Connecting SATA Drive to a IDE System

[shadowtn]

Hi All,

I have a system that has no SATA connectors - Just the IDE ones ...

Is it possible to connect a SATA Drive to it ?

Shadow

[jkolak]

You can buy a SATA controller card that will plug into one of your internal card slots.

If you want to go external, you can get a USB to SATA adapter cable.

[dahlarbear]

Is it possible to connect a SATA Drive to it ?

If you can't exchange the SATA for an IDE drive, there are companies that make "SATA to IDE adaptors".  Search the internet on that phrase.

I've never used one of those adaptors but it appears they plug onto the back of the hard drive.  Be sure it's physically compatible with both the "data" and "power" interface of the SATA drive.  You also didn't say whether it was a 2.5 (laptop?) or 3.5 inch drive.

[Computer_Commando]

If you can't exchange the SATA for an IDE drive, there are companies that make "SATA to IDE adaptors".  Search the internet on that phrase.

I've never used one of those adaptors but it appears they plug onto the back of the hard drive.  Be sure it's physically compatible with both the "data" and "power" interface of the SATA drive.  You also didn't say whether it was a 2.5 (laptop?) or 3.5 inch drive.

They do make them:  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812156011&cm_re=sata_ide_converter-_-12-156-011-_-Product
Reviews aren't that great and my own experience with them is poor.  I would stay clear of them.

[dahlarbear]

Reviews aren't that great and my own experience with them is poor.  I would stay clear of them.

Thanks for the "heads up" (warning).  The reviews on the page you linked to indicated some were unable to boot through the adaptor.  That's pretty "disturbing"...  Not sure what's up with that (maybe check reviews on different brand or check the jumpers more closely?).

[soybean]

You can buy a SATA controller card that will plug into one of your internal card slots.

If you want to go external, you can get a USB to SATA adapter cable.

I believe the controller card is probably the better choice, compared to an adapter.

Assuming you would get one for a PCI slot, not PCI Express, here's an inexpensive one: SYBA SD-SATA150R PCI SATA Controller Card.  More here.

[patio]

And the biggest advantage of an addon PCI card such as Soybean mentioned vs. an adapter is with most they can be configured to be bootable...not always true with adapters...depending on the system setup.