How to Use an IDE Drive With the SATA Interface

Using a hardware converter adapter, you can connect an older IDE (or Parallel ATA) hard drive to the newer SATA (Serial ATA) interface on your motherboard.

Things You'll Need

• IDE to SATA adapter

Instructions

1. Shut down your computer and unplug it from the power outlet.

2. Connect the (roughly 2-inch wide) 80 pin IDE data cable coming out of the converter cable into your IDE hard drive.

3. Connect the slender red SATA cable (with the L shaped connector) to the motherboard and to the converter cable.

4. Connect the male end of the power cable (with the yellow, red and black wires) to the IDE hard drive, and connect the female end to your power supply.

5. Power on your computer.

References

• Low End Mac: IDE Is Dead; Long Live SATA

Resources

• CoolDrives: IDE to SATA or SATA to IDE Adapter