Homemade sata to usb adapter. Modding a USB-to-SATA converter for your own needs
Production hard drives does not stand still. Technologies are actively developing: writing and reading speeds are increasing, service life is increasing, new standards and form factors are appearing, which is why many old devices are becoming incompatible with modern computers. Using IDE SATA adapters, you can make even an old machine work with new drives.
Differences between SATA and IDE
IDE (ATA) - parallel interface for connecting drives or optical drives To motherboard. Old standard from the 1990s. IDE technology uses a 40-pin connector to connect to the motherboard and a separate 4-pin power supply. Currently an almost obsolete class. The exception is old equipment, which is still in use for unknown reasons.
SATA- serial interface exchange of information. Now used in all new devices. It has a number of advantages over the old system.
Main advantages of SATA:
- high speed of reading/writing information;
- increased storage capacity;
- ability to connect devices without restarting the system.
There is also a more recent variety - eSATA. The same SATA, but guarantees stable contact throughout the entire operating time. Applicable for external HDDs.
Why do you need an adapter?
There are several problems that can make you want to purchase an IDE SATA adapter. For example, at home there is old hard an 80 GB IDE disk, and you suddenly need to “pull” a photo out of it. It will not work to connect it to a new computer with SATA connectors.
- The computer suddenly ran out of memory, and an IDE was at hand HDD the required volume, which at first glance is useless.
- The situation can be the opposite: without upgrading IDE interfaces, you want to get more additional memory or restore files.
All situations have one solution - use a SATA/IDE or IDE SATA adapter. It is capable of converting data flow from one system to another, thus blurring the boundaries between different standards. The complexity of the application is nothing more than using an adapter for microSD cards.
How to choose?
The first step is to decide which adapter you need. There are as many as five options:
- IDE/SATA.
- SATA/IDE.
- IDE USB.
- SATA USB.
- IDE SATA USB.
The first two points are suitable for indoor installation. They will be useful if you want to place one or more hard drives or SSDs of different standards in a computer case. Usually these adapters do not even have a housing and are not protected in any way. They look like a regular board, where it is intuitively clear where and what to connect.
An important parameter of an adapter from IDE to SATA is the speed of reading and transferring information. In the case of a USB adapter, this may be version 2.0 or 3.0. The latter allows you to process information faster, but depends on the version of the computer ports, as well as on the capabilities of the hard drive itself.
IDE SATA with USB output
In addition to adapters for switching between IDE SATA standards, you can find IDE SATA USB adapters on the shelves. This device allows you to connect any hard disks straight to USB port regardless of standards. So, it is allowed to use ordinary ones as a large flash drive. This is most useful for laptops or tablets.
They are found as universal (SATA IDE adapter on one board, connecting several media of one or different types), and separate (SATA or IDE only) adapters. The choice depends on your specific needs and price. An important parameter when choosing will be the presence of a built-in or additional power supply. Without it, the adapter will cost a little less, but will be less functional. It is possible to use the central power supply of the computer, but this is not always convenient, and you will also have to unscrew the cover every time.
Nutrition
IDE series drives are powered by a regular Molex connector with 12v and 5v pins. It is available on all power supplies.
SATA drives require connections for 12v, 5v and 3.3v boards. For this you can find a regular adapter SATA power supply 15 pin IDE with Molex connector. The problem is that standard Molex does not have a 3.3v wire, which means it is not able to power a certain board block. This feature was taken into account by disk manufacturers and, to some extent, resolved.
Connected via a drive powered by a Molex/Sata adapter, it will work adequately on all machines, but not all will be able to support hot-plugging technology (removing or attaching to the system during operation). Most modern power supplies have a separate output - a SATA connector, which is not Molex and includes 3.3v power. One way or another, modern SATA devices do not require a 3.3v voltage to operate.
Adapter or new drive?
There is no clear answer to this question. It all depends on your preferences and budget. Nowadays, memory prices have dropped significantly, but they are still not encouraging in some respects. Perhaps a more rational solution would be to purchase a new drive or docking station, which will allow you to quickly connect hard drives of different formats like a flash drive.
It is worth considering that buying a new hard drive may entail an upgrade of the entire system, while installing an adapter does not oblige you to anything.
