Can I use external Sata HD via USB to a PATA only MB?

Mr Reorg · Post by **Mr Reorg** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 6:35 pm

Can I use a Sata HD in an external enclosure with USB2 connection to an old motherboard that doesn't support SATA? I want to back-up my old PATA drives so that I can reformat & repartition now.

I'm thinking about getting the Thermaltake Max4 eSata & USB enclosure. I need it to work with my old 4 year old Dell Dimension now and want it to be useful when I build my first PC, with a Conroe MB (probably a P965 chipset).

qviri · Post by **qviri** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 6:49 pm

Yes. As long as your motherboard has USB 2.0, it will work.

(If it has USB 1.1, it will still work but be painfully slow.)

Mr Reorg · Post by **Mr Reorg** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 7:00 pm

qviri wrote:Yes. As long as your motherboard has USB 2.0, it will work.

(If it has USB 1.1, it will still work but be painfully slow.)

The MB is USB 1.1 but I have a USB 2.0 PCI card. Will that be good enough?

Can I use a eSata PCI card? Will that work with my MB, also?

qviri · Post by **qviri** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 7:14 pm

Mr Reorg wrote:Can I use a eSata PCI card? Will that work with my MB, also?

You will probably need to install drivers, but both should work.

Mr Reorg · Post by **Mr Reorg** » Sun Jan 21, 2007 7:28 pm

Thanks for the quick replies, qviri.