Comments on: Must connect the male bit to the female bit! IDEs and SATAs!

Question: Must connect the male bit to the female bit! IDEs and SATAs!

bkudria — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 18:18:13 -0800

Is there such a thing as an IDE to SATA converter?

I have an SATA hard drive and a IDE-to-USB enclosure. I'd like to keep the enclosure and not buy another because I am a cheap (and I really like it). Can I buy a cheap, small (so it fits inside the enclosure!) IDE-SATA converter/adapter? Do such things exist? Is it even technically possible?

Thanks!

By: jellicle

jellicle — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 18:24:43 -0800

Why, yes.

By: smackfu

smackfu — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 18:31:10 -0800

Too bad all of those convert the wrong direction. People want to use their old IDE drives on their new SATA computer, but not so many the opposite.

By: kcm

kcm — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 18:35:34 -0800

smackfu: "Too bad all of those convert the wrong direction. People want to use their old IDE drives on their new SATA computer, but not so many the opposite."

Not true at all. This was one of the top hits.

By: crunchyk9

crunchyk9 — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 18:55:01 -0800

These converters exist, yes, but have a close look at the internal geometry of your enclosure. It has been my experience that there is very little room inside most ide enclosures, and my bet is you'll spend more trying to get a converter than just getting the right enclosure in the first place.

Newegg has a really excellent selection of external enclosures, I can't vouch for any of the SATA flavor, but I've had excellent luck with the PATA (IDE) version of the PPA USB aluminum enclosures. They're aluminum so they look great and make excellent contact with the drive, helping to disperse heat without the use of a fan.

Just my 2 cents.

By: Rhomboid

Rhomboid — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 19:51:22 -0800

You can get them in the thin size. But I still guess that this will cause it not to fit in most enclosures.

I don't know why you think an enclosure is expensive, for about $10 to $15 more than the cost of a converter that may not work you can just get a SATA enclosure.

By: lundman

lundman — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 20:36:06 -0800

Hell there is even USB2->IDE (2.5" and 3.5" and SATA 3-in-1) converters. Co-worker just bought one to fiddle with something :)

By: mkultra

mkultra — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 20:40:49 -0800

I agree with Rhomboid. I was in a similar situation, and just bought the SATA enclosure. Fewer parts to worry about dying.

By: meehawl

meehawl — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 05:45:34 -0800

I've had excellent luck with the PATA (IDE) version of the PPA USB aluminum enclosures

How long have you run that enclosure? My experience is that *all* of my 3.5" enclosures have failed because of excessive heat build up after a few years. Whereas similar 5.25" enclosures holding 3.5" drives have not (yet) failed.

By: thejoshu

thejoshu — Fri, 11 Aug 2006 08:23:49 -0800

I spent $20 earlier this year on a cable that has both 3.5"/2.5" IDE and SATA connectors and on the other side is USB2. The unit I bought is similar to this in design and price.