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Thread ID: 114216 2010-11-22 22:09:00 SATA versus IDE carlwatson (10011) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
1155719 2010-11-22 22:09:00 I wish to instal a new bigger hard drive, but am confused, my present ones, (according to the info provided by "speccy",) says the interface is IDE, but most new hard drives appear to be SATA. What is the difference, please, and can I put in a SATA drive, or do I have to purchase an IDE one? carlwatson (10011)
1155720 2010-11-22 22:11:00 If your motherboard does not have a SATA controller, then you will need an IDE drive. inphinity (7274)
1155721 2010-11-22 22:27:00 Goto System Information Properties in System Tools in your programs folder.

Post the System Model here so that your motherboard can be identified as to whether it can take a SATA drive.

SATA drives generally have better performance than IDE drives, but require a different cable/interface/controller than IDE so can only be used if your machine supports them.

IDE drives are still available.
echothreezero (6612)
1155722 2010-11-22 22:29:00 Or alternatively you may put in a PCI SATA card. Snorkbox (15764)
1155723 2010-11-23 00:52:00 if you feel like taking the side off your computer take a look. IDE drives use a wide flat ribbon cable, sata uses a much smaller cable (maybe 10mm wide) usually red or grey with black connectors on the end.

another way is to go into the BIOS and see what modes the hard drives can be set to, many systems use SATA drives in IDE mode so they may not show up as SATA from windows. Don't change these settings though just take a look.

edit: if you have a manual look in there, or possibly check the specs for your pc on the net if it's a brand name one. If you can post the MB model here someone will probably be able to tell you.
dugimodo (138)
1155724 2010-11-24 23:55:00 The other thing you could probably do is to purchase a SATA drive and also buy a converter like this:
pbtech.co.nz
Appears to be an interface converter to convert a SATA to a PATA(IDE).
IDE drives are very expensive and a bit hard to get hold of. SATA are pretty cheap.
robjg63 (13548)
1155725 2010-11-25 00:14:00 The other thing you could probably do is to purchase a SATA drive and also buy a converter like this:
pbtech.co.nz
Appears to be an interface converter to convert a SATA to a PATA(IDE).
IDE drives are very expensive and a bit hard to get hold of. SATA are pretty cheap.

That's for connecting an IDE drive to a SATA motherboard - if his board doesn't support SATA, he'd want this (pbtech.co.nz) instead. :)
pcuser42 (130)
1155726 2010-11-25 00:38:00 That's for connecting an IDE drive to a SATA motherboard - if his board doesn't support SATA, he'd want this (pbtech.co.nz) instead. :)

Mmm - you are right - I posted the wrong link.
Anyway - the converter and a SATA drive would be cheaper than tracking down a IDE drive I would think.
robjg63 (13548)
1155727 2010-11-25 03:35:00 Anyway - the converter and a SATA drive would be cheaper than tracking down a IDE drive I would think.

Not to mention the SATA drive can be used in a future PC, whereas IDE is disappearing.

(Just out of interest, the cheapest 250GB IDE hard drive at Ascent goes for $103.07, whereas the cheapest 250GB SATA drive is $69.74. Given that the adapter is ~$30, they both cost about the same.)
pcuser42 (130)
1155728 2010-11-25 04:18:00 Aaahhh, but the cheaapest 500GB ide is 119, and the cheapest 500gb sata is near 55, he could have a 1tb Spinpoint F3 (Benchmarked to be one of the fastest Non Velociraptor/SSD) for the same price 85+30 for the converter Mr_Olympia (7727)
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