How to Install an IDE DVD Burner in a SATA

SATA cable

IDE and SATA are types of connections used by hard drive and disc drives in a computer system. At times when building a new computer and using parts from a former computer, it may be necessary to use an IDE drive, such as an IDE DVD burner, in a system with SATA connectors. The simplest way to do this is to use an IDE to SATA converter.

Things You'll Need

• IDE DVD burner
• SATA cable
• Y-Power cable (one part with Molex power connector and the other with floppy power connector)
• Motherboard with open SATA port (or SATA control card)
• IDE to SATA converter

Instructions

1. 

   The IDE connector on the back of the DVD Burner should look like this.

   Connect the IDE to SATA converter to the back of the IDE DVD burner. The 40-pin IDE connector on the back of the DVD burner has two long rows (one on top of the other) of pins. Match up and slide the converter firmly onto the DVD burner.

2. Connect the molex power part of the Y-Power cable to the DVD burner. The molex power jack on the DVD burner is to the right of the IDE connector that was just used to plug the coverter into the DVD burner and has four larger pins. The other part of the Y, the four-pin floppy connector, should be connected directly to the coverter. The four-pin floppy connector should be on the very right side of the converter (near the edge), and it is much smaller than a molex connector.

3. Connect the other end of the Y-Cable to an open molex connector from the computer's power supply. The power supply unit is at the very top of the computer and should have multiple molex power connectors hanging from it. Trace the bundle of wires coming out of the power supply unit to an open molex connector.

4. 

   SATA ports are the two red jacks shown on the motherboard.

   Connect the SATA cable to the IDE-SATA converter. The SATA port on the connector should be on the very left of the card. It looks like a very thin "L." Connect the other end to an open SATA port on the motherboard or to a SATA controller card. The SATA ports can be different places depending on the brand of the motherboard, but they are often towards the bottom right corner of the motherboard. Also, the jacks are often red.

Tips & Warnings

• When working with a computer's interior components, unplug the computer to avoid electrical shock.

References

• Addonics Technologies Model ADIDESA Installation Guide. Addonics. 2008

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish