My iMac 'About this Mac' shows that if has a Serial-ATA Device Tree. Can I use SATA external hard drives in 3.5" IDE/SATA to USB 2.0, eSATA external enclosures?
You can use whatever drives are supported by the enclosure. The Mac sees external drives as USB/Thunderbolt etc storage devices. Macs don't have eSATA ports so you'd have to get a Thunderbolt or USB 3 to eSATA adaptor.
Don't buy IDE drives if you are buying new ones. I assume you just want to be able to use old drives so you'd get the enclosure for the drive model, install it and it will show up on the Mac.
I needed that reassurance before I get any new HDDs.
As far as old IDE drives, I bought a gadget that plugs directly into the drives without using an enclosure, so I can read them to tell if they are worth keeping. If not, I take off the top and destroy the discs.
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Don't buy IDE drives if you are buying new ones. I assume you just want to be able to use old drives so you'd get the enclosure for the drive model, install it and it will show up on the Mac.
Thanks Marvin,
I needed that reassurance before I get any new HDDs.
As far as old IDE drives, I bought a gadget that plugs directly into the drives without using an enclosure, so I can read them to tell if they are worth keeping. If not, I take off the top and destroy the discs.