Can I put in a IDE hard drive into this computer?

[raildogg]

Hi, my old computer doesn't work so I am trying to buy a new computer. I am eyeing this one:
http://emachines.com/products/products.html?prod=ET1831-07#fn4
and was wondering if I can take the IDE hard drive from my old computer and put it in this one? I don't see the part where it says it can take IDE hard drives.

Thank you.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I doubt it, but someone would have to post mobo info to be sure. Emachines doesn't have detailed manuals like HP or Dell does.

 

[piasabird]

I like how they dont tell you if the Optical Drive is IDE or SATA.

What I would say is that it is a bad idea with hard drives to mix SATA and IDE. You dont know for sure whether the computer motherboard even supports that.

E-Machines expects all their users to be too dumb to add a hard drive. Even in their support info they refuse to tell you if the Optical drive is IDE or SATA.

You might go to another store that sells these and look at the motherboard.

Probably looks like this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ImageG...emium%2064-bit

Looks like it has 2 SATA drives plugged in. I cant tell if that is a free IDE drive or a floppy. Looks like IDE.

 

[nsafreak]

That's an IDE interface alright. Specifically this machine uses the ECS MCP73VT-PM, specs can be found here: http://www.e4allupgraders.info/dir1/motherboards/socket775/ecsMCP73VT-PM.shtml

 

[bob4432]

What I would say is that it is a bad idea with hard drives to mix SATA and IDE. You dont know for sure whether the computer motherboard even supports that.

what machines/motherboards don't support ide & sata at the same time?

 

[raildogg]

Thank you everyone for the help. So it seems as if this computer can support an IDE hard drive. Hopefully I can recover my data from my old PC onto this one that I may buy soon.

What is everyone's opinion about this computer? I will be using it mainly for surfing and some minor gaming.

Thanks.

 

[Raduque]

Then again, you could always get something like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817159075

 

[bob4432]

gaming @ what resolution & what game? seems ok for other stuff - just so you know, you may void the warranty if you open up the case - not sure but i would look into that and see. if it is an issue there are the ide -> usb docks to put your ide hdd in to get your data.

 

[raildogg]

Yes, I will look into that. I am reconsidering purchasing this computer because I want somewhat adequate gaming performance.

I have an Nvidia Geforce 7800GT in my old PC which I can put in this one but I am not sure if the power supply can handle it.

 

[piasabird]

Not a very powerful processor. I thought my E7200 was pressing it when I purchased it, but it actually ran pretty fast with just 2 gigs of RAM on Vista.

My motherboard from Intel has issues running both IDE and SATA. However, I thought that using an old IDE Hard Drive is like trying to use an abbacus. It just did not make sense to me. I say get rid of the old technology and say good riddance. Out with the old and in with the new.

This is just my opinion.

It is entirely possible that you will get it working and a month or two later the IDE Hard Drive will give up, then you have to open the case and take it out. These systems are not designed with upgrades in mind. Typically the power supply in a retail machine is barely powerful enough to run what is originally configured in the case. Adding hardware might mean you will need a larger power supply.

 

[xpressdeals]

yes you can put IDE Hard drive into this but carefully because has crash chances

 

[bob4432]

yes you can put IDE Hard drive into this but carefully because has crash chances

??? where are you guys getting this from? the one guy w/ the intel board i looked into and it seems that particular board does have issues, but that is the exception to the rule....

 

[0roo0roo]

you can,but unless the drives rather new it might be better just to get a new one.
they are so cheap now.
and probably faster.
you can always get converters but the cost is better spent on a new drive

 

[bigboxes]

That's an IDE interface alright. Specifically this machine uses the ECS MCP73VT-PM, specs can be found here: http://www.e4allupgraders.info/dir1/motherboards/socket775/ecsMCP73VT-PM.shtml

That site doesn't list this particular model. Where exactly did you get info on the motherboard? I couldn't find it.

However, I haven't heard where the warranty would be voided if you opened up the case. It does have upgradable and servicable parts inside. However unlikely, you may decide to change out the memory for larger modules if the price comes down on 4gb modules. There is an extra bay for an additional hard drive and an additional 5.25" bay if you choose to install a blu-ray drive or something along those lines. Not to mention you may actually want to clean out the dust that accumulates inside.

Like I said, I have found no documentation on the model of motherboard for this model eMachine so I couldn't tell you for sure that it has an IDE connector. If it does then there's no reason that you couldn't hook up your hard drive and use it as a storage drive. I personally have 2 sata HDDs and 2 pata (IDE) HDDs in my main rig. The IDE drives are used for download storage drives and have no effect on performance or stability of my system.

If you decide to purchase this PC and it doesn't have an IDE connector then I would purchase a cheap external enclosure (like the Coolmax one linked above) or a 3 in 1 USB 2.0 to SATA/IDE adapter cable if you just want to move the data off the drive. It also comes in handy when you want to test out drives that may be failing without having to install them into a case.