Do it yourself
Most useful electronic devices can be assembled for just a few dollars with your own hands, without much electronics knowledge, but an IDE SATA adapter hardly falls into the category of easily reproducible devices. Ultimately, most likely, much more time and money will be spent than if you purchased a ready-made adapter, although it is easy to find many working diagrams on the Internet. But “technomonsters” should like this task.
To access content from a PC or laptop hard drive via USB, you will need a special device - an adapter.
The connection is not complicated, the main thing is the presence of a special device. There are several types of devices that allow you to connect the hard drive (hard drive, HDD) of a desktop computer or laptop to USB and open its contents. Here are the two most popular: a universal USB controller (for example, AGESTAR FUBCP) or a case adapter (SATA External case, ITEC MySafe Advance and others).
In China you can buy the following devices that are built-in instead of a laptop disk drive:
There are also combined options with a complete set (adapter, cord, power supply).
The advantages of the first one are that such a device is cheaper than a case adapter, and often supports several types of connections (SATA, IDE). However, using a regular hard drive as a portable drive with it is problematic, since it will not be protected by anything.
The second option is a case adapter, which is specifically designed to turn a hard drive into a portable memory device with a sufficiently large capacity, since the case will reliably protect against dust and mechanical damage. But at the same time, the versatility of the device suffers: before purchasing, you will have to decide which connector the purchased adapter will support.
Using a hard drive in a case version is a fairly simple procedure, so let’s look at how to connect and open a hard drive via USB using universal adapter(using the example of AGESTAR FUBCP).
Connection procedure
The first thing you need to do is determine the type of HDD connector that you plan to connect via USB. Plugs come in the following types:
SATA (a more modern connector, used in newly built PCs and laptops);
IDE (can be found mainly in “experienced” PCs).
We will consider the connection using the example of AGESTAR FUBCP, since it supports both “old” and modern HDDs. The average cost of such a device is Russian stores electronics is about 1,500 rubles.
The device is equipped with three interfaces (plugs):
- SATA (7-pin plug).
- IDE 40pin (40-pin plug, for IDE 3.5″).
- IDE 44pin (respectively, 44-pin plug, for IDE 1.8″/2.5″).
Description of AGESTAR FUBCP connectors below.
Step-by-step connection of HDD to computer
So, we have determined the connector of the connected hard drive; now it needs to be connected to the corresponding connector on the device. After that, insert the USB connector for data transfer (black) into the USB port of your computer or laptop. If we work with hard drive laptop (2.5”), you can turn on the adapter, and the HDD should appear in the list of computer disks. Sometimes, with such a connection, the hard drive may not have enough power and will not be detected by the system. In this case, turn off and connect the red USB connector of the adapter to any of the computer ports and turn on the adapter again.
If the connected hard drive was previously installed in a PC (3.5” format), the power supply from your PC’s USB will not be enough for it. The AGESTAR FUBCP comes with a power supply for 3.5" hard drives. To open the hard drive via USB, first connect it to the appropriate connector (IDE/SATA), then insert the black USB cable into one of the USB ports of the computer, then connect to the adapter a power supply that operates on 220 V (plug it into a power outlet) .
After all cables are securely connected, turn on the adapter. The connection is complete, the hdd will be detected by the computer, and you can work with it.
Introduction.
Most laptop owners sooner or later face the problem of running out of space. As a rule, laptops with screen sizes up to 15 inches inclusive do not have a free second slot for a 2.5-inch device. Therefore, owners are forced to think about either replacing the laptop itself or replacing its hard drive. After replacing the hard drive, there is always an old drive left, which can easily be turned into an external one USB drive for data transfer.
Naturally, you can purchase a mobile 2.5 inch hard drive and turn it into external storage. Fortunately, the cost of external drives allows this. For example, at the time of writing, for a 250 GB mobile hard drive they are asking $40, and for a 500 GB device from WD they are asking only $45.
We decide on the type of hard drive.
To be fair, it should be noted that an ordinary desktop 3.5-inch hard drive can also be turned into an external drive - you just can’t call it mobile. If you have an unused 2.5 or 3.5 inch hard drive, then first of all you need to decide on the type of its interface.
