MyBook Essential 1.5TB. Power drawn from USB? Is this true?

WD External Drives External Drives for PC
1

Hello,

On checking Amazon’s description of this drive ( link), I’ve found this:

_ USB 2.0 interface - Powered directly from the USB port on your PC. No separate power supply is needed*.
* An optional cable is available for the few computers that limit power from the USB port._

Can anyone tell me if this is actually true? The manual and any other references within WD’s site don’t say so, but they don’t contradict it either. From what I know, No Non-SSD disks can draw enough power from the USB port to operate. So I’d assume this is incorrect. But I wanna know for sure.

Thank you all for your time.

2

If you read the fine print CAREFULLY on the Amazon link, you would have seen the following:

USB 2.0 interface - Powered directly from the USB port on your PC. No separate power supply is needed *.
* An optional cable is available for the few computers that limit power from the USB port.

You would have to check with the manufacturer of the motherboard to see if the USB ports draw enough power.  My suggestion, however, is to externally power the drive.  Use the provided power cable.