Thinkpads Forum

Hello,
I'm considering buying an Ultrabay Slim SATA HDD Adapter for my new docking station. I've read that some are in fact SATA->PATA bridges. Is that the case only for 3rd party adapters or does it include the genuine ones as well? The only comprehensive comparison I've found is in Japanese and mostly unintelligible after translation. Thank you

The X60[s]/X61[s] docking station accepts only the 2nd HDD Adapter that has the SATA-to-PATA bridge interface, and I am assuming that your are addressing this docking station since you posted on this forum. [The X200[s] and newer machines use 2nd HDD adapter that is SATA-to-SATA.)

There are two types of these 2nd HDD Adapters for SATA drives -- one with SATA-to-PATA bridge, the other with SATA-to-SATA connector. The docking station will accept only one or the other, and which you use has nothing to do with the adapter being "genuine" or otherwise. Both adapters exist in both "genuine" and non-"genuine" flavors.

EOMtp wrote:There are two types of these 2nd HDD Adapters for SATA drives -- one with SATA-to-PATA bridge, the other with SATA-to-SATA connector. The docking station will accept only one or the other, and which you use has nothing to do with the adapter being "genuine" or otherwise. Both adapters exist in both "genuine" and non-"genuine" flavors.

This refers only to the x200's right? I have a x61 tablet, and the associated docking station so any SATA drive adapter for the docking station will be SATA->PATA right? I just want to understand correctly. Thank you.

cc2f wrote:... x61 tablet, and the associated docking station so any SATA drive adapter for the docking station will be SATA->PATA right?

Correct.

Thanks for the information...I just wish I'd read this before ordering! I just ordered one for my X61 thinking I would move my current personal and eventually work SATA into the Ultrabay Slim, and purchase an SSD installed internally.

I travel a great deal and have a company