Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: Understanding notebook (slim) optical drive connectors/interfaces

  1. #1
    Senior Member AD-15's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Posts
    1,248
    Thanks
    142
    Thanked
    71 times in 34 posts
    • AD-15's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Rampage II Extreme
      • CPU:
      • i7 920 @4.45GHz!!!! (No HT)
      • Memory:
      • 3x2GB G.Skill Trident
      • Storage:
      • 1x 160, 1x 250 (Both 16MB cache SATA2 WD)
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA 460 1GB @ 815, 1013MHz
      • PSU:
      • 850W Corsair HX Series Modular
      • Case:
      • Corsair 700D
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 64
      • Monitor(s):
      • 22" Dell E228WFP

    Understanding notebook (slim) optical drive connectors/interfaces

    hello,

    I'm looking to replace the DVDRW drive in a laptop computer. However, I am thoroughly confused about the different types of connector.

    The drive I'm replacing has a connector like this (the one labelled Slim ATAPI):



    What kind of interface is that? SATA or PATA? I first thought it would have to be SATA, as PATA uses many pins (as opposed to the "card-edge" type) for the connector. But would this mean there are two types of SATA connector for slim optical drives??

    If it is PATA, and the two connectors in the above picture are the only two, then what on Earth does slimline ATAPI mean?

    Incidentally, I did visit a local PC shop to ask about prices for a drive, and the guy showed me one, with the type of connector I need, and he was very sure it was SATA.
    Industrial espionage is simply the sincerest form of flattery......

  2. #2
    Member
    Join Date
    Dec 2004
    Posts
    192
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked
    10 times in 10 posts

    Re: Understanding notebook (slim) optical drive connectors/interfaces

    Sounds very confusing.. SATA is a dual chanel serial connection.

    From a bit of googleing Slim ATAPI connector (You say the one you need) has 50 connections of which 16 are parallel data D00 to D15 so its not SATA .

    I know from past that the Slim ATAPI can have different settings for master/slave On a Toshiba laptop a while ago I had to do some soldering of the tracks on a replacement drive to make the laptop see the drive, this may not be the case with yours. Hope this makes some sence.

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    UK
    Posts
    302
    Thanks
    3
    Thanked
    18 times in 18 posts
    • synaesthesia's system
      • Motherboard:
      • MSI Z77MA-G45
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core i5 3570K
      • Memory:
      • GSkill RipjawX 2133Mhz 8GB
      • Storage:
      • 128GB Samsung 830/2 x 2TB WD Black
      • Graphics card(s):
      • AMD Radeon 6870
      • PSU:
      • Silverstone 750w Modular
      • Case:
      • Corsair Carbide 200R
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 RC1
      • Monitor(s):
      • Samsung 245B 24" TFT
      • Internet:
      • 16Mbit DSL

    Re: Understanding notebook (slim) optical drive connectors/interfaces

    The slim ATAPI is, as it says on the tin - an ATAPI interface, akin to IDE, and designed like that to aid in hot swapping/easy drive changes for opticals.

    Sata devices are MOSTLY (but not always) exactly the same as the sata interface you see there, i.e. same as what you get in desktops. There are other interfaces different to both of those but normally if you strip away some crud from the drive you've still got one or the other underneath
    Moo.

  4. #4
    VTECmeous Vimeous's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2003
    Posts
    2,006
    Thanks
    62
    Thanked
    52 times in 51 posts

    Re: Understanding notebook (slim) optical drive connectors/interfaces

    Give the bloke from the shop a slap.

    As has been said you've got 'laptop IDE' there, the slim referring to the reduced size of the ATAPI interface from what you're used to seeing on old desktops.