Today on the market there are the following types of interface: IDE (ATA) and various SATA options. As a rule, all SATA interfaces are backward compatible with each other, and we will not dwell on their variations. The situation is completely different between IDE and SATA interfaces, which are absolutely incompatible with each other and have different connectors.
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The figure shows two hard drives with different interfaces. Hard drives have a mobile format of 2.5 inches. On the left is a hard drive with a SATA interface, on the right is a hard drive with an IDE interface.
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In our hands was a 250 GB hard drive from Western Digital Scorpio Blue series with SATA interface. This drive has been used for a long time Acer laptop, but its capacity became insufficient, and it was replaced with a more capacious 500 GB solution.
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Despite long-term use, the performance of the hard drive did not cause any complaints, so it was decided to use it as an external mobile drive. To do this, we had to find an external case for it, which is what we did. External case AGESTAR for 2.5 inch mobile hard drive.
Computer hardware stores offer a wide variety of external cases for 2.5-inch hard drives. Their key difference is as follows:
- body material,
- type of external port (interface),
- cost.
As a rule, stores offer various cases with a USB 2.0 interface, a much smaller number of cases with an eSATA interface, and even fewer cases with a combination of USB 2.0&eSATA. Several cases with a modern USB 3.0 interface were found on sale, but their cost exceeded the cost of the hard drive itself, so we did not consider them.
The key difference between USB 2.0 and eSATA interfaces is data transfer speed. Using the USB 2.0 interface allows for maximum compatibility, since these ports are available on all computers. A significant disadvantage of the USB 2.0 interface is - low speed data transfer, which will not allow you to unlock the full speed potential of your hard drive.
The eSATA port is more promising, but it is not widespread and is found only in expensive versions of motherboards, cases and laptops. The eSATA interface allows you to fully unleash the potential of SATA devices.
The material used can also be very different. IN simple case, is plastic. In more expensive variations, an aluminum case with a leather cover is included.
The cost of external cases also varies. The cheapest option will cost the user $3, expensive versions will cost more than $100.
Buying a $100 case for a hard drive that costs less than $40 when new and is half the price once it's in use is, to say the least, wasteful. Therefore, for testing we were provided with a case costing a symbolic 3 dollars - AgeStar SUB2P1. Equipment and external inspection of AgeStar SUB2P1.
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We didn't expect any miracles from a device that costs three dollars, both in terms of equipment and in terms of performance. The device comes modestly packaged in a package. The front wall of the device is covered with a cardboard listing the key characteristics of the device. This is support for 2.5 inch mobile hard drives or solid state drives with SATA interface, transmission interface available USB data 2.0 and various color options.
To be fair, it should be noted that our suppliers confirmed that they had not seen any other color for this case other than black.
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After opening the package, we were pleasantly surprised by the fact that the kit included an instruction manual entirely in Russian.
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The case is completely made of plastic. There are paper stickers on the front wall indicating the model, which will be erased in any case, so we recommend immediately removing them from the surface of the device.
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The material used to make the case is soft black plastic, which does not smell of anything and is uniform throughout its structure.
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The covers of the device come off in two different directions, which ensures easy removal and installation of the hard drive in an external case.
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The two sides of the outer case are secured using a plastic latch made from the material of the case. Thanks to the recesses on the walls, the lids are securely fixed and spilling any glass of liquid, or leaving the device in the rain, is unlikely to lead to any problems.
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The device is designed for SATA hard drives, which we have repeatedly emphasized. Inside there are controllers with SATA ports for power and data transfer.
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Soldered on the side wall mini USB port for data transfer and power supply of the hard drive. There is no additional port to provide power to the drive, which may cause some problems for users. With a weak power supply that underestimates the voltage along the 5 volt line, you often have to deal with problems starting the hard drive. Typically, connecting the drive directly to a port on the motherboard rather than on the case system unit, the use of a high-quality USB cable allows you to forget about this problem.
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Sellers of computer components often, as an advantage of this or that external case, talk about the presence of a USB data cable in the kit or offer to purchase it separately if it is not there. We advise our users not to pay attention to this, since a mini-USB-USB cable, as a rule, is available in almost every family and is often supplied with mobile phones. In our case, we successfully used a stale data cable from mobile phone Nokia.
