IDE to SATA converter

[RegEdit]

Old computer with IDE drives. Need to reinstall with SATA drive.
Anything to beware of when using a IDE to SATA converter to connect a new drive and reinstall Windows? Any BIOS settings need to be changed or anything like that?

 

[FremontPC]

What type of converter are you using? Make, model?

 

[tf76]

A bit confused here.

What you want to do is copy his files by connecting the old IDE to SATA hard drive after installing the new OS on the SATA drive.
Using the IDE to SATA converter utility.

Is that correct?



Regards,

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

Have you considered a PCI SATA card instead?

 

[DocGreen]

Have you considered a PCI SATA card instead?

If you're talking about installing a SATA drive in a computer that doesn't support SATA, then Cambridge's recommendation is the correct way. Don't use an IDE to SATA converter for this.

If you're talking about connecting an old IDE drive to your bench PC to work on it, then a converter will do the trick, HOWEVER, even in that situation, an IDE Controller expansion card is a better solution if you expect to do it more than once.

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

the tricky bit is finding one with Win7 drivers, as I discovered when setting up a new bench machine

 

[frenchscottie]

I used this adapter to connect a sata drive to a ide only MB and installed Vista without any problems. machine works fine.

http://www.scan.co.uk/products/lyco...izontal-slim-converter-(fitting-room-required)

Mo

 

[Larry Sabo]

that link didn't work for me. I assume this is what you meant.

 

[thejustchad]

that link didn't work for me. I assume this is what you meant.

I don't see a molex connector. is it just out of sight?

 

[RegEdit]

If you're talking about installing a SATA drive in a computer that doesn't support SATA, then Cambridge's recommendation is the correct way. Don't use an IDE to SATA converter for this.

Correct. I was wondering about whether you could use a converter to install a SATA drive inside a computer that only supports IDE. So with MB's that only support IDE you can only use an IDE drive? Is that the bottom line?

The convertor that I have is a PAC Link PA-SATAH01 Serial ATA / IDE Convertor. Plu# 5088945

 

[Gary Rockliff]

Just get a bunch of these http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/PATA-IDE...32?pt=AU_CablesConnectors&hash=item2eb80c373c

 

[brandonkick]

Even after reading it all... I'm still a little confused.

So I take it you have an old PC that does not have SATA connections. You want to put a new hard drive in it which will be of the SATA variety. You seem to want to use an IDE to SATA conversion adapter, which as others have already done in this thread I will not recommend.

I would recommend you purchase a PCI SATA add on card. I think that would be much more reliable.

 

[altrenda]

I haven't used one in years, but what is the problem with the IDE SATA converters that plug into the back of the drive? Data corruption? poor performance?

If we are talking a system old enough to not have on board SATA, it's not going to be a speed demon anyway, probably a mid level P4 processor.

 

[Cambridge PC Support]

I haven't used one in years, but what is the problem with the IDE SATA converters that plug into the back of the drive? Data corruption? poor performance?

If we are talking a system old enough to not have on board SATA, it's not going to be a speed demon anyway, probably a mid level P4 processor.

I reckon you'll get better performance with a PCI SATA card, than with an IDE/SATA adaptor.

 

[RegEdit]

I reckon you'll get better performance with a PCI SATA card, than with an IDE/SATA adaptor.

For a C drive? What do you do?.... Run a SATA cable from outside the machine back inside to the motherboard? Or I'm guessing that maybe there's PCI cards that have connection points on the INSIDE. I haven't seen one yet.

 

[Larry Sabo]

Lots of them.


.........................................

 

[mikeroq]

Why not just grab a PATA drive? Or get them to upgrade their computer, or motherboard at least.

 

[jbartlett323]

For a C drive? What do you do?.... Run a SATA cable from outside the machine back inside to the motherboard? Or I'm guessing that maybe there's PCI cards that have connection points on the INSIDE. I haven't seen one yet.

??????? ???????? that picture has internal SATA connections...

And yeah, use a PCI card. Have had reliability issues with those IDE-SATA converters. typically seen em on DVD drives, but those don't matter if they only occasionally work, HDD does...

But even better would be a PATA Drive, then your native...

 

[DocGreen]

For a C drive? What do you do?.... Run a SATA cable from outside the machine back inside to the motherboard? Or I'm guessing that maybe there's PCI cards that have connection points on the INSIDE. I haven't seen one yet.

Um... bro?

You see those little black cubes at the far end of the card you posted? Those are INTERNAL SATA connectors... looks like that card has 4 internal SATA and 2 external eSATA connectors.

 

[brandonkick]

That card has internal sata connections on it.


Some people bring up a good point. If this machine is old enough that it doesn't have on board SATA, maybe it's worth while thinking about investing in an upgrade?

We don't know the users needs and if they just need to get back up and running to play solitare and candy crush then adding a PCI sata card is fine. If they really use the computer and the performance would make a difference then talk about upgrading the machine.