    Most laptops have some form of additional caddy or adaptor to interface with their own hardware design. Dell D600-series laptops for example use a simple over-connector while the same drives in servers often sit in their own caddy. This can often confuse first-time fiddlers
    Vimeous : i7 7700K | 16Gb | ASUS Strix Z270G | GTX1080 | 960 EVO 500GB NVMe | 850 EVO 500GB | TX650W | NZXT S340 Elite | Dell U2713H + 17" | 10 Pro
    Willowin : i7 3570K | 16Gb | ASUS P8Z77-I Deluxe | GTX 660 TI | 2x 1TB 840EVO | Sugo SG05BB-450 | Dell U2713H + 17" | 8.1 Pro
    Svr : X2 4200+ | 2Gb | ASUS A8N-SLI Premium | HD6870 | SonicFury | 8x 250Gb (2x RAID10) | 3Ware 9650SE-8LPML | Seasonic 700W | CM Stacker 830 | XP Pro
    NAS : DS1511+ | DX513
    W : Dell Precision T3610 | E5-1650 V2 | 16GB | Quadro K2000 | 256GB SSD | 1TB HDD | 8.1 Pro | 2x Dell U2515H


  5. #5
    Does he need a reason? Funkstar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Aberdeen
    Posts
    19,874
    Thanks
    629
    Thanked
    962 times in 813 posts
    • Funkstar's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte EG45M-DS2H
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core2Quad Q9550 (2.83GHz)
      • Memory:
      • 8GB OCZ PC2-6400C5 800MHz Quad Channel
      • Storage:
      • 650GB Western Digital Caviar Blue
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 512MB ATI Radeon HD4550
      • PSU:
      • Antec 350W 80+ Efficient PSU
      • Case:
      • Antec NSK1480 Slim Mini Desktop Case
      • Operating System:
      • Vista Ultimate 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2407 + 2408 monitors
      • Internet:
      • Zen 8mb

    Re: Understanding notebook (slim) optical drive connectors/interfaces

    have a look at this item on LinITX.com, its an adapter for the slimline ATAPI connector to a regulkar IDE. Might help understand things.

    http://linitx.com/viewproduct.php?prodid=10869

  6. #6
    Gentoo Ricer
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Galway
    Posts
    11,048
    Thanks
    1,016
    Thanked
    944 times in 704 posts
    • aidanjt's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Strix Z370-G
      • CPU:
      • Intel i7-8700K
      • Memory:
      • 2x8GB Corsiar LPX 3000C15
      • Storage:
      • 500GB Samsung 960 EVO
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA GTX 970 SC ACX 2.0
      • PSU:
      • EVGA G3 750W
      • Case:
      • Fractal Design Define C Mini
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 10 Pro
      • Monitor(s):
      • Asus MG279Q
      • Internet:
      • 240mbps Virgin Cable

    Re: Understanding notebook (slim) optical drive connectors/interfaces

    So-called ATAPI connectors are mini-PATA connectors, which the ATAPI protocol operates over. ATAPI also works over SATA, but the SATA power and data connectors are already very small so there's no need for a 'mini' version.

    Just another of many examples of why SATA is superior.
    Quote Originally Posted by Agent View Post
    ...every time Creative bring out a new card range their advertising makes it sound like they have discovered a way to insert a thousand Chuck Norris super dwarfs in your ears...

  7. #7
    Senior Member watercooled's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    11,478
    Thanks
    1,541
    Thanked
    1,029 times in 872 posts

    Re: Understanding notebook (slim) optical drive connectors/interfaces

    As mentioned - laptop SATA drives have the same connectors as desktop drives. PATA connectors are different so in the picture the top is SATA, the bottoms is PATA.

  8. #8
    Does he need a reason? Funkstar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Aberdeen
    Posts
    19,874
    Thanks
    629
    Thanked
    962 times in 813 posts
    • Funkstar's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte EG45M-DS2H
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core2Quad Q9550 (2.83GHz)
      • Memory:
      • 8GB OCZ PC2-6400C5 800MHz Quad Channel
      • Storage:
      • 650GB Western Digital Caviar Blue
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 512MB ATI Radeon HD4550
      • PSU:
      • Antec 350W 80+ Efficient PSU
      • Case:
      • Antec NSK1480 Slim Mini Desktop Case
      • Operating System:
      • Vista Ultimate 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2407 + 2408 monitors
      • Internet:
      • Zen 8mb

    Re: Understanding notebook (slim) optical drive connectors/interfaces

    Just to confuse things though, there is a mini SATA connector out there for laptop optical drives as well as 1.8" drives. I think it's mainly the power section that has changes as opposed to the data side, but there may be some difference to both.

