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    is 2.5" sata hdd compatible with 2.5" pata hdd?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by town2020, Jul 9, 2008.

  1. town2020

    town2020 Notebook Guru

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    I might get a laptop that comes with pata 2.5" hdd, but can I change it
    to a 2.5" sata hdd(or ssd)?
     
    town2020, Jul 9, 2008
    #1
  2. metril

    metril Notebook Deity

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    SATA uses a different connector than PATA. You need to make sure the laptop has a SATA connector.
     
    metril, Jul 9, 2008
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  3. namo2021

    namo2021 Newbie

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    it all depends on the motherboard connections. if the mobo has a sata in then you can put in a sata drive. Pata runs the old IDE connectors (the big 24 ribbon). Sata utilizes a smaller, better cable.

    pretty much, just make sure you have a sata connector on your mobo before doing anything.

    -----------------SATA--------------------------------
    http://xtreview.com/images/Intel-DP35DP/Intel-DP965LT-sata.jpg
    The sata ports are the black/red on the right. These are what you need to have in order to connect a SATA hard drive

    http://sierra-cables.com/SATA/Images/SATA-Signal-Cable-1.jpg
    sata cables

    http://www.woot.com/Images/Sale/Wes...2c000_RPM_80GB_SATA_Hard_Drive_Q0Z-detail.jpg
    Sata hard drive (note the connectors on the bottom left of the drive)

    ----------------------IDE (PATA)-----------------------------
    AS OPPOSED TO...
    http://technewsmadesimple.com/images/IAC/ide.jpeg
    (again the bottom left)

    which connects to:
    http://www.pctechguide.com/images/tutorials/MBoard/IDEs.jpg
    that on the mobo.

    EDIT: one other note, if the comp has Vista (it should) then you're ok. If you run XP, sata RAID drivers are not pre-installed and you have to do some fancy stuff with a floppy in order to get it to recognize in bios
     
    namo2021, Jul 9, 2008
    #3
  4. namaiki

    namaiki "basically rocks" Super Moderator

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    The connectors for PATA and SATA are physically different so they are not likely interchangable within the space of a notebook's hard drive bay, even if you had an adapter.
     
    namaiki, Jul 9, 2008
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  5. Zero

    Zero The Random Guy

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    If the notebook has a PATA connector, then you can only use a PATA hard disk. If it is SATA, then only SATA hard disks can be used. You cannot interchange between the two in a notebook, as the drive bay only has one interface open to it.
     
    Zero, Jul 9, 2008
    #5