Serial ATA power connector

I am confused about the Serail ATA power connector
for hard drives I seems to me that there are two sata
power types, A real sata connector, and an adapted type.

I noticed that a sata hard drive has a different
looking power connector than the one for the old
style (Molex). And I have been reading some articles
that show a different Pinout for Sata. It shows an
extra 3.3 volt tap. But if you use a Molex to sata adapter
you do not get the 3.3. volt source. Yet the sata drive
still functions ok. I have even seen a good many power
supplies that do not have a true sata setup, just adapted
off the Molex leads Why does sata have the extra power
wires, if they are not needed ? Or have I missed something ?

Thanks for your advice
Mike

When I built my comp. It was my first one, I baught a SATA hard drive
and my mobo didnt only supported Molex. I had to go on Ebay for a SATA
to Molex adapter wire. Only like 10 bucks, (and not available anywhere
but ebay. Even compUSA!) But I ended up basically with a Molex hard
drive because the adapter bottlenecks any benefits of a SATA drive

"Neocamel" wrote in message
oups.com...
When I built my comp. It was my first one, I baught a SATA hard drive
and my mobo didnt only supported Molex. I had to go on Ebay for a SATA
to Molex adapter wire. Only like 10 bucks, (and not available anywhere
but ebay. Even compUSA!) But I ended up basically with a Molex hard
drive because the adapter bottlenecks any benefits of a SATA drive
??????? !! Molex is the 4pin power connector used for powering PATA
optical drives. If you mean the Data connector, then you should purchase a
PCI SATA card, which will let you get the benefit of the SATA interface.
Mike.