Adaptors: SATA, IDE, & Power

[Searcher7]

I'm hoping to get feedback from experience with convertors/adaptors
that allow the use of different standards together.(And I'd appreciate
any brand recommendations also).:

Data Adaptors
---------------------
IDE Motherboard with SATA Hard Drive
SATA Motherboard with IDE Hard Drive


Power Supply Adaptors
-----------------------------------
4-Pin -> SATA
SATA -> 4-Pin

Thanks a lot.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

 

[Paul]

I'm hoping to get feedback from experience with convertors/adaptors
that allow the use of different standards together.(And I'd appreciate
any brand recommendations also).:

Data Adaptors

I own one of these. No problems.

http://ca.startech.com/HDD/Adapters/25in-and-35in-40-Pin-Male-IDE-to-SATA-Adapter-Converter~IDE2SAT

SATA Motherboard with IDE Hard Drive

There is a Siig brand one that had a good rep. But I could never
get a Canadian supplier to carry it. And cross-border shopping
is too expensive on shipping/brokerage. I expect these are
no longer made now.

http://web.archive.org/web/20080828054528/http://www.siig.com/ViewProduct.aspx?pn=SC-SA0112-S1

That one converts SATA motherboard, to IDE drive.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812191071

In any case, check the reviews, before you buy either
SATA to IDE or IDE to SATA. Some of the original ones,
didn't handle optical drives that well.

The cheapest adapters I ever saw for sale, were $1 each,
but none of them worked. So much for bargains...

Power Supply Adaptors

Molex to SATA is OK, but doing the adaptation that way means
the SATA side won't get 3.3V. If a power supply has a native fifteen pin
SATA, it carries three voltages. When you use an adapter, you
get the two most important voltages (5V/12V). This is only an issue,
if you were doing some kind of microSATA drive. For most regular
sized stuff, Molex to SATA is fine (I use several here, for
slaving up spare drives). Maybe some day, when 3.3V drives are more
prevalent, this will be more of an issue (adapter won't work as it
has no 3.3V on it).

SATA -> 4-Pin

Not recommended, except if you're being careful on the amperage.
The SATA fifteen pin is simply not a good solution for "power
distribution". It's fine for one-to-one drive powering. I'd
much rather have a power supply with Molex 1x4s, because I
can do more things with those, safely (make chains of stuff).
If you use SATA to 4-Pin, you'll be tempted to run a whole
chain of hardware off it, which could burn the SATA connector side.

Paul

 

[Searcher7]

Corrected post:


 This one works and is listed as still available:
SATA to IDE/ATAPI Converter, for about US$19. Takes SATA disk and
connects to IDE adapter, as described on:
 http://www.addonics.com/products/adsaide.php
I haven't seen any performance problems, even with Western Digital
Raptor WD3000GLFS.  I didn't try the latest or any SSDs and
I no longer have any machines with IDE on the motherboard.

This one takes IDE disks and ATAPI devices such as DVD and CD drives
and allows for connection to SATA adapter.  I haven't tried it.
Addonics IDE to Serial ATA Converter ADIDESA, about US$18, seen on:
 http://www.addonics.com/products/adidesa.php










Thank you.  I hadn't remembered that.

Thanks everyone.

I have an ITX motherboard that has only IDE connections, and I want to
use a SATA drive with it.

I also have some old drives that I want the option of plugging into a
late model SATA motherboard, hence the questions.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

 

[Searcher7]

To comment on that last statement. Since this is an ITX system, I
wouldn't really have a lot in the way of options of running a "chain
of hardware" off it.

A single 500GB hard drive, DVD player, and card reader are all that it
will have along with two USB connections. (I haven't decided what to
use the single PCI slot for).

The motherboard is IDE and the Power supply is SATA.

So, I have no choice but to use a SATA to 4-pin power adaptor, because
once I plug the IDE to SATA data adaptor card into the rear of the
SATA hard drive the STA power connecotr of hte hard drive is covered.
So I have to use the 4 pin that is on the card, and in order to do
that I have to a SATA to 4-pin power adaptor on the power supply SATA
power connector.

So, as far as power between the power supply and hard drive it is SATA
to 4-pin to SATA.

