Running an IDE HD on a SATA only computer..

[VortexTk]

I totally spaced, as it's been months without my computer, that I would need ATA to connect my old hard drives. One is half way dead so I just wanted the information off of it and finally let it rest in piece. The other is a perfectly healthy(last time it was running) 160gig hard drive.

When I opened the new computer up, I was shocked that it had no ATA connections, so, is there some kind of card or wire converter to get one running on my computer? I've never had a SATA drive and am pretty lost.

*Edit* I guess further reading would have me edit the post to say ATA instead of IDE, heh

[jph1589]

Can you post your complete system specs please.

[smokie mcpott]

what motherboard has NO ide connections?

[VortexTk]

Why do you need them?

I've had a hell of a time with my last computer, and I finally went pre-built this time around.(Built the last two) I don't have time to troubleshoot parts or the patience considering the months I spent on my last computer.

It's a dell xps 410 system, so whatever crappy un-OC'able motherboard it comes with and..

Intel Core 2 Duo Processor E6400 (2.13GHz,1066FSB) with 2MB cache
2GB DDR2 SDRAM at 667MHz
256MB NVIDIA GeForce 7900 GS
250GB SATA II Hard Drive (7200RPM)

*Edit* And smokie, that's what I figured too, but without actually taking off the massive fan off the dual core, I can't see any. I'm not blind and installing hard drives is actually the first thing I have ever done, hardware wise, with a computer. But it did seem odd to me.

[Jon]

I've got a couple of IDE>SATA adapters I got at Newegg. Cost about $9-10 a piece and work fine. Might want to get one of those. Link to a Newegg search for these. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?DEPA=0&type=&Description=ide+sata+adapter&Submit=ENE&N=0&Ntk=all) Just pick which you'd rather have.

I have the Syba ($10), and while their review is quite low, I've never had any issues.

[smokie mcpott]

did they use SATA for your optical drives?

[VortexTk]

Yup they did.

Thanks for the link Jon, guess I'll order one. Gigs and gigs of information that's waiting to be accessed but hasn't been since last august.

*Edit* Quick question, on that 10 dollar one the one reviewer mentions MASTER. Does he mean it will only work if the drive is set to master setting?

[Jon]

Yup they did.

Thanks for the link Jon, guess I'll order one. Gigs and gigs of information that's waiting to be accessed but hasn't been since last august.

*Edit* Quick question, on that 10 dollar one the one reviewer mentions MASTER. Does he mean it will only work if the drive is set to master setting?

Yes. I'm fairly certain it will work on Cable Select as well.

[Bashar]

Another option, if you are just going to get the info off the drives and not planning on using them all the time. Get a USB external enclosure and stick the drive in there. You can then later just use it as a place to back up your data.. and you could use that also on any other computer you have.

They start are $11 and up...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817121016

[VortexTk]

Well it would be just for storage anyway as my main drive is 250gigs which is plenty considering most of the stuff I burn as data dvds anyway. How fast is the transfer at?

Good option I hadn't considered, thanks Bashar.