I was wondering if it would be possible to make an adaptor to convert a SATA drive into a IDE. I have an extra 250 gig SATA hdd that I want to use on a mobo that does not have SATA ports. I am completely broke at the moment and do not wish to spend $30 on one.
You're talking about building an adapter between two completely incompatible data transfer technologies. You'd probably have to make a custom PCB and program your own controller chip. I don't know what your qualifications are, but I'm guessing you can't build one for less than the $15 it'll cost you: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812206001
Another two IDE->SATA converters here, both in Australia... http://www.stormcomputers.com.au/ca...=1873&osCsid=f49e376603f245998beb6ae779f3effa http://pccasegear.com.au/prod4857.htm
For a couple of quid more you could pick up a sata card and get the full use of sata http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16815108103
you might consider this: (link) I bought my adapters from this guy, excellent service, well packed, no customs duty
I did not realize that you needed a controller card in order for it to work properly. Guess I will have to buy one : (
SATA is basically a serialized ATA interface. There are differences in the physical transmission of the bits, the from a software standpoint, SATA and PATA are the same. Marvell makes a SATA-PATA bridge chip that, IIRC goes either direction. The 88i8030 is one that was in wide use IIRC. There were some old Maxtors that were "sata", they were PATA drives with this bridge chip included (and someone forgot to update the firmware so one of their drive information strings read PATA ) For the trouble, you should be able to find a ready made one on the net for a pittance. But if you are hardcore into creating your hardware, you can look up that chip.
On a PATA to SATA bridge I know the datasheet is nearly impossible to find, and the chips are hard to source as Marvell is not the most cooperative company in the world. But you might be able to pull the old 'engineering sample' trick if you really wanted one.
