SATA 1 vs SATA 2

Question

Hello everyone,   I own a Dell Dimension 8300.  Recently my HDD died on me.  I replaced it with a 300GB Maxtor Sata 1 and is installed and working great.  Realizing that I was still under warranty for my machine Dell is now sending me a new Drive to replace my old unit. I see the HDD being sent is actually a Sata 2 drive and not Sata 1, (160GB also vs 120GB existing Thank you Dell :) ). Is Sata 2 backwards compatible with Sata 1 or will I have to get a controller in able to support this Sata 2 Drive Dell is sending me.   I was also curious to know if I would be able to hook up a 3rd HDD using the open IDE I have on the board.  I haven't checked to see if there is even enough power connections but figured I'd use both sata ports and 1 of the IDE connections to run 3 HDD's.  Is this doable?   390HPHemi     Message Edited by 390HPHemi on 10-20-2006 02:12 PM

shesagordie · Answer

390HPHemi

SATA2 hard drives are backwards compatible to SATA1.

Yes, you can connect a third drive [IDE] to the IDE motherboard controller and if there's not a spare power connector, then you can use a 4-pin power Y splitter,

http://www.cablestogo.com/product.asp?cat%5Fid=925&sku=03166

Bev.

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Post the issue in the appropriate Board, where they will be answered.

casscarr2002 · Answer

Thank you shesagordie.  Appreciate the response.   It looks like I actually have 2 additional power connectors so I can use 1 for the remaining IDE connection.  Thanks again.

shesagordie · Answer

390HPHemi

That's great and thanks for the heads up.

Bev.

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Post the issue in the appropriate Board, where they will be answered.

casscarr2002 · Answer

Drive's in, now to search the forums here to get the second Sata drive recognized, doesn't come up in disc management or isn't recognized when I try to do new hardware install.

shesagordie · Answer

390HPHemi

Did you enter the Setup and check that the new hard drive, is set to "on" [auto]?

These are generic instructions for installing an additional hard drive using Windows XP Disk Management, they are by Seagate, but apply to all brands.

http://www.seagate.com/support/kb/disc/howto/install_xp_disk_mgmt.html

Bev.

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Message Edited by shesagordie on 10-23-2006 05:15 PM

casscarr2002 · Answer

I am shaking my head right now.  I actually rebooted right after I left that post here and shook my head as I went past setup in bios for the second time, forgetting that yes I did not set 'auto' on the second HDD.  Set auto and it's working fine.  FIrst thing I knew I had to do after install and I missed it lol.

shesagordie · Answer

390HPHemi

Thanks for the heads up.

Don't worry about it, you are not the first to make that mistake. :)

Bev.

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Post the issue in the appropriate Board, where they will be answered.

Storage, Drives & Media

SATA 1 vs SATA 2

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