSD. I found an open spot for it. My current drives are using a power splitter to the PSU but there are several open spots hanging unused I am hoping will work.

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25

ssd’s use like, zero power.

26

Sure, but they still have to have a power supply of some sort.

I was concerned whether OP had an open line somewhere.

27

I know, just hoping one of these open lines from the PSU is actually to power it.

28

As long as it is the same shape as the power port on the HD you buy and it’s actually ATTACHED to the PSU, you’ll be fine.

I use modular PSUs, so I only plug in what I need.

1 Like
29

yeah, me too. that was in my first few replies. he’s since clarified.

30

sata will have thin wide plugs for power with an L shaped connector

sata data cable will have a shorter version L shaped connector

SATA power
https://www.disctech.com/SCASite/product_images/PWR-SATA-MOLEX_1000-2.jpg?resizeid=9&resizeh=650&resizew=650

SATA data connector
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/818YcGQCcdL._AC_SX466_.jpg

2 Likes
31

Looks like the open power connections I have are for additional fans. I will have to search for another way to power the new drive or replace the current smaller SSD with the new one. Looks like the two drives I already have run inline with each other. The current SSD power cord plugs into the other drive and from that drive to the PSU.

32

you can just use one of these guys

https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-Power-Splitter-Adapter-PYO4SATA/dp/B0086OGN9E

2 Likes
33

Thanks. Looks like what is there but with more connections

34

I think he’s confusing molex power cables with SATA power cables. Not a major deal as he can just get a molex to SATA power adapter but most PSUs should have at least four SATA power Male ports.

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35

i haven’t tried myself, but every resource i read says molex to sata is unsafe, and better to just use sata splitters for existing sata lines.

https://www.crucial.com/support/articles-faq-ssd/dangerous-molex-to-sata-cables#:~:text=Molex%20to%20SATA%20Adapter%20Cables%20Can%20Be%20Dangerous%20to%20Your%20SSD!,-When%20installing%20a&text=However%2C%20they%20can%20be%20a,fire%20risk%20in%20your%20home.

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36

I’ve run them for years in old Dell/HP units and never had an issue although it was with HDD. In fact I believe one (if not both) shipped PCs with them installed.

37

edited - there’s an article from crucial basically saying they’re terrible and voids warranty.

2 Likes
38

interesting, i have never seen that.

39

tbh me either until this thread.

i haven’t plugged in a molex in forever

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40

Hey Mohlmbey, what power supply do you have? It should say right on the side of the unit.

FYI, you can purchase a SSD M.2 to PCIe adapter if you hav an open PCIe x 4 slot and then there’s no need for power from your PSU as the mobo will power the SSD. Just get the M.2 version of the MX500 rather then the 2.5, should be the exact same price.

3 Likes