serial ata hard drives

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Hello
Does anyone know whether Dimension4600 from around 12 months ago can support
the new serial ata hard drives or not?
Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Yes, with an adapter card typically available from the disk's manufacturer.

Ted Zieglar

"HarrySpider" <whatevernext10@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4170e42d$0$22746$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk...
> Hello
> Does anyone know whether Dimension4600 from around 12 months ago can
> support the new serial ata hard drives or not?
> Thanks.
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

It should have two serial ATA connectors on the system board. If the drives
you buy are bare and come without ordinary power connectors, you'll need one
for each drive (along with a SATA cable).

Some drives like the WD Raptors have standard Molex connectors - others
don't and need the converters.



"HarrySpider" <whatevernext10@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4170e42d$0$22746$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk...
> Hello
> Does anyone know whether Dimension4600 from around 12 months ago can
> support the new serial ata hard drives or not?
> Thanks.
>

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"Edward J. Neth" <ejn63@netscape.net> wrote in message
news:id7cd.8393$5b1.3352@newssvr17.news.prodigy.com...
> It should have two serial ATA connectors on the system board. If the
> drives you buy are bare and come without ordinary power connectors, you'll
> need one for each drive (along with a SATA cable).
>
> Some drives like the WD Raptors have standard Molex connectors - others
> don't and need the converters.
>
You're right there are two serial ATA connectors. The existing hard drive is
a parallel ATA one. If I add a second serial ATA hard drive I take it I need
to connect it to the motherboard with a serial cable. Do I leave the
existing drive untouched or do I need to do something with it. I want to
have both working together.
Also do I need to use the same type of power cable from the power supply as
the one that powers the existing drive?
Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

The thing to be careful of is that on some of the Dells (the 8300, for one)
if you install a SATA drive with a parallel ATA, you must use the SATA as
your boot drive. I'm not sure whether this is the case with the 4600, but
suspec it probably is - it's not a major issue, since you can clone the
existing drive to the SATA and use it as the boot drive using the software
that comes with the drive.

You can add a parallel ATA drive to the existing one as well - you will
likely need a dual-drive cable if the existing one is single-drive only.
Unlike SATA, PATA is 2 drives per controller channel (SATA is one drive per
cable).

Many SATA drives come with standard power connectors - in which case you
need just the data cable. If the one you buy has only the small SATA power
edge connector, you'll need a converter cable - they're cheap ($2) but it's
better to know beforehand so you can order one and avoid being gouged on
price by a local Circuit City, Best Buy, etc. (they love to charge $30 for
USB cables you can buy from newegg for $2, for instance).

Or, just by a retail drive kit, which should have everything you need.



"HarrySpider" <whatevernext10@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:4171191b$0$22751$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk...

> You're right there are two serial ATA connectors. The existing hard drive
> is a parallel ATA one. If I add a second serial ATA hard drive I take it I
> need to connect it to the motherboard with a serial cable. Do I leave the
> existing drive untouched or do I need to do something with it. I want to
> have both working together.
> Also do I need to use the same type of power cable from the power supply
> as the one that powers the existing drive?
> Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

"Edward J. Neth" <ejn63@netscape.net> wrote in message
news:Ilacd.13353$445.12087@newssvr15.news.prodigy.com...
> The thing to be careful of is that on some of the Dells (the 8300, for
> one) if you install a SATA drive with a parallel ATA, you must use the
> SATA as your boot drive. I'm not sure whether this is the case with the
> 4600, but suspec it probably is - it's not a major issue, since you can
> clone the existing drive to the SATA and use it as the boot drive using
> the software that comes with the drive.
>
> You can add a parallel ATA drive to the existing one as well - you will
> likely need a dual-drive cable if the existing one is single-drive only.
> Unlike SATA, PATA is 2 drives per controller channel (SATA is one drive
> per cable).
>
> Many SATA drives come with standard power connectors - in which case you
> need just the data cable. If the one you buy has only the small SATA
> power edge connector, you'll need a converter cable - they're cheap ($2)
> but it's better to know beforehand so you can order one and avoid being
> gouged on price by a local Circuit City, Best Buy, etc. (they love to
> charge $30 for USB cables you can buy from newegg for $2, for instance).
>
> Or, just by a retail drive kit, which should have everything you need.
>

I've noticed the Dimension4600 is no longer made and has been replaced by
the 4700. Are there any issues regarding a maximum hard drive. If I get
another parallel ata drive is there an upper limit to the size? The existing
drive is 120GB
Thanks.

 

[Guest]

Archived from groups: alt.sys.pc-clone.dell (More info?)

Any size drive will work with a 4600 or 4700 system.



"HarrySpider" <whatevernext10@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:41715348$0$22758$db0fefd9@news.zen.co.uk...

> I've noticed the Dimension4600 is no longer made and has been replaced by
> the 4700. Are there any issues regarding a maximum hard drive. If I get
> another parallel ata drive is there an upper limit to the size? The
> existing drive is 120GB
> Thanks.
>