SATA 2 and 3 compatibility

[alegator]

A friend needs that I recommend/install a hard drive for him. I reviewed the mobo's specs and the SATA connectors on the mobo (there are two of them) are SATA 1 compliant. Will they be able to support SATA 2 or 3 hard drives? Or just SATA 1? Thanks.

[DB83]

You may need a jumper on a SATA 2 drive for it to work on a SATA 1 interface - the drive will act like a SATA 1 drive.

SATA 3 is also backward compatable but how that would perform at SATA 1 speed I dread to think.

(and do not forget that the power connector on a SATA 2 drive is quite different to a SATA 1 which was typically the 4 pin molex.)

[alegator]

I thought that SATA drives did not have jumpers. Regarding the power connector being different, that adds another complication. Problem is it's hard to find SATA1 drives these days.

[redwudz]

Most any PC has a 4 pin Molex for PATA drives, the same as some SATA 1 drives use. And Molex to SATA 2,3 power adapters are common if the PC doesn't have them.



Try it without removing (Or adding) the jumper first. To find out it's correct position if you need to use it, go the the drives manufacturer and check the pinout for that drive. There are other jumper positions there also, mostly for diagnostics.

Another option is to add a PCI SATA 2 adapter card. I would look for one with a Silcon Images chipset.

[jagabo]

Most SATA 2 drives work fine on most SATA 1 controllers. Some have jumpers to limit the transfer rate to SATA 1 speeds. And if you need it, most drives come with a power adapter cable. Don't worry about it.

Regarding transfer rates, only the fastest drives are now exceeding the transfer rate of a SATA 1 controller and even then only across a portion of the drive. Don't worry about this either.

[DB83]

Most SATA 2 and 3 drives work fine on most SATA 1 controllers. Some have jumpers to limit the transfer rate to SATA 1 speeds. And if you need it, most drives come with a power adapter cable. Don't worry about it.

Never had a power adapter cable with any SATA 2 drive I bought - I expect they come with 'boxed' ones rather than the OEM variety - came as a big of a shock the first one I bought as then I was not aware of the different connection.

[jagabo]

Yes, I usually buy boxed drives when they're on sale at Fry's.

[alegator]

Thanks for the replies. I will be careful with all these compatibility details (power cable, jumper setting and optional sata adapter card) when purchasing the hard drive.