Modular Computer Power Supplies and Their SATA Cables

[pianowow]

Hey everyone, new member here.  I assume this topic is widely known, but newly discovered to me.

I tried to use SATA power supply cables from one modular power supply with a different power supply.  This destroyed two disks that were connected with the wrong cable.  It screams of negligence to me that such cables have the same connector, but are dangerously re-wired from one power supply to the next.  Seems to me if you're going to change the layout of the wiring, the connector should change as well, so that the wrong cable wouldn't even fit.

Anyone else experienced this?  I've heard the drives from this type of damage are irrecoverable.... but how irrecoverable?  Presumably the data is still on the magnetic disks, but the circuitry to control those disks is fried.  Would swapping the board from a working drive of the same model work?  Maybe there's an even easier swap?

[BravoV]

Sorry, can't help much on the recovery.

Yes, they are and I'm aware of it when I bought different brands of modular PSUs, say like Seasonic, Corsair and etc.

Luckily I did test them when I bought my 2nd modular PSU maybe decade ago, and it was quite shocking to find out how dangerous they are if mixed with other brand. 

One habit I developed is, as I only use modular PSUs, when unpacking them while new, I diligently and instantly labelled "all" cables that where they belong to, as we all know, somehow through times, maybe for years until we forget them, where we tucked all of these unused cables, stacked and scrambled in drawer and pulled one out to use it, dire accident is just waiting to happen.

[pianowow]

According to this:

the controller board and the disks store data independently that have to match up in order for the drive to fully function.  So it looks like I won't even try to swap them with new parts. One of the drive controller boards has visible damage to a chip, the other looks good, but I don't have any hope anymore.  Bummer.

[Ranayna]

You have learned the most important lesson regarding modular power supplies: *Never* assume compatibility. Not even within the same manufacturer! At least doublecheck with the manufacturer.
There are essentially no standards at all regarding the power supply side of the cables. And since there are not *that* many different connectors available, they might physically fit.