USB to IDE/SATA?

[JEDI]

i have a few 2.5" ide and sata hd lying around (18gig - 350gig).

How does this work for sata hd?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/USB-2-0-to-...t=US_Drive_Cables_dapters&hash=item4abdef2254

I can plug the device into the data side of the sata hd.
Do i not need the power side??

 

[Zap]

2.5" drives can usually (but not always) get enough power from USB to operate. The "trick" is that 2.5" IDE drives use the small 44-pin connector which has power integrated into the connector. 2.5" SATA drives use the same exact connector as 3.5" SATA drives, so it still needs a separate power connector. Note in the fine print of the auction that the power adapter is not included. You will need that power adapter for 2.5" SATA drives, due to the design of this USB adapter.

 

[ElFenix]

that doesn't include power

Package Include:
New USB 2.0 to IDE SATA S-ATA/2.5/3.5 Adapter Cable
Note: AC power adapter is not included

even though USB can usually power 2.5" SATA drives, this cable has no way to provide even that power.

if you mostly have SATA drives that you'd like to swap in and out, something like the thermaltake blax is the best solution i've found. Cables like this are really only good for ocassional use as they become mess of wires and adapters. I've got one that i use for an hd dvd drive when i occasionally rip movies, and use the blax for my stack of sata drives. your ide drives are probably small and old so they're probably barely useful and no longer trustworthy anyway.