I have the Dell 8100 dimension, I bought it in 2000. I believe SATA interface wasn't around back then. What would I need to do to be able to use an SATA component such as Hard Drives? Do I need to change my motherboard to may I SATA compliant and buy the SATA, PCI card or just buy the SATA PCI card alone? Should I just stay with my ATA device and utilize the firewire connections? Thanks
Wow... 2000 that computer seems abit to new for that dat but at any rate to answer your question just get an adapter for it. You could change your mobo but I wouldn't just for this. If you stay with your ata than yes do firewire . Here is an example: http://search.ebay.com/ata-to-sata_W0QQfrppZ50QQfsopZ1QQmaxrecordsreturnedZ300 You can get the point.
not quite sure what you ment. Are you saying my motherboard should be SATA compliant? Are you also saying all I need is to get a SATA PCI card or adapter? DOes it just make more sence to go with the external firee/usb hard drive I have?
I'm confirming that you can change your mother board to a sata compliant board and it will solve your problem But I would just get an adapter and save myself the trouble of the motherboard switch out. When you use the adapter the motherboard doesn't have to be switched that's the whole purpose of the adapter. Beleive me changing your motherboard is not an easy task.In fact it's the worst thing to have to change on the entire pc.It's easier to just hook up an adapter.The adapter should come with instructions too. As far usb hard drive.It's a no go.They are slow and clunky.I would only use a usb hard drive for a laptop or if I wanted to take my data with me(travel) which is really what usb hard drives are made for. The link I gave was just a quick example.
thanks for your reply. I'm new at this so please bare with me. If I get the adapter, am I to connect it to my input at the back of the computer? I just bought a firewire and usb pci card. Is that all I need to do?
another question. Is it possible to buy an external SATA Hard Drive? I haven't found external Hard Drives yet.
yes it is possible... you can get a pci card that goes into your computer to make it where you can connect an external ata hard drive to it... it is not that bad either.. why the swich though??
Some people have said the external Hard Drive I have is not that good and that I should get the SATA drive instead. Is the Seagate external HardDrive I have now that bad. I am all confused now. I got the 300gb Hard Drive by Seagate for $149.99 and it has firewire and USB connections.