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The next step was to install the hard drive into the case. This is done quite simply - by lightly pressing. The most important thing is to first correctly rotate the hard drive according to the power and SATA data ports located in the case.
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The absence of any protruding elements on the hard drive controller circuit allows you not to worry about its rear surface when transporting and using the device.
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Some users may argue that the plastic case does not provide adequate heat dissipation from the hard drive. Naturally, external cases made of aluminum cope with this task much more effectively. At the same time, we should not forget that mobile hard drives do not have such high power consumption that they suffer from overheating, and in laptops, as a rule, they are not additionally cooled with anything.
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After completing the assembly of the device, the stage of its testing and use begins. The supply of voltage to the device is accompanied by the glow of a blue LED, which also symbolizes the user about the process of data transfer. It should be noted that not everyone will have a smooth start when starting to work with the created external drive. If the hard drive has already been used, has been formatted and partitions have been created on it, you will not have any problems getting started. It works like a regular flash drive using the Plug&Play method. But those users who purchased a new hard drive without formatting and with no partitions will have a problem that will be associated with the absence of a drive letter in the “My Computer” tab.
To do this, you need to create partitions on the hard drive and format it. This can be done through various boot disks, but it’s better not to bother and do it in the Windows operating system itself.
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To do this, you need to go to the "Control Panel" through the "Start" section, then visit the "Administration" section. In this section, select “Computer Management”, where in the “Disk Management” tab you can partition and format the newly connected external drive. After creating partitions and formatting them, you will have access to them through the “My Computer” tab and you will be able to exchange with the drive as with a regular hard drive. Test configuration.
The assembled external drive was tested both on desktop computer, on the base modern processor Core i7 and at least a modern motherboard, and on a laptop Acer Aspire 7730 based on Core 2 Duo processor. It should be noted that the level of performance on two different systems turned out to be comparable.
1. Data reading speed was tested in the HD Tach 3.0.4.0 program
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It's nice to note that the external drive we assembled shows much more high level performance than the WD My Passport Essential external hard drive we previously tested. The maximum data transfer speed was 34.3 Mb/s, and the average latency was about 17.9 ms.
2. Data reading speed in HD Tune 4.5.
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In the second synthetic test, we received data similar to the previous ones, which also turned out to be slightly better than that of the official external hard drive WD My Passport Essential.
3. Write speed of 64 MB files in HD Tune 4.5.
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Testing that is closer to practice is somewhat more valuable, by recording files of 64 MB in size. In this test, we received quite expected results, which were also limited only by the capabilities of the USB 2.0 interface.
Separately, I would like to note that throughout the entire testing, the temperature of the hard drive did not exceed 35 degrees Celsius, while a similar hard drive installed in the laptop had a temperature of about 43 degrees. Therefore, worrying about the operating conditions of the hard drive in this case on the part of users will be unnecessary.
4. Operating room loading speed Windows systems 7.
During practical testing of the loading speed of the Windows 7 operating system image, we received results similar to other external drives with a USB 2.0 interface.
5. Assessing the drive's performance in Windows environment 7.
We tested the performance of the external drive we assembled using the Windows 7 operating system. command line you need to call the command: “winsat disk -drive g -ran -write -count 10”, where “g” is the letter of the drive being tested in the system.
From the test results it is clear that the drive we assembled received a much higher rating than the factory solution WD My Passport Essential. 
Conclusion.
Based on the materials in this article, it is clear that any mobile hard drive can be turned into a good external drive without any hassle. Especially for testing, we asked for the cheapest external case, costing $3. Three dollars allows you to get an excellent external drive from a mobile hard drive, at least for data storage. Not to mention the fact that the same external case makes it easier to recover data from the hard drive of “dead” laptops.
Despite the fact that AgeStar products are criticized by many for low quality, after many years of using it, I have only positive impressions of it. First of all, it is at an affordable price. Defects occur in all manufacturers, although AgeStar has a slightly higher rate than Thermaltake. But the latter has no analogue to the presented external case for three dollars and with a 6-month warranty. We award AgeStar products with a gold medal of honor for their optimal performance/price ratio.
