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mrogov · Mar 27, 2005, 05:32 PM

Hi all,

Yeah I know I can open it and search... but does anyone know off-hand if the PowerMac G5s (Serial ATA) will take a regular ATA IDE drive?

Thanks!

ReggieX · Mar 27, 2005, 06:19 PM

No, because S-ATA and IDE have completely different connectors. Adaptors exist.

Link · Mar 27, 2005, 06:36 PM

No, there are adaptors, but the adaptors won't fit in the drive bay, though I'm sure you can get a dual drive cable, might be tricky, but I'm sure there's a way to cram it in there so both the superdrive and regular drive work.

mrogov · Mar 27, 2005, 07:05 PM

Thanks, no worries, I'll just buy a SATA drive.

OreoCookie · Mar 28, 2005, 03:09 AM

It does have parallel ATA (what you probably mean by standard ATA) for the optical drive and serial ATA for the hds. Nowadays, all hds have both, and there are adapters (which usually aren't worth the money).

CIA · Mar 28, 2005, 09:12 AM

This begs the question.... With SATA drives finally about the same cost as PATA, where are the internal SATA DVD/CD burners etc? With the industry headed to SATA you would think more SATA optical drives would be available. I know that burners don't need all the bandwidth SATA provides, but I would rather deal only with one type of interface inside my Mac (or PC). Plus PATA seems like such a hassle to hook up now after using SATA 8-) Death to jumpers!

OreoCookie · Mar 28, 2005, 09:22 AM

Originally posted by CIA:
This begs the question.... With SATA drives finally about the same cost as PATA, where are the internal SATA DVD/CD burners etc? With the industry headed to SATA you would think more SATA optical drives would be available. I know that burners don't need all the bandwidth SATA provides, but I would rather deal only with one type of interface inside my Mac (or PC). Plus PATA seems like such a hassle to hook up now after using SATA 8-) Death to jumpers!

Plextor offers some SATA DVD burners. But I know what you mean. I think SATA will be more readily accepted for slimline drives (much smaller cables) than in desktops.

Kristoff · Mar 28, 2005, 11:26 AM

SATA optical drives aren't native SATA, they just use a bridge, like many of the hard drives do.

Speaking of SATA drives, look at the Western Digital Raptor line of 10,000 RPM drives, they are wicked fast--but pricey.

OreoCookie · Mar 28, 2005, 01:54 PM

Originally posted by Kristoff:
SATA optical drives aren't native SATA, they just use a bridge, like many of the hard drives do.

Speaking of SATA drives, look at the Western Digital Raptor line of 10,000 RPM drives, they are wicked fast--but pricey.

Well, I don't think they match the profile here. It's supposed to be a backup drive and there speed doesn't matter (as much), but storage is more important. For the price of the Raptor, you could get a pretty spacious drive for that price.

Kristoff · Mar 28, 2005, 06:20 PM

I think you meant to reply to the other thread I mentioned the raptor in--in which case, you're right.

The Raptor is indeed pricey, but damn is it fast.

OreoCookie · Mar 29, 2005, 09:36 AM

Originally posted by Kristoff:
I think you meant to reply to the other thread I mentioned the raptor in--in which case, you're right.

The Raptor is indeed pricey, but damn is it fast.

Oh yeah, sorry, got confused