SATA-PATA USB Adapter

[DasFox]

Anyone know any great SATA/PATA USB adapters?

These are the only ones I saw that looked pretty good:

Apricorn

Masscool

Newer Technology

CoolGear

BYTECC

Any thoughts here on a good one or if any of these are? That Newer Technology one sorta has my eyes at the moment to get...

THANKS

 

[DasFox]

No one?

I need to order one ASAP...

THANKS

 

[DasFox]

Anyone please?

 

[fuzzybabybunny]

Go for the Coolgear.

Most of these adapters have a hard time fitting next to the power plug on a 3.5"/5.25" PATA drive because they're too wide. The Coolgear's design looks like a molex would fit very comfortably next to the adapter.

It also has a power switch, something very rare and IMO better than simply yanking the power cord out of the socket to turn off the drive.

I don't have personal experience with it though.

EDIT: The Newer Technology one is pretty snazzy though. It doesn't have the problem of not having enough space for the molex on IDE drives because it has a short little ribbon cable in the package.

Hmmm... either Coolgear or Newer Technology. Don't think you could go wrong with either. I'm leaning towards Newer Technology now.

 

[MrPickins]

I have one that looks like this, although it's powmax branded.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16812232002

It works great for pata and sata.

 

[DasFox]

The Newer Technology site looks pretty impressive, they've been around a bit it looks like.

I've seen that Vantec one too...

I'm leaning towards the Newer Tech one at the moment, unless someone has something better to say...

THANKS

 

[DasFox]

Found another one:

http://www.cooldrives.com/ide-...ard-drive-adapter.html

Actually I'm going to buy the Coolgear, I like that on/off switch and you don't have to use pata or sata ribbons to make the connection like the Newer Tech, you can just plug it in directly.

Actually here's coolgear's site:

http://www.coolgear.com/produc...fm?sku=SS-123ASD&cats=

 

[DasFox]

Originally posted by: fuzzybabybunny
Go for the Coolgear.

Most of these adapters have a hard time fitting next to the power plug on a 3.5"/5.25" PATA drive because they're too wide. The Coolgear's design looks like a molex would fit very comfortably next to the adapter.

It also has a power switch, something very rare and IMO better than simply yanking the power cord out of the socket to turn off the drive.

I don't have personal experience with it though.

EDIT: The Newer Technology one is pretty snazzy though. It doesn't have the problem of not having enough space for the molex on IDE drives because it has a short little ribbon cable in the package.

Hmmm... either Coolgear or Newer Technology. Don't think you could go wrong with either. I'm leaning towards Newer Technology now.

Forget this CoolGear, this company looks really odd. I mean HOLY CRAP you really honestly think they need all these sites to sell these products? I personally don't, I smell something bad here!

They run all these sites:

coolgear.com
usbgear.com
cooldrives.com
usbserial.com
usbmax.com
sataadapter.com
firewiregear.net
adaptergear.com
satagear.com
hubgear.com
kvmgear.com
esatacables.com
usbwear.com
cablegear.com
networkserial.com
serialgear.com

 

[bruceb]

I have the Bytecc BT-300 USB to IDE / SATA adapter ... works good ... but it does not come with any directions

 

[DasFox]

Originally posted by: bruceb
I have the Bytecc BT-300 USB to IDE / SATA adapter ... works good ... but it does not come with any directions

I'm looking now at getting the Coolmax CD-350-COMBO, but trying to figure out if it has a ON/OFF switch, in some pics I see it does, then over at NewEgg someone is talking about it not having one.

Coolmax CD-350-COMBO At NewEgg

 

[somethingsketchy]

I seconded bruceb. The Bytecc IDE to SATA adapter works very well. Used it with a 750GB WD hdd while editing music to put on a radio station server. Used this for over 5 hours with continuous reads and writes and had no very little impact on performance and no drop connections.

Just keep an eye on the hdd's temperature as there will be no cooling solution that comes with this adapter. Your hdd will be completely exposed so be careful in the handling of the HDD while its connected and you'll be fine.

 

[DasFox]

Originally posted by: somethingsketchy
I seconded bruceb. The Bytecc IDE to SATA adapter works very well. Used it with a 750GB WD hdd while editing music to put on a radio station server. Used this for over 5 hours with continuous reads and writes and had no very little impact on performance and no drop connections.

Just keep an eye on the hdd's temperature as there will be no cooling solution that comes with this adapter. Your hdd will be completely exposed so be careful in the handling of the HDD while its connected and you'll be fine.

Cooling solution for hard drives, hehe, there are many computer builders, dell, hp, etc.. that have no fans for hard drives. It all depends on the drive, some get hot, some don't, but of course I personally like to have a fan blowing across mine...

I'm a tech, I want one for my work, no worries on handling it...

 

[DasFox]

I placed an order for the Coolmax CD-350-COMBO. If anyone cares to know how it is once I get it SHOUT back...

PEACE

 

[DasFox]

CRAP the damm company Brainstorm I ordered from Amazon sent me the wrong product, now I'm back to looking somewhere else...

Anyone else use any of these or can recommend some other good ones?

I'm still looking...

 

[DaveSimmons]

I've used the Vantec with IDE & SATA drives up to 500 GB, I haven't tried it with a laptop drive or DVD-ROM yet.

 

[DasFox]

Well my Coolmax CD-350-COMBO arrived today, foul up with Amazon but I got it.

Well it's running great, first 3 drives I put in it all came up reconized in XP, 2 lap drives and one desk sata.

I have a question if anyone might know...

there are two pictures in the manual,
one showing the molex connector plugged into the back of the
CD-350-COMBO and the other picture showing the molex connector
plugged into the back of the hard drive.

PDF Manual:
http://www.coolmaxusa.com/down...anual/CD-350-COMBO.pdf

Why the need to plug it into the back of a hard drive? I personally
thought all you needed to do was just plug it into the back of the
CD-350-COMBO.

What's the reason for using one or the other, and does it really matter?

All I can think of is if a drive doesn't spin up with it in one location you'd just use the other is all.

THANKS

 

[BehindEnemyLines]

I got the Masscool in black (not white as seen in the picture). I have used it continuously for an hour to clone a 2.5 SATA hard drive and also to recover a 2.5 PATA hard drive. It also worked perfectly with my old PATA DVD drive.

Given a choice now, I would probably get the Newer Technology instead. I like the idea of having separate SATA and power cable for 3.5 SATA drives.

What it comes with:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/...%20USB%202.0%20Adapter