Step 6 : Installing the Hard Disk Drives

In this next step, we'll show you how to connect the SATA hard disk drives to the motherboard. We'll assume that you already know how to physically install a hard disk drive to the casing. It's pretty straightforward, just find the appropriate internal 3.5-inch bays in the casing, insert the hard disk drive, align the screw locations to the ones on the casing, fasten the drive with screws and you're done installing the drive to the casing. Now, on to the more important details about the new SATA connector.

Use these SATA data cables to connect the hard disk drives to the motherboard. Make sure you remove the red cap before installation.

We used Seagate's latest Barracuda 7200.7 SATA hard disk drives in this guide. Two identical 80GB drives will be installed as the system's default storage unit.

Look at the connectors on the hard disk drive's interface board and compare them to the SATA data and power cables. Match the connector shapes on the drive and the cables before plugging them to the hard drive.

Install the hard disk drives into the casing before connecting any of the data and power cables.

Connect the SATA power cables from the power supply to the drives. Use two SATA data cables, one for each of the drives and connect them as shown.

Ensure that the data and power cables are fully plugged into the drive as shown. You should not leave any gaps in between.