  9. #9
    Senior Member watercooled's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2009
    Posts
    11,478
    Thanks
    1,541
    Thanked
    1,029 times in 872 posts

    Re: Understanding notebook (slim) optical drive connectors/interfaces

    Oh yeah I forgot about that. It still looks similar IIRC though.

  10. #10
    Does he need a reason? Funkstar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Aberdeen
    Posts
    19,874
    Thanks
    629
    Thanked
    962 times in 813 posts
    • Funkstar's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte EG45M-DS2H
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core2Quad Q9550 (2.83GHz)
      • Memory:
      • 8GB OCZ PC2-6400C5 800MHz Quad Channel
      • Storage:
      • 650GB Western Digital Caviar Blue
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 512MB ATI Radeon HD4550
      • PSU:
      • Antec 350W 80+ Efficient PSU
      • Case:
      • Antec NSK1480 Slim Mini Desktop Case
      • Operating System:
      • Vista Ultimate 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2407 + 2408 monitors
      • Internet:
      • Zen 8mb

    Re: Understanding notebook (slim) optical drive connectors/interfaces

    Which will lead to more confusion. At least with compact IDE it wasn't possible to get caught out... unless a vendor used a completely different connector which did happen from time to time.

  11. #11
    Senior Member AD-15's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Posts
    1,248
    Thanks
    142
    Thanked
    71 times in 34 posts
    • AD-15's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Asus Rampage II Extreme
      • CPU:
      • i7 920 @4.45GHz!!!! (No HT)
      • Memory:
      • 3x2GB G.Skill Trident
      • Storage:
      • 1x 160, 1x 250 (Both 16MB cache SATA2 WD)
      • Graphics card(s):
      • EVGA 460 1GB @ 815, 1013MHz
      • PSU:
      • 850W Corsair HX Series Modular
      • Case:
      • Corsair 700D
      • Operating System:
      • Windows 7 64
      • Monitor(s):
      • 22" Dell E228WFP

    Re: Understanding notebook (slim) optical drive connectors/interfaces

    Wow. It's impressive how everything becomes twice as complicated with notebooks.

    So if I purchased the following, would it be the kind of connector I need (slim ATAPI/"New PATA")?

    http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Samsu...ook-PATA-black

    Thanks a ton for all your help guys, very helpful indeed.
    Industrial espionage is simply the sincerest form of flattery......

  12. #12
    Does he need a reason? Funkstar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Aberdeen
    Posts
    19,874
    Thanks
    629
    Thanked
    962 times in 813 posts
    • Funkstar's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte EG45M-DS2H
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core2Quad Q9550 (2.83GHz)
      • Memory:
      • 8GB OCZ PC2-6400C5 800MHz Quad Channel
      • Storage:
      • 650GB Western Digital Caviar Blue
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 512MB ATI Radeon HD4550
      • PSU:
      • Antec 350W 80+ Efficient PSU
      • Case:
      • Antec NSK1480 Slim Mini Desktop Case
      • Operating System:
      • Vista Ultimate 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2407 + 2408 monitors
      • Internet:
      • Zen 8mb

    Re: Understanding notebook (slim) optical drive connectors/interfaces

    Yup, that should fit just fine.

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. Optical drive problem
    By Hans L in forum Help! Quick Relief From Tech Headaches
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 28-06-2009, 08:58 PM
  2. Optical drive and gaming performance
    By Mithrandir in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 14
    Last Post: 07-08-2007, 06:53 PM
  3. slim line Hard disk drive (not Laptop)
    By aeonf242 in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 26-09-2003, 06:27 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •