SATA drives that disappear

Torqueamada

Hey everybody

I'm wondering if anyone has come across this specific problem. I have a Shuttle system that I knocked together myself. (Unfortunately I had couldn't fit that Cortina gearbox in.) I have two SATA drives installed, a Plextor DVD RW and a Seagate Barracuda. Unfortunately, either of the two drives disappear regularly from the system. This is quite irritating, as I'm sure you could understand, never mind the potential damage it can cause. I've handed it into a repair shop, only to be told that they couldn't find anything wrong at all. He said he had seen it before, and he reckons it's that SATA technology hasn't been tried and tested enough yet, and it's causing some arcane conflict somewhere. I haven't overclocked anything or anything like that. Shuttle have remained mute on the subject, as you would expect. I can only get it running again by switching the connections around. Anyone any ideas? I'm stumped.

Cheers!

ARGINITE

Sounds more like a power supply problem.
Make and wattage?

Torqueamada

...I have a 400w power supply in there, or rather, that's what came with the system. Not sure of the brand of power supply, because I haven't been home the past day or so. You might be on to something because I swapped the DVD drive for an IDE one just to see how I got on, and the video card was disabled due to a lack of power. On the other hand, I also had a Maxtor IDE drive shoved in there as well as the other two drives for a while at the start and there were no problems (with the power supply.) 400w should be plenty, no? It's a Shuttle XPC SB95PV2, if that's any help. Also have a 6800GT in there.

Cheers!

Torqueamada

...

ARGINITE

Also have a 6800GT in there.

This just screems lack of power. Try the box with a bigger power supply me thinks!

Stephen

Yeah, and don't go back to that bullsh1t artist in the repair shop again
Wrt the graphics card, make sure you've got the extra power connector plugged into it as well.

Torqueamada

Thanks a lot chaps! (or chappettes...) Will certainly get cracking on some potential solutions over the weekend. I didn't have that other connector in the video card either... the cable isn't long enough. BTW, what is the name of that particular type of four pin power connector? I need to know what to ask for when I'm buying a longer one. Thanks again!!

ARGINITE

Its just a y splitter for a powersupply. I dont think their is any special name for it. You will know it when you see it, but you could always google it!

Stephen

Its a molex connector. You can get y-splitters, extension ones etc. This will place further load on your power supply though.