[SOLVED] 2.5 vs 3.5

[DLes]

OK, really dumb question here. I want to fit an SSD into a SATA 3.5" external disk drive enclosure. But most of the SSDs on the market are 2.5". Will they fit? I mean, one would think that there is plenty of room, but are 2.5" SATA disks compliant with 3.5" SATA slots? I'd like to believe that a SATA connector is a SATA connector, and what's hanging off of it is irrelevant. But ... just want to check.

Also, can I assume that a SATAIII disk will work in an older SATA enclosure, or do I need a SATAIII enclosure?

 

[USAFRet]

There are a multitude of inexpensive adapters to mount a 2.5" drive in a space meant for a 3.5" drive.

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Internal-Drive-Mounting-BK-HDDH/dp/B00G57BN1M

Or even 2x SSD in a space for a single 3.5" drive
https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Dual-Mounting-Bracket-CSSD-BRKT2/dp/B016498CK0

 

[USAFRet]

And for the connections...SATA is SATA.
Power and data. It will work.

 

[taeioum]

There are a multitude of inexpensive adapters to mount a 2.5" drive in a space meant for a 3.5" drive.

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Internal-Drive-Mounting-BK-HDDH/dp/B00G57BN1M

Or even 2x SSD in a space for a single 3.5" drive
https://www.amazon.com/Corsair-Dual-Mounting-Bracket-CSSD-BRKT2/dp/B016498CK0

Beat me to it.

Although some cases and (external) enclosures do support both sizes. Check with the manual or check the available screw holes.

 

[kanewolf]

A lot of 2.5 inch disks are mounted via the holes on the bottom rather than the sides. But read the manual for the enclosure.

 

[DLes]

Thank you. I'm less concerned about mechanical mounting of the drive. The 2.5" drive is lightweight enough that in this stationary external enclosure, I should have no trouble with the drive just being supported by the connector. The question is whether a 2.5" SATAIII drive will plug into a 3.5" SATA slot and work. I think what I'm hearing is that it will.

But that's useful to know about the adaptors. They're so cheap, I guess it would be silly not to use one.

 

[SamirD]

The question is whether a 2.5" SATAIII drive will plug into a 3.5" SATA slot and work.

Absolutely 100% it will work. That's the one thing that really changed from ide that I like--a single connector for both 2.5 and 3.5 drives.