IDE / PATA drives no longer for sale?

[nenforcer]

I have been looking specifically for the 16MB cache IDE/PATA drives (preferably the Seagate 7200.11 series) and it appears they have either sold out for the holidays or are no longer selling these models.

The only model with 16MB of cache is a WD Caviar SE16 at NewEgg.

Does any one know if these models are being discountinued since no new computers have IDE any longer?

I thought they would last a little while longer but it appears not.

 

[j0j081]

there are some decent ones on ebay.

 

[Denithor]

The manufacturers have switched almost entirely to SATA as it has been the standard connection for about two years now (since the early C2D chipsets Intel has not even included PATA controllers at all). Most boards today have a single PATA connection run by a JMicron (or other) controller, added as an afterthought to support older DVDRW and HDD.

You specifically mention the Seagate 7200.11 series: they chose not to even make any PATA drives in this series. There were still PATA drives in the older 7200.10 series.

Newegg carries nine PATA drives, found here.

 

[RebateMonger]

My earlier prediction on availability of IDE drives.

I was at a local Fry's Electronics right after Thanksgiving holiday, there there were NO IDE drives in the entire store. I assume this was a temporary state.

 

[taltamir]

PATA is vastly inferior to SATA, it costs more to produce and falls short in every conceiveable way, from speed to user friendless to size. Why in the world would you WANT it?

 

[VirtualLarry]

I saw some 500GB IDE WD drives at BestBuy B&M a few weeks ago. I was thinking of snagging them, because they probably won't be getting any more in. They were $100 for 500GB, practically double what large SATA drives cost these days.

 

[Denithor]

The only reason to buy them today is if you do service work on older systems for people. When someone brings in an old P4 with a dead PATA drive and you cannot buy a new one anywhere it's going to suck.

But yeah, going forward there's no comparison, SATA wins in every comparison you care to make (except possibly the actual connection, which is horrible & weak).

 

[taisingera]

I'm happy I got rid of all my IDE gear a couple of months ago. IDE 3.5" and 2.5" drive and corresponding sized IDE enclosures.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Denithor
But yeah, going forward there's no comparison, SATA wins in every comparison you care to make (except possibly the actual connection, which is horrible & weak).

Incredible, huh? The hard drive industry had fifteen years to develop an improved hard drive controller, and then came up with a connector that breaks off, making the hard drive useless.

 

[taisingera]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: Denithor
But yeah, going forward there's no comparison, SATA wins in every comparison you care to make (except possibly the actual connection, which is horrible & weak).

Incredible, huh? The hard drive industry had fifteen years to develop an improved hard drive controller, and then came up with a connector that breaks off, making the hard drive useless.

I bought a couple of the 180-90 degree SATA cables, and I have no problems with cables breaking off. Plus the newer connectors seem to click into the mobo which is better.

 

[Denithor]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: Denithor
But yeah, going forward there's no comparison, SATA wins in every comparison you care to make (except possibly the actual connection, which is horrible & weak).

Incredible, huh? The hard drive industry had fifteen years to develop an improved hard drive controller, and then came up with a connector that breaks off, making the hard drive useless.

It's a conspiracy, I tell you! A conspiracy!

Or something.

:beer:

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: Denithor
The only reason to buy them today is if you do service work on older systems for people. When someone brings in an old P4 with a dead PATA drive and you cannot buy a new one anywhere it's going to suck.

But yeah, going forward there's no comparison, SATA wins in every comparison you care to make (except possibly the actual connection, which is horrible & weak).

buy a cheap SATA expansion card and an SATA HDD.

 

[taltamir]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: Denithor
But yeah, going forward there's no comparison, SATA wins in every comparison you care to make (except possibly the actual connection, which is horrible & weak).

Incredible, huh? The hard drive industry had fifteen years to develop an improved hard drive controller, and then came up with a connector that breaks off, making the hard drive useless.

planned obsolescence... or in this case.. "planned breaking outside of warranty"