USB 2.0 to IDE/SATA Cable Adapter

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sequitursequitur
Posted:
in General Discussion edited January 2014
Has anyone used one of these adapters? What do you think of it?

Is the 480 Mbps data transfer good. Is that the same as an eSATA?



I hope I'm asking the right questions.

Is this adapter worth it's cost: $25.00?



The Ultra USB 2.0 to IDE/SATA Cable Adapter is the easy way to expand your system with more IDE/SATA devices. It uses an available USB port to interface with hard disk drives, solid state drives, DVD optical drives, or whatever device you want. It gives you impressive transfer rates up to 480 Mbps. The Ultra USB 2.0 to IDE/SATA Cable Adapter comes with an external power adapter to supply juice to the device you want to use.



Connects your IDE/SATA device using a USB port

Data transfer up to 480 Mbps

Includes Power Adapter

Solutions For Every Need:



Use with HDD enclosures

Connect external optical drives

Expand your PC?s potential

Upgrade your system without the mess of disassembly; get the Ultra USB 2.0 to IDE/SATA Cable Adapter!

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 7
    futurepastnowfuturepastnow Posts: 1,772member
    They are incredibly useful things to have if you work with a lot of loose hard drives. However, I've found them to also be pretty cheaply made and prone to failure, especially the power bricks that they use. You might look for a cheaper one, in the $15-20 range.



    I keep one of those in my toolbox for computer work, but at home I get more use out of a SATA drive dock.
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  • Reply 2 of 7
    Marvinmarvin Posts: 15,585moderator
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by sequitur View Post


    Has anyone used one of these adapters? What do you think of it?

    Is the 480 Mbps data transfer good. Is that the same as an eSATA?



    I hope I'm asking the right questions.

    Is this adapter worth it's cost: $25.00?



    It's not worth $25, you can get a SATA adaptor for under $4:



    http://cgi.ebay.com/USB-2-0-IDE-SATA...ht_2287wt_1139



    This is similar to the connector you get inside an external enclosure:



    http://cgi.ebay.com/2-5-USB-2-Mobile...item1e5c573fae



    It's not as fast as eSATA but eSATA is on the way out. USB 3 will replace it for most people over the next couple of years and Light Peak will be even better once drives max out the USB 3 limits:



    http://www.tweaktown.com/articles/30...ore/index.html



    In fact, Light Peak will probably replace SATA as SATA only does 6Gbps where Light Peak scales to 100Gbps and will come in at 10Gbps. It will be a while before drives get to that speed though. I would love to replace my external FW800 drives with portable 1TB USB 3 drives and maybe even get a portable USB 3 SSD for carrying around.
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  • Reply 3 of 7
    sequitursequitur Posts: 1,910member
    Thanks guys,



    The info is much appreciated.
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  • Reply 4 of 7
    sequitursequitur Posts: 1,910member
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by Marvin View Post


    I would love to replace my external FW800 drives with portable 1TB USB 3 drives and maybe even get a portable USB 3 SSD for carrying around.



    A while back I asked how much you guys spent on computers and peripherals in the past. Some pretty high numbers.



    Marvin, what do you do with the stuff you replace? If if's outdated, do you take it to the dump or do you hang on to it?



    I have boxes of stuff that I hate to see dumped in a landfill, but it's worthless.



    Case in point: I have about a dozen or more old HDD's lying around - some that wouldn't hold what a thumb drive will and someday, I'll find a use for them. Yeah! Right!



    I have dozens of boxes of brand new 3 1/2" floppies that are worthless to me. I have thrown away hundreds of used floppies, but I can't seem to be able to dump the "NEW" ones.



    I have boxes and shelves filled with old applications, manuals, and books on older OS's. Absolutely no value now, but do I pitch them. NO.



    Do any of you guys have that 'packrat' mentality? Do you save worthless gear? How do I get out of that rut? What do you do to overcome the "I may need this someday" attitude?
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  • Reply 5 of 7
    futurepastnowfuturepastnow Posts: 1,772member
    Call local computer stores and see if they have a recycling program that takes that old hardware. Put the software up on ebay or Craigslist.



    Or don't ask me- I can't throw this stuff away, either!
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  • Reply 6 of 7
    Marvinmarvin Posts: 15,585moderator
    Quote:
    Originally Posted by sequitur View Post


    Marvin, what do you do with the stuff you replace? If if's outdated, do you take it to the dump or do you hang on to it?



    If it has value, I sell it, otherwise it goes in the trash. I hang on to the odd things like a spare keyboard, mouse or external drive. Drives come in handy for testing new operating systems or dumping DVD rips onto so you don't have to waste the discs. Portable drives are so cheap now though, there's no point hanging on to old 3.5" drives.



    Quote:
    Originally Posted by sequitur View Post


    What do you do to overcome the "I may need this someday" attitude?



    Think about how many times I've actually used it up until asking that question. If it's counted in years, it needs to go but also base it on how easy it would be to get hold of something should you ever need it.
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  • Reply 7 of 7
    sequitursequitur Posts: 1,910member
    Just found this site:





    Find places to recycle electronics



    10/5/2010



    Electronic gadgets become obsolete very quickly. It seems that some are obsolete the moment you take them out of the box! That's why we upgrade our gadgets every few years.



    But what do you do with the old gadgets? You can give away or even sell some gadgets can. Other gadgets just aren't useful anymore. However, throwing them away isn't a good idea.



    Cables, batteries, laptops and inkjet cartridges all contain hazardous materials. You don't want those in a landfill. Recycling is a much better option. But finding an appropriate recycling center can be a hassle.



    This site makes it easy to find a nearby recycling center. Just enter the gadget you want to recycle. The site lists recycling programs in your area that will accept it.



    Some recycling program will offer money or a tax deduction in exchange. Other programs require payment. The site lists all that information.



    There is also a section that will help you resell cell phones. You can get anywhere from $8 to $150, depending on the phone. It's much better for everyone than just throwing it away.



    www.ecosquid.com
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