(If I were to use an IDE drive, I'd only need a SATA to 4-pin power
adaptor).

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

 

[Paul]

To comment on that last statement. Since this is an ITX system, I
wouldn't really have a lot in the way of options of running a "chain
of hardware" off it.

A single 500GB hard drive, DVD player, and card reader are all that it
will have along with two USB connections. (I haven't decided what to
use the single PCI slot for).

The motherboard is IDE and the Power supply is SATA.

So, I have no choice but to use a SATA to 4-pin power adaptor, because
once I plug the IDE to SATA data adaptor card into the rear of the
SATA hard drive the STA power connecotr of hte hard drive is covered.
So I have to use the 4 pin that is on the card, and in order to do
that I have to a SATA to 4-pin power adaptor on the power supply SATA
power connector.

So, as far as power between the power supply and hard drive it is SATA
to 4-pin to SATA.

(If I were to use an IDE drive, I'd only need a SATA to 4-pin power
adaptor).

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

If you do this:

SATA 15 pin -------- Molex 1x4 -------- a single disk drive

I have no problem with that.

This is the kind of thing I worry about. This is too much for it.
A 3.5" hard drive draws 2.5 amps from 12V for the first ten seconds.
You'd be drawing 7.5 amps from a 4.5 amps connector. It might not
burn in ten seconds, you could argue. But the other parameter of
interest, is voltage drop. If the voltage at the last drive drops
below 11 volts (instead of 12V from the source), the drive will
spin down and spin back up again, in a loop (that's actually happened
to me here, so I got a demo). And that would not be good for the
connector. If all the drives got stuck in that loop, while you
were out of the room, the connector could overheat.

SATA 15 pin -------- Molex 1x4 ----+-----+-----+
| | |
hard hard hard
drive drive drive

Whereas, this would be OK. I think the Molex 1x4 is good for
at least 8 amps. And that's a bit better than the slightly
less than 4.5 amps through the SATA 15 pin.

Molex 1x4 -------------------------+-----+-----+
| | |
hard hard hard
drive drive drive

If all you're doing is what is shown in the first diagram, no problem.

HTH,
Paul

 

[Searcher7]

If you do this:

     SATA 15 pin -------- Molex 1x4 -------- a single disk drive

I have no problem with that.

This is the kind of thing I worry about. This is too much for it.
A 3.5" hard drive draws 2.5 amps from 12V for the first ten seconds.
You'd be drawing 7.5 amps from a 4.5 amps connector. It might not
burn in ten seconds, you could argue. But the other parameter of
interest, is voltage drop. If the voltage at the last drive drops
below 11 volts (instead of 12V from the source), the drive will
spin down and spin back up again, in a loop (that's actually happened
to me here, so I got a demo). And that would not be good for the
connector. If all the drives got stuck in that loop, while you
were out of the room, the connector could overheat.

     SATA 15 pin -------- Molex 1x4 ----+-----+-----+
                                        |     |     |
                                      hard  hard  hard
                                      drive drive drive

Whereas, this would be OK. I think the Molex 1x4 is good for
at least 8 amps. And that's a bit better than the slightly
less than 4.5 amps through the SATA 15 pin.

     Molex 1x4 -------------------------+-----+-----+
                                        |     |     |
                                      hard  hard  hard
                                      drive drive drive

If all you're doing is what is shown in the first diagram, no problem.

HTH,
      Paul

I don't understand. Since I only have one hard drive does any of that
apply tome?

The following is the plan.

The 150W power supply(FSP150-50GLT) has two SATA power connectors in-
line. And will power a single hard drive and a single DVD burner. (I
haven't figured out if the card reader will work in place of a floppy
drive).

A) Western Digital SATA: WD5000AAKX
B) LG 22X DVD Burner SATA: GH22LS50
C) Card Reader
+-----------4-Pin
|
150W Power Supply-----------SATA 15 Pin----+-----SATA 15 Pin
\/ \/
|| ||
DVD Drive Hard Drive


http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll257/Statenislander/Computer/EpiaMiniITXMoboConnections.jpg

I just need a quality converter that will allow all the SATA items
above to be used with my IDE motherboard. Something like this:
www.ebay.com/itm/160462775951 (But preferably not from China).

