Using IDE hardrives with ATA Serial only comp. (n00b)

[Flightle]

Excuse my lack of technical terminology.

I have a new Dell with all Serial ATA hookups for HD's to the motherboard. I am left no IDE hookups for my older HD's. What can I do?

I have an IDE hookup for the disc drives but then I have no power source because the power sources are new hookups too.

Thanks!

 

[defakto]

um...not really

sata drives do not use eide cable, they use a seperate connector for the interface. Also, sata power connectors differ from standard ide power connectores, if you do run out of connectors in general you can just grab some splitters.

 

[SelRahc]

Actually, you can use IDE hard drives with SATA

If you have a spare SATA connector free, there are converters that convert Parallel ATA devices to Serial ATA. Take a lookey. Heres a random review.. this converts the data and power from IDE Device to SATA for the MB.

Link-me-up

This lets you use your older IDE drives with the new SATA connectors. According to the review, it works quite well and actually improves your performance. An option if you want to use your older IDE drives....

Is this what you are needing? Won't work if you don't have any SATA connectors free though...

 

[defakto]

Yeah, i'm quite aware of adapters, but standard, being as he seemed very new, I was making sure he was on teh same page that pata eide drives do not have the same connectors as sata drives

 

[Crosshairs]

Excuse my lack of technical terminology.

I have a new Dell

Thats the whole problem right there!!!

You have a 50/50 chance of there being any IDE slots open on the board. Prebuilts are not really meant to be upgraded.
That being said, you will need to see if there are any IDE slots available.
Perhaps if you posted the model # we could help some more.