IDE to Sata Conversion

eskEMOiwL · 10-23-2009, 06:28 PM

Hi there,

Here's my scenario:

My current computer has a SATA drive (160gb) and it's the primary/only drive in the system. I have a Seagate 200gb IDE drive from my old computer that I'd like to put in with this one. The only problem is that the motherboard only has 1 IDE slot and it's going to my DVD-RW drive. What's the best course of action for this? I've seen IDE - Sata Converters, but I'm not sure which I should use if I do get one.

Also, if converting it to SATA is the correct course of action, could you please give some recommendations of which converter to buy?

Should I keep the current SATA drive as the primary boot drive, by the way?

Thank you!

EDIT: The computer I'm doing this on is currently running XP, but I'll be upgrading to Win7 Premium in a few days.

**raptor_pa** · 10-23-2009, 06:38 PM

You should have another port on the cable going to the CD-rw, just verify the jumpers on that and teh drive are correct and you can put it on there. If using the convertor, be aware that most of the converters are for mounting a SATA drive to an IDE cable, they don't all work backward. I just ordered a couple for IDE drives to SATA ports from CDW, but they are at work, and I don't have the info on them here. This is not the one I ordered, but is a bi-directional and will work. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...nnorswebguidec

eskEMOiwL · 10-23-2009, 06:41 PM

Thanks, there is another port on the IDE cable, but it's far too short to reach my HDD, by at least 6 inches. That would just go right onto the back of the HDD then?

eskEMOiwL · 10-23-2009, 06:54 PM

Oh, one more thing...would it be better just to add an IDE Card to one of my PCI slots? Would I be able to use that with an IDE Cable to attach my 2nd hard drive?

**raptor_pa** · 10-23-2009, 07:12 PM

You could, make sure you get one that supports 48 bit LBA, new ones all should. Or just get a longer IDE cable and replace the one to your CD-rw...

eskEMOiwL · 10-23-2009, 07:21 PM

Sorry for all the noobish questions, but if I get a longer IDE cable, which is looking like a good idea...would the DVD burner or the hard drive be the master?

**raptor_pa** · 10-23-2009, 07:45 PM

Either one could be, since there are two devices on each port, only one of them can control the timing signals on the cable - that is the master - basically when the slave wants to send data, it queries the master to see if the cable is available or if the master is using it.

ebackhus · 10-23-2009, 07:55 PM

Don't use the 200GB as your OS drive because being on the cable with the CD drive will slow it down to something like ATA 33 which isn't good for fast OS loading.

10-23-2009, 06:28 PM	#1 (permalink)
eskEMOiwL Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista SP1	IDE to Sata Conversion Hi there, Here's my scenario: My current computer has a SATA drive (160gb) and it's the primary/only drive in the system. I have a Seagate 200gb IDE drive from my old computer that I'd like to put in with this one. The only problem is that the motherboard only has 1 IDE slot and it's going to my DVD-RW drive. What's the best course of action for this? I've seen IDE - Sata Converters, but I'm not sure which I should use if I do get one. Also, if converting it to SATA is the correct course of action, could you please give some recommendations of which converter to buy? Should I keep the current SATA drive as the primary boot drive, by the way? Thank you! EDIT: The computer I'm doing this on is currently running XP, but I'll be upgrading to Win7 Premium in a few days. Last edited by eskEMOiwL; 10-23-2009 at 06:35 PM.

10-23-2009, 06:38 PM	#2 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,786 OS: XP	Re: IDE to Sata Conversion You should have another port on the cable going to the CD-rw, just verify the jumpers on that and teh drive are correct and you can put it on there. If using the convertor, be aware that most of the converters are for mounting a SATA drive to an IDE cable, they don't all work backward. I just ordered a couple for IDE drives to SATA ports from CDW, but they are at work, and I don't have the info on them here. This is not the one I ordered, but is a bi-directional and will work. http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/AS...nnorswebguidec __________________

10-23-2009, 06:41 PM	#3 (permalink)
eskEMOiwL Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista SP1	Re: IDE to Sata Conversion Thanks, there is another port on the IDE cable, but it's far too short to reach my HDD, by at least 6 inches. That would just go right onto the back of the HDD then?

10-23-2009, 06:54 PM	#4 (permalink)
eskEMOiwL Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista SP1	Re: IDE to Sata Conversion Oh, one more thing...would it be better just to add an IDE Card to one of my PCI slots? Would I be able to use that with an IDE Cable to attach my 2nd hard drive?

10-23-2009, 07:12 PM	#5 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,786 OS: XP	Re: IDE to Sata Conversion You could, make sure you get one that supports 48 bit LBA, new ones all should. Or just get a longer IDE cable and replace the one to your CD-rw... __________________

10-23-2009, 07:21 PM	#6 (permalink)
eskEMOiwL Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Posts: 4 OS: Vista SP1	Re: IDE to Sata Conversion Sorry for all the noobish questions, but if I get a longer IDE cable, which is looking like a good idea...would the DVD burner or the hard drive be the master?

10-23-2009, 07:45 PM	#7 (permalink)
raptor_pa Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Central PA Posts: 4,786 OS: XP	Re: IDE to Sata Conversion Either one could be, since there are two devices on each port, only one of them can control the timing signals on the cable - that is the master - basically when the slave wants to send data, it queries the master to see if the cable is available or if the master is using it. __________________

10-23-2009, 07:55 PM	#8 (permalink)
ebackhus Manager, Design Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: SATX Posts: 14,249 OS: WinXP Pro SP3/Windows 7 RTM My System Blog Entries: 28	Re: IDE to Sata Conversion Don't use the 200GB as your OS drive because being on the cable with the CD drive will slow it down to something like ATA 33 which isn't good for fast OS loading. __________________ ----------------------------- There are no dumb questions, unless a customer is asking them. Help in the fight against cancer and other serious illnesses.