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adding SATA to a non-SATA motherboard

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superboyac:
I'm going to add a SATA PCI card to my 5 year old motherboard.  I just also read that SATA hard drives also use a different power connector than the 4-pin molex one.  So, could I just get an adapter for the molex and use it for the SATA?  Most of my information that I read is from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA

It says that I can add an adapter, but because of the voltage issues, I won't be able to hot-swap the drives.  Did I understand that correctly?

Carol Haynes:
I got a WD SATA II drive and it had both power connectors (the molex was labelled 'legacy'). I haven't tried the molex connector but I assume it works. Otherwise you should be able to get adapter/splitter cables. Here is an example:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=CB-052-GE

This was the drive I installed:

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-070-WD

mouser:
if you have a 5yr old motherboard, perhaps the answer is to buy a new motherboard (or new computer?).  I realize that's easy to say and not so easy to afford, but at some point trying to upgrade these things is more trouble than its worth..

Deozaan:
I'm going to add a SATA PCI card to my 5 year old motherboard.  I just also read that SATA hard drives also use a different power connector than the 4-pin molex one.  So, could I just get an adapter for the molex and use it for the SATA?  Most of my information that I read is from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA

It says that I can add an adapter, but because of the voltage issues, I won't be able to hot-swap the drives.  Did I understand that correctly?
-superboyac (December 20, 2006, 11:01 AM)
--- End quote ---

I just bought a 4-pin to SATA power converter/splitter on Saturday from a local mom & pop cyber cafe for about $5.

I don't know about an IDE to SATA converter, though. One thing you can do is get an external SATA-to-USB shell and put your hard drive in there.

Also, one of my SATA drives has the 4-pin Molex power connecter, but it is covered by something you can pull out so I didn't know it was there. My latest drive (300GB SATA) has no Molex, however.

superboyac:
if you have a 5yr old motherboard, perhaps the answer is to buy a new motherboard (or new computer?).  I realize that's easy to say and not so easy to afford, but at some point trying to upgrade these things is more trouble than its worth..
-mouser (December 20, 2006, 12:52 PM)
--- End quote ---
Argh, I think you're right.  Actually, I originally said that in my original post, but then deleted because I didn't want to discuss it!  For a variety of reasons, it would be "irresponsible" of me to buy a new computer right now.  Practically speaking, I really don't need a new computer, I'm not doing anything that requires anything faster or better than what I've got.  And the few seconds of time that I would save is unnecessary.  The only thing that is important and lacking from my system right now is a robust backup method, which is why I'm splurging on the two 500GB hard drives.  So, after this, I'm just going to ride my system until it dies.  I'll probably last as long as I can stand until I switch over to WIndows Vista.  I'm guessing somewhere around 2008-2009. 

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