(Please, still no replies yet!) How do I find out if a mobo's SATA connectors support optical drives?

[computer]

Guys, can anyone tell me if there is a way to determine if the subjected mobo's SATA connectors will work with a Plextor 712 SATA DVD burner? There's nothing in the manual on this, nor on the net that I could find. As you'd expect, no reply from GB on this. (I do know some of Gigabyte's hi-end s478 mobo's supported optical drives on their SATA connectors, FWTW).

Thanks. :beer:

 

[computer]

I guess I should also ask if a conventional ATX PSU (550 watt) will work on that mobo. It has both 20-pin & 24 pin connectors, but it has a PCI-E slot and I don't know if they call for "special connectors" or not.

 

[computer]

^

 

[computer]

Anyone?

 

[computer]

^

 

[akugami]

I believe the Plextor's use a bridge chip. This is pure speculation as I do not have the drive nor have I researched it. SATA bridge chips should work just fine so long as they conform to SATA specs. It might be slightly slower but that's about it. The problem is that SATA bridge devices seem very finicky and may only work with certain SATA chipsets. This is evidenced by the IDE to SATA bridge devices sold by places like Newegg where some people can't get them to work. If the Plextor is a native SATA device there should be zero reasons why it doesn't work with any SATA chipset.

99% of the people who have optical drives now run them through the IDE connectors so most people won't have a clue, that's why no one is responding. The best response most people at this time can give you is maybe and try it and see and that's the exact same response I'm giving you now.

 

[doc2345]

Plextor claims it is native SATA so it should work with any board. But based on my personal experience with Plextor, I don't trust 'em, believe 'em, nor would I ever own any of their products again. But good luck with your purchase anyway........

If course you could go here to the Plextor Forum and ask people using the drive what they think........

 

[Peter]

Regardless of what Plextor claims, their SATA DVDRW drive is a PATA drive with a SATA converter board up its arse. Guess why it's half an inch longer than the PATA model. Anyway, for a SATA optical drive to work, the mainboard's SATA channel must operate in "legacy IDE" interface mode. Intel's can, so if you plan an Intel chipset there, you'll be able to set your BIOS up such that it works.

 

[computer]

Originally posted by: Peter
Regardless of what Plextor claims, their SATA DVDRW drive is a PATA drive with a SATA converter board up its arse. Guess why it's half an inch longer than the PATA model. Anyway, for a SATA optical drive to work, the mainboard's SATA channel must operate in "legacy IDE" interface mode. Intel's can, so if you plan an Intel chipset there, you'll be able to set your BIOS up such that it works.

Thanks Peter. The mobo is an Intel 945P chipset. The manual does state like most that the SATA connectors can operate in either RAID or IDE mode, but it doesn't mention the word "Legacy".

 

[computer]

Originally posted by: doc2345
Plextor claims it is native SATA so it should work with any board. But based on my personal experience with Plextor, I don't trust 'em, believe 'em, nor would I ever own any of their products again. But good luck with your purchase anyway........

If course you could go here to the Plextor Forum and ask people using the drive what they think........

Akugami & doc, thanks for the replies.

Interesting....thanks for the link. I've heard nothing but praise on Plextor drives! The exception was the 716 IDE DVD Burner which seemed to have firmware issues, or some issues due to firmware. Doc, what kind of problems have you had?