If you are going to purchase accessories for computer repair, then a SATA USB adapter is the first thing you need to pay attention to. Such a device allows communication between the two most common interfaces. The SATA standard is used on almost all internal drives personal computers and laptops. All modern PCs are equipped with USB ports.
What can this adapter be used for? This is exactly the tool you will need in case of hard drive failure. If things go wrong with the HDD, there is a high chance that the computer will become unbootable. In this case, you will have to replace the disk, but the information that was stored on the previous drive will be lost.
If the HDD is partially damaged, this does not mean that all files on it are lost forever. Using USB adapter on SATA, you will likely be able to recover most of your data. Even if the disk is not initialized, there are many free programs, which will allow you to scan partitions and detect any information that needs to be recovered.
Hardware failure is not the only reason to use an adapter. For example, a user may want to upgrade to a larger and faster SSD drive. Using the adapter, you can transfer all old data to new disk independently, without seeking help from specialists. In addition, HDDs have become incredibly cheap. Any user who regularly updates their computer usually has at least 1 drive with a capacity of more than 500 GB. With this simple adapter you can turn your HDD into external drive to access old files.
Anker USB 3 to SATA Converter
Not all SATA USB devices are created equal. Some use an outdated standard that negatively impacts throughput. Others may not be compatible with newer drive types. There are varieties of adapters that stand out from the rest. First of all, you should pay attention to Anker USB 3 to SATA Converter Adapter Cable.
Studying Anker products, one can come to the conclusion that the company has no shortage of components and peripheral devices ah for computers. Judging by numerous reviews, everything from chargers and ending with cables or adapters, users rate them very highly. Perhaps you have not come across the products of this company in local retail outlets, but you can easily find it in online stores.
USB adapter to SATA from Anker is a simple device that gets the job done. The adapter is equipped with only the most necessary equipment, and there are no unnecessary components. The developers have done everything possible to ensure that the device copes perfectly with the task assigned to it. The USB SATA adapter is a black rectangular box. This allows you to place it on a flat surface, preventing the drive from detaching during use.
There are 2 cables that can be connected to the back of the device: USB 3 for data transfer and an optional power cord for use with high-power drives. The cables are reliable and durable, making this adapter useful even if the distance between the computer and the SATA 2 device is short (causing the cables to be bent). Thanks to its impeccable design, the device will look great in an office or digital repair shop.
Adapter capabilities from Anker
Unlike some other adapters on the market, Anker is equipped with a hardware SATA 3 controller. If the device relies on software to convert signals, this may cause performance and compatibility issues. Fortunately, the Anker hardware controller used is standard and has been thoroughly tested with various devices. This means that almost any computer or drive that can be physically connected to this adapter will work. Thanks to the built-in power adapter, the device supports both 2.5- and 3.5-inch drives.
The USB 3 port can only output relatively little a large number of energy. This is enough to power compact 2.5-inch drives and SSD drives. But 3.5-inch devices will require a little more power, and a power adapter will help in such a situation. In terms of compatibility, you can use hard drives, SSDs, Blu-Ray drives, DVD recorders, and combo drives. The adapter works with almost everything operating systems from Microsoft, starting with Windows 98 and ending with Windows 10. Mac OS is also supported. Theoretically, there is no reason to think that a SATA to USB adapter will refuse to work with Linux, but this system is not officially supported.
Thanks to USB interface 3 data transfer occurs according to an accelerated procedure. The theoretical limit is 5 Gbps, but this is quite difficult to achieve in practice. Using SSD speed Read speeds are typically around 350 Mbps and write speeds are around 250 Mbps. Record data transfer rates can only be achieved if you use the most fast SSDs, available on the market. In cases with regular PC hard drives, the maximum speed is 120 Mbps for reading and 100 Mbps for writing. In this case, the reduction in USB throughput is not due to the adapter, but to outdated HDD technology.
There are not many additional functions on this adapter, because simplicity is its main advantage. The operating system does not recognize it as an adapter, but simply sees a standard external drive via USB. This means that all built-in software for Reserve copy will work without failure. You can use any data recovery program or create images without any special drivers or settings. Due to the lack of drivers, the SATA USB adapter will work in safe mode, and this makes it ideal for diagnostics and repairs.