Then the only question left would be is there an adaptor for allowing
a card reader with a 10-Pin(9-Pin) connector to take the place of a
floppy drive. (The 4-Pin and the FDD connector are not compatible with
the card reader).
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll257/Statenislander/Computer/CardReader..jpg

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

 

[Paul]

I don't understand. Since I only have one hard drive does any of that
apply to me?

???

Each SATA connector has an ampere limit.

In your diagram below, I don't see you exceeding the limit.

Actually, your situation is a bit of a mess. It sounds like
your power supply has two SATA power connectors, you have
a SATA DVD and SATA hard drive, and those two would use up
the connectors.

You could start with one of these, a SATA Y-cable...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812530008

and plug a SATA to IDE on one leg of the Y. I hope I got the
connector polarity right.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812530007

SATA (to PSU)
|
|
/ \
/ x---- Molex 1x4 (to plugin adapter)
SATA
(to drive)

If you use IDE adapters, each SATA drive to IDE host adapter has
a Molex 1x4 for local powering. If only one drive device is
hooked to the "Y" in the diagram, there shouldn't be a problem.

The following is the plan.

The 150W power supply(FSP150-50GLT) has two SATA power connectors in-
line. And will power a single hard drive and a single DVD burner. (I
haven't figured out if the card reader will work in place of a floppy
drive).

A) Western Digital SATA: WD5000AAKX
B) LG 22X DVD Burner SATA: GH22LS50
C) Card Reader
+-----------4-Pin
|
150W Power Supply-----------SATA 15 Pin----+-----SATA 15 Pin
\/ \/
|| ||
DVD Drive Hard Drive


http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll257/Statenislander/Computer/EpiaMiniITXMoboConnections.jpg

I just need a quality converter that will allow all the SATA items
above to be used with my IDE motherboard. Something like this:
www.ebay.com/itm/160462775951 (But preferably not from China).

To determine converter quality, you need reviews. I can't read the chip
number on that thing, so can't attempt to answer that question.

Adapters of that sort now, are hit and miss. If there were good
ones, they may have gone out of production.

Then the only question left would be is there an adaptor for allowing
a card reader with a 10-Pin(9-Pin) connector to take the place of a
floppy drive. (The 4-Pin and the FDD connector are not compatible with
the card reader).
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll257/Statenislander/Computer/CardReader.jpg

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

Am I seeing a 2x5 USB connector on that card reader ? If so,
the card reader could be USB powered, over the USB bus.

I think this is your card reader here. Soyo Bayone XP MS-SY-BOX31

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applicat...1&csid=ITD&recordsPerPage=5&body=#ReviewStart

There appear to be USB header cables in the kit, to connect it up.
Your motherboard has a header called "USB3/4", which would be
a 2x5 dual USB header. I can't tell from the Bayone picture, whether
the cables are a couple 1x5's or what the deal is. But in any case,
it seems you have the materials to connect it up. If you only
hooked up the card reader portion, and not the auxiliary USB port
on the front of the card reader, then it would only consume one USB port.

One reviewer on the TigerDirect page, reports a crash when
something was connected to the Bayone during boot.

As far as I know, if you insert a Compact Flash in that thing,
it'll probably show up as a USB hard drive (USB mass storage driver).

Whatever chipset is on the Bayone, it appears to have a Flash chip.
Implying the main chip is a processor of some sort. I can't think
of another reason for the Flash chip to be present, otherwise.

Paul

 

[Searcher7]

???

Each SATA connector has an ampere limit.

In your diagram below, I don't see you exceeding the limit.

Actually, your situation is a bit of a mess. It sounds like
your power supply has two SATA power connectors, you have
a SATA DVD and SATA hard drive, and those two would use up
the connectors.

You could start with one of these, a SATA Y-cable...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812530008

and plug a SATA to IDE on one leg of the Y. I hope I got the
connector polarity right.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812530007

               SATA (to PSU)
                 |
                 |
                / \
               /   x---- Molex 1x4 (to plugin adapter)
           SATA
          (to drive)

If you use IDE adapters, each SATA drive to IDE host adapter has
a Molex 1x4 for local powering. If only one drive device is
hooked to the "Y" in the diagram, there shouldn't be a problem.














To determine converter quality, you need reviews. I can't read the chip
number on that thing, so can't attempt to answer that question.

Adapters of that sort now, are hit and miss. If there were good
ones, they may have gone out of production.




Am I seeing a 2x5 USB connector on that card reader ? If so,
the card reader could be USB powered, over the USB bus.

I think this is your card reader here. Soyo Bayone XP MS-SY-BOX31

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?...

There appear to be USB header cables in the kit, to connect it up.
Your motherboard has a header called "USB3/4", which would be
a 2x5 dual USB header. I can't tell from the Bayone picture, whether
the cables are a couple 1x5's or what the deal is. But in any case,
it seems you have the materials to connect it up. If you only
hooked up the card reader portion, and not the auxiliary USB port
on the front of the card reader, then it would only consume one USB port.

One reviewer on the TigerDirect page, reports a crash when
something was connected to the Bayone during boot.

As far as I know, if you insert a Compact Flash in that thing,
it'll probably show up as a USB hard drive (USB mass storage driver).

Whatever chipset is on the Bayone, it appears to have a Flash chip.
Implying the main chip is a processor of some sort. I can't think
of another reason for the Flash chip to be present, otherwise.

    Paul

I don't see a reason for a need to add a "Y" adaptor from the power
supply. I can instead just use two straight "SATA to 4-pin" power
adaptors to get the two 4-Pins connectors I need.

I'll then connect them to the converter Boards that I will attach to
the SATA HD and the SATA DVD.

Those same converter boards will allow me to connect the IDE cable
from the motherboard to both the HD and DVD.

As for converter quality. Addonics is supposed to be the brand to get.
But they are close to $20, so I will keep my eyes open for the generic
versions that sometimes show up on Ebay.
http://www.addonics.com/products/adsaide.php

(I may try a couple of the cheap ones in the meantime).

And as for the card reader, you are correct. That link is to the same
card reader I have.
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll257/Statenislander/Computer/CardReader..jpg

That cable is the standard 10-Pin(9-Pin) at one end and two 1X5 pins
at the other.

However I still want to retain the use of both USB connections on the
front panel, so I assume I can use some sort of splitter for that.

(I also still have an empty PCI slot on the motherboard).

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

 

[Searcher7]

???

Each SATA connector has an ampere limit.

In your diagram below, I don't see you exceeding the limit.

Actually, your situation is a bit of a mess. It sounds like
your power supply has two SATA power connectors, you have
a SATA DVD and SATA hard drive, and those two would use up
the connectors.

You could start with one of these, a SATA Y-cable...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812530008

and plug a SATA to IDE on one leg of the Y. I hope I got the
connector polarity right.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812530007

               SATA (to PSU)
                 |
                 |
                / \
               /   x---- Molex 1x4 (to plugin adapter)
           SATA
          (to drive)

If you use IDE adapters, each SATA drive to IDE host adapter has
a Molex 1x4 for local powering. If only one drive device is
hooked to the "Y" in the diagram, there shouldn't be a problem.














To determine converter quality, you need reviews. I can't read the chip
number on that thing, so can't attempt to answer that question.

Adapters of that sort now, are hit and miss. If there were good
ones, they may have gone out of production.




Am I seeing a 2x5 USB connector on that card reader ? If so,
the card reader could be USB powered, over the USB bus.

I think this is your card reader here. Soyo Bayone XP MS-SY-BOX31

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?...

There appear to be USB header cables in the kit, to connect it up.
Your motherboard has a header called "USB3/4", which would be
a 2x5 dual USB header. I can't tell from the Bayone picture, whether
the cables are a couple 1x5's or what the deal is. But in any case,
it seems you have the materials to connect it up. If you only
hooked up the card reader portion, and not the auxiliary USB port
on the front of the card reader, then it would only consume one USB port.

One reviewer on the TigerDirect page, reports a crash when
something was connected to the Bayone during boot.

As far as I know, if you insert a Compact Flash in that thing,
it'll probably show up as a USB hard drive (USB mass storage driver).

