IDE to SATA converter

[Craig321]

Hi,

I think my first SATA port might be on it's way out soon - the second SATA port is already broken which I tried to get repaired but it came back to me exactly as I returned it, so I gave up on that.

Anyway, I'm hoping this board will hold out until I can get together some money for a C2D setup.

If it did break I could get an IDE to SATA converter and use one of my IDE ports for my hard drive...

Would the hard drive perform at IDE speeds? Or would it be slower because of the converter?

Thanks,
Craig.

[Agent]

Thats a bit confusing, but i assume that the HD is SATA, and you want it to use an IDE port ?
I know of IDE drive -> SATA port, but not the other way around.
Not saying they dont exist, just not seen any

[Craig321]

One like this: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=480712

Plugs into an IDE slot and gives you a SATA port in return.

[bsodmike]

Let me know if you want one. I picked one up ages ago to sort out a drive that needed troubleshooting and since have no use for it. Wow infact it looks exactly like pictured.

It is this one, http://www.addonics.com/products/io/adsaide.asp pictured top right.

[Funkstar]

One like this: http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=480712

Plugs into an IDE slot and gives you a SATA port in return.

That lets you connect an IDE *drive* to a SATA *host*

I doubt it would let you connect a SATA *drive* on an IDE *host*

The one bsodmike linked to however would be what you are after. If you enlarge the pic at the top right you get a better look at it.

http://www.addonics.com/products/io/...de_enlarge.gif

[notsobig]

How bout PCI sata controllers? They are much easier to locate I think?

[Craig321]

How bout PCI sata controllers? They are much easier to locate I think?

Yes, that would be better. What's the cheapest PCI SATA controller I can get?

Just found one for about £12:


Would a cheap one like that do the job? Or would it be rubbish and unreliable?

Let me know if you want one. I picked one up ages ago to sort out a drive that needed troubleshooting and since have no use for it. Wow infact it looks exactly like pictured.

It is this one, http://www.addonics.com/products/io/adsaide.asp pictured top right.

That one looks a bit wide, it might not fit by plugging it straight into the motherboard... would it be possible to connect that to the motherboard using an IDE cable rather than putting it straight into the motherboard?

Thanks,
Craig.

[Funkstar]

would it be possible to connect that to the motherboard using an IDE cable rather than putting it straight into the motherboard?

thats how it's supposed to be used. Connects directly to the drive and then to the mobo with a regular IDE cable.

this is pretty cheap
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=476761

[Craig321]

Ohh, cool. So it goes straight into the drive and converts to SATA? So the one I linked to above was the wrong one, I need one the other way round

thats how it's supposed to be used. Connects directly to the drive and then to the mobo with a regular IDE cable.

this is pretty cheap
http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/Produ...oductID=476761

Nice, 2 ports as well. Would it be as good as plugging into my motherboard?

[bsodmike]

Yup as funk explained, you can connect an SATA drive over IDE with the adaptor I have. Lmk if you want it

[Craig321]

Yup as funk explained, you can connect an SATA drive over IDE with the adaptor I have. Lmk if you want it

I might just go for a SATA PCI card now, that'll give me 2 ports and it won't take one of my IDE ports away

How much would you sell your adaptor for if I do go for a converter?

Thanks,
Craig.

[SiM]

I am in a similar dilemma, all 4 SATA ports are used up and I have 2 more sata drives sitting here that I would like to use.

Are there any advantages for using a PCI-Express sata card over a PCI one?

Also would there be huge speed losses using these IDE converters?

Ideally would like to spend no more than 20 quid...

[Steve B]

you wont geta pci-e sata card for less than 20 squids, so theres an advantage

im considering buying a 4-port dabs value one, to stick some drives in, but its still pci.

[chrestomanci]

I am in a similar dilemma, all 4 SATA ports are used up and I have 2 more sata drives sitting here that I would like to use.

Are there any advantages for using a PCI-Express sata card over a PCI one?

The PCI-Express bus has a higher peak bandwith than the PCI bus, so in theory if all 4 drives are in use at once, you are more likely to max out the bandwith of a PCI card.

In practice this is unlikey because the maximum combined transfer rate of 4 drives is much lower than that of the PCI bus.

Also would there be huge speed losses using these IDE converters?

Depends. The transfer rate of the drive will be the same, and all the converter is doing is converting from paralell to seral. There should be no difference in speed, but if the converter is badly designed (eg, low clock speed on the converter ASIC) then there could be a slow down.

[SiM]

Thanks for the replies...

Hmm... I'll probably go for a normal PCI one then as it would be good for 2 drives

[bsodmike]

I found my old order email,

Hello Mike,

Just to confirm our earlier conversation:

ADSAIDE Addonics Serial ATA to IDE converter £20.00
VAT £3.50
Post and Packing £2.00

Total: £25.50

PayPal request to follow shortly.

Prolly £15 inc would be fair, but how about £11