PicoPSU 150-XT spare connector: is it for HDD power?
Posted: Tue Jan 18, 2011 1:14 pm
Today I received the Pico 150-XT I'd ordered from eBay and set about removing the stock 150W PSU from my Antec 310-150 case.
This left loads of spare room in the front of the case, but is tight around the rear right hand side next to the only remaining system fan, now that the Antec fan assisted PSU is out of the equation.
I had to bend the case out slightly from inside to get the Pico to fit into the main connector block of my Gigabyte H55 mini ITX board.
It was at this point I noticed that the Pico connector that supplies 2xHDD power via a twin SATA/molex cable was going to interfere with the blades of the small system case fan.
Then I looked at the Pico and noticed that there was another, identical white connector block on the other side, facing away from my system fan. See the two photos of the Pico 150-XT as it comes:
Flipside image showing 'spare' connector:
Ideal! I thought and unplugged the HDD supply cable, spun it through 180 degrees and plugged it into the other side. Now, with a little chunk snipped out of the side of the fan casing with wire cutters, I would be able to use my system fan.
However, when I got my WD Scorpio Blue 2.5" SATA plugged in and tidied the wires up a bit I switched the Pico on for the first time. All I got was a buzzing from the PSU and no MB lights. Great, I've got a duff PSU I thought.
I then tried disconnecting the HDD to see if the MB would POST. It did!
Then realising the only difference I had made was HDD power I dismantled everything, plugged the PicoPSU HDD cable back in as it came (which needed further fan case snipping) and went for another power on. This time both motherboard and hard disk were happy and Windows booted without a hitch.
Now, as I'm typing this I'm monitoring my system temeratures in HWMonitor. My northbridge is reading 54 degrees celcius and is hot to the touch. In fact it's too hot to keep your finger on for more than 4 seconds. I also still have the cover removed from the case to allow extra air to circulate.
I don't want to risk putting the case completely back together until I can get my system fan working incase something cooks.
So apologies for the long post but does anyone know if this spare connector can be used for powering the HDD cable?
This left loads of spare room in the front of the case, but is tight around the rear right hand side next to the only remaining system fan, now that the Antec fan assisted PSU is out of the equation.
I had to bend the case out slightly from inside to get the Pico to fit into the main connector block of my Gigabyte H55 mini ITX board.
It was at this point I noticed that the Pico connector that supplies 2xHDD power via a twin SATA/molex cable was going to interfere with the blades of the small system case fan.
Then I looked at the Pico and noticed that there was another, identical white connector block on the other side, facing away from my system fan. See the two photos of the Pico 150-XT as it comes:
Flipside image showing 'spare' connector:
Ideal! I thought and unplugged the HDD supply cable, spun it through 180 degrees and plugged it into the other side. Now, with a little chunk snipped out of the side of the fan casing with wire cutters, I would be able to use my system fan.
However, when I got my WD Scorpio Blue 2.5" SATA plugged in and tidied the wires up a bit I switched the Pico on for the first time. All I got was a buzzing from the PSU and no MB lights. Great, I've got a duff PSU I thought.
I then tried disconnecting the HDD to see if the MB would POST. It did!
Then realising the only difference I had made was HDD power I dismantled everything, plugged the PicoPSU HDD cable back in as it came (which needed further fan case snipping) and went for another power on. This time both motherboard and hard disk were happy and Windows booted without a hitch.
Now, as I'm typing this I'm monitoring my system temeratures in HWMonitor. My northbridge is reading 54 degrees celcius and is hot to the touch. In fact it's too hot to keep your finger on for more than 4 seconds. I also still have the cover removed from the case to allow extra air to circulate.
I don't want to risk putting the case completely back together until I can get my system fan working incase something cooks.
So apologies for the long post but does anyone know if this spare connector can be used for powering the HDD cable?