Whatever chipset is on the Bayone, it appears to have a Flash chip.
Implying the main chip is a processor of some sort. I can't think
of another reason for the Flash chip to be present, otherwise.

    Paul

I don't see a reason for a need to add a "Y" adaptor from the power
supply. I can instead just use two straight "SATA to 4-pin" power
adaptors to get the two 4-Pins connectors I need.

I'll then connect them to the converter Boards that I will attach to
the SATA HD and the SATA DVD.

Those same converter boards will allow me to connect the IDE cable
from the motherboard to both the HD and DVD.

As for converter quality. Addonics is supposed to be the brand to get.
But they are close to $20, so I will keep my eyes open for the generic
versions that sometimes show up on Ebay.
http://www.addonics.com/products/adsaide.php

(I may try a couple of the cheap ones in the meantime).

And as for the card reader, you are correct. That link is to the same
card reader I have.
http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll257/Statenislander/Computer/CardReader..jpg

That cable is the standard 10-Pin(9-Pin) at one end and two 1X5 pins
at the other.

However I still want to retain the use of both USB connections on the
front panel, so I assume I can use some sort of splitter for that.

(I also still have an empty PCI slot on the motherboard).

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

 

[Searcher7]

 I have one of those converter boards from Addonics and it did not
work with a DVD but did work with the HDD.

Al.

Then perhaps it'll be a crap shoot no matter what.

I should probably stock up on several different ones. But right now
I'm so close to transferring all the data off of one of my IDE drives
and using it and a non SATA DVD burner instead. That way all I'd need
are two "SATA to 4-Pin" power adaptors.

I really wanted to use the 500GB drive though. All of my old IDE(and
SCSI) drives are 40GB and under.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

 

[Searcher7]

???

Each SATA connector has an ampere limit.

In your diagram below, I don't see you exceeding the limit.

Actually, your situation is a bit of a mess. It sounds like
your power supply has two SATA power connectors, you have
a SATA DVD and SATA hard drive, and those two would use up
the connectors.

You could start with one of these, a SATA Y-cable...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812530008

and plug a SATA to IDE on one leg of the Y. I hope I got the
connector polarity right.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812530007

               SATA (to PSU)
                 |
                 |
                / \
               /   x---- Molex 1x4 (to plugin adapter)
           SATA
          (to drive)

If you use IDE adapters, each SATA drive to IDE host adapter has
a Molex 1x4 for local powering. If only one drive device is
hooked to the "Y" in the diagram, there shouldn't be a problem.














To determine converter quality, you need reviews. I can't read the chip
number on that thing, so can't attempt to answer that question.

Adapters of that sort now, are hit and miss. If there were good
ones, they may have gone out of production.




Am I seeing a 2x5 USB connector on thatcard reader? If so,
thecard readercould be USB powered, over the USB bus.

I think this is yourcard readerhere. Soyo Bayone XP MS-SY-BOX31

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-details.asp?...

There appear to be USB header cables in the kit, to connect it up.
Your motherboard has a header called "USB3/4", which would be
a 2x5 dual USB header. I can't tell from the Bayone picture, whether
the cables are a couple 1x5's or what the deal is. But in any case,
it seems you have the materials to connect it up. If you only
hooked up thecard readerportion, and not the auxiliary USB port
on the front of thecard reader, then it would only consume one USB port.

One reviewer on the TigerDirect page, reports a crash when
something was connected to the Bayone during boot.

As far as I know, if you insert a Compact Flash in that thing,
it'll probably show up as a USB hard drive (USB mass storage driver).

Whatever chipset is on the Bayone, it appears to have a Flash chip.
Implying the main chip is a processor of some sort. I can't think
of another reason for the Flash chip to be present, otherwise.

    Paul

Ok.

At present I have the two USB ports at the front panel connected to
the motherboard with the cable that has the conventional 2x5 USB
connectors at each end.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll257/Statenislander/Computer/USBPinHeader.jpg

But from what I can tell I have to sacrifice at least one of those two
USB ports to connect the card reader.

http://i290.photobucket.com/albums/ll257/Statenislander/Computer/CardReader..jpg

I just don't know if I'm supposed to use both of the 1x5 card reader
connectors. And if only one, then should it be on the top or the
bottom row of USB pins?

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.