Need a USB to SATA adapter recommendation.

fuzzybabybunny

Moderator<br>Digital & Video Cameras
Moderator
Jan 2, 2006
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I'm looking for just the wire - USB to SATA adapter, not the enclosure. I want something very small and compact. Like these things:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...ta&bop=And&Order=PRICE

But I can't find anything that doesn't scare or disappoint me! Reading the reviews, it seems like all of these have at least one of the following problems:

1. Kills drives. Literally fries them.
2. Straight up doesn't work. Windows doesn't recognize.
3. Vista support is undefined.
4. Doesn't work for 750GB+ HDD because the power supply only outputs less than 2A. Most don't even specify whether they support 750GB+ HDDs or not.
5. Doesn't pass on CRC and bad sector error information to the OS. Again, none of them specify. A reviewer has to point this out for me.
6. Doesn't work with SATA DVD-ROM drives. Again, not specified. Have to rely on reviews.

Anyone have one of these things that works flawlessly? SATA optical drive support, passes on CRC info, works with Vista, and works with 750GB+ drives? The latter two are the most important for me.
 

RebateMonger

Elite Member
Dec 24, 2005
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This generic device is pretty universally available and I've been using one for a while without issues. I use mine a lot and haven't found a drive that it won't talk to. Edit: Fixed link.

My power supply says it delivers 2.0 amps on both 5V and 12V, but I don't think I've used it on anything bigger than 320GB. I've used it in data recovery with laptop drives and desktop drives.

Mine works fine in Vista and XP.

Don't know if it passes CRC and bad sector data.

I don't know about CD/DVD support. Description says it handles them, but I've never tried it.