Associate
- Joined
- 20 Oct 2010
- Posts
- 638
- Location
- Suffolk
Hi, bit of a complete noob question so bare with me guys, I'm sure it's a quick one to answer.
I know the difference between SATA and IDE, IDE has the big ribbon cable and SATA doesn't. I'd always assumed my PC used IDE as I recall the big ribbon cables. However, I've had cause to open it up today and I've realised my HDD's are SATA, it's only the optical drives that are IDE.
Is this normal for older machines?
I've got a Dell Dimension E521 and I'd always thought I'd have to get all new drives when speccing a new build but it seems as though the HDD will be OK to use (good job considering prices of HDDs currently).
Could I theoretically connect an IDE HDD to one of the IDE cables for the optical drives?
I ask because I have a laptop blue-screening on startup, which has a 2.5" IDE HDD. I can get my hands on an 2.5" IDE to 3.5" IDE converter, but that's no good as my desktop has SATA on the HDD bays, I'm wondering if I could hook the laptop HDD up to one of the optical drive IDE connectors.
I know the difference between SATA and IDE, IDE has the big ribbon cable and SATA doesn't. I'd always assumed my PC used IDE as I recall the big ribbon cables. However, I've had cause to open it up today and I've realised my HDD's are SATA, it's only the optical drives that are IDE.
Is this normal for older machines?
I've got a Dell Dimension E521 and I'd always thought I'd have to get all new drives when speccing a new build but it seems as though the HDD will be OK to use (good job considering prices of HDDs currently).
Could I theoretically connect an IDE HDD to one of the IDE cables for the optical drives?
I ask because I have a laptop blue-screening on startup, which has a 2.5" IDE HDD. I can get my hands on an 2.5" IDE to 3.5" IDE converter, but that's no good as my desktop has SATA on the HDD bays, I'm wondering if I could hook the laptop HDD up to one of the optical drive IDE connectors.