Inateck USB 3 to IDE/SATA Converter
The Inateck Universal USB 3 to IDE/SATA Converter was created by a popular peripheral device manufacturer that develops not only consumer, but also professional devices. Many of Inatek's products offer advanced functionality, while its prices are comparable to its competitors.
Despite the large number of options, the adapter is compatible with all types of operating systems and drives via USB. The only major difference between the adapter and other similar devices is its support for IDE drives. Such drives have long gone out of fashion, but they are still used by some users. This connection standard is used for PCs, laptops, CD and DVD drives, as well as devices that read floppy disks.
Many adapters are only compatible with small IDE drives because they don't have a power connection. But in this case, thanks to a special power cable, you can easily use not only 3.5-inch, but also 5.25-inch drives. The adapter works with OSX, as well as operating systems from Microsoft, from Windows XP to Windows 10.
A hard drive or hard drive is an integral part of any computer.
It is also one of the most expensive components, so incorrect selection, connection and use can lead to failure of both the hard drive itself and the computer. And this is very unpleasant and costly.
To prevent this from happening, this article will discuss the main ways connecting hard disks to PC.
Types of connectors for connecting hard drives
So, the main connectors for data transfer between motherboard and hard drive - SATA and IDE.IDE is an outdated version of connectors.
Now they are practically not used. Only if you are assembling a PC from used components, you can also purchase a disk with such a connector. It may cost a little less than SATA. Also older motherboards may only have an IDE connection. In this case, you need an appropriate disk.
Sometimes, of course, you can purchase different adapters, but this is an extra headache and additional expenses, and sometimes the equipment does not work correctly.
SATA connectors are more modern and therefore have a higher data transfer speed than IDE. It can reach 3 Gb per second.
The SATA data cable looks like this.
The cord is small in width. Connectors consist of a minimum number of contacts. The L-shaped connector connects to the hard drive. Direct - to the motherboard. Complete connection is accompanied by a loud click.
To pull out the cord, you need to press the metal lever on the connector and gently pull. When disconnecting, you should not use a lot of force, as you can tear the socket itself from the motherboard. You need to make sure that the latch is completely out.
The IDE cable has a wide cable and a large number of contacts.
To avoid connection errors, the connector has a side cutout.
Most often, cords have several connectors. One for the motherboard and two for IDE devices, - two hard drives or disk and CD/DVD drive.
As for motherboards, they may have:
1. IDE only;
2. IDE and SATA;
3. SATA only.
The latter is applicable in modern top-end motherboards. Having such a board, there is no point in buying a drive with an IDE connection, even if it is temptingly cheap.
Connecting the hard drive power cord
It is not difficult to guess that the power connectors in these two types of drives are different.For IDE it has this form
There are four contacts and they are quite powerful.
For SATA, the connector is wide and rotated at the edge.
Thanks to this twist, it is almost impossible to connect the cord incorrectly.
Much at this point depends on the power supply. Early ones may not have connectors for SATA devices at all. But it's not a problem. This is where a special adapter comes to the rescue. Its cost is cheap.
Modern power supplies already have several SATA cords.
All this must be kept in mind when assembling a PC, so that there are no problems with incompatibility and subsequently wasting money on different adapters.
Installing a Hard Drive
We select a “shelf” in the case where to install the hard drive. A setting that is too low will not dissipate heat well enough from the bottom of the drive. Overheating is not allowed.Installation that is too high may be difficult due to the slats random access memory and other equipment. It all depends on the features of the motherboard and the connectors on it.
Avoid static electricity, which can damage not only the hard drive but also other PC components. To do this, remove synthetics and woolen items. Also, before each manipulation, touch a grounded object - this could be a heating radiator or a water tap. This way you can remove static from yourself.
Carefully insert the disk with the open part down, and try to align the holes on the case with the threads on the hard drive. When everything matches, tighten the screws.
It is very important that the screws are not too long, otherwise the drive may be damaged. Typically a 3mm screw length is recommended.
Be careful when handling the hard drive. Excessive shaking, shocks, falls, etc. can damage an expensive device.
When the screws are tightened and the hard drive is tightly secured in the case, connect the cable. First to the motherboard, then to the hard drive.
Connection of SATA connectors.
