Stanley said:
I have recently bought a DVD burner that uses a SATA cable for power
and communication. However, the workstation that I'm planning to
install it on uses ATA only. What adapter would you suggest that I
use, if indeed that there is an adapter from ATA to SATA? It would be
nice to know in advance if I can't buy anything to fix the mistakes so
that I can return the DVD burner. Thanks.
Having mulled over the possibilities, and writing a very long
answer, I think the answer is to -
1) Keep the SATA DVD for a "rainy day". You'll use it someday,
and chances are the computer you use it on will have SATA.
The shipping to send it back and the time wasted packaging it,
nullifies any savings by returning it.
2) Buy an IDE DVD for the current computer application. The
easy integration of an IDE DVD into an IDE computer, is worth
the $22. Especially when the feature set includes so many
acronyms. You're paying about $2 per acronym
ASUS Beige 18X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 8X DVD+R DL 18X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 14X
DVD-RAM 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM 2MB Cache PATA
18X DVD±R LightScribe Burner with QuieTrack Tech - OEM $22
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135154
I can find PCI SATA controller cards that cost slightly more than $22.
There are also SATA to IDE and IDE to SATA adapter dongles (rather
than using a controller card), but in the past, some of those had
trouble with ATAPI. One product of that type was offered for $0.99,
but all of them appeared to be dead on arrival.
If you like experiments and potential frustration, then try
something like this. Based on VT6421, one IDE connector and
2 SATA connectors. $34.99 . Since it uses a VIA chip, it could
well be available for less elsewhere.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16815158092
This is an example of a power adapter cable. Four pin Molex to
SATA 15 contact wafer. SATA has five groups of three contacts.
The Molex has +5V, +12V, and ground on it. SATA is basically
3.3V, GND, 5V, GND, 12V. Note that such an adapter cable as
this one, has no 3.3V on it. SATA drives do not currently
use the 3.3V rail, so using these adapters is OK as of today.
At some future date, a SATA device could be offered that uses
3.3V, and then this adapter cable will not work. But you have
nothing to worry about right now.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812186043
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sata
HTH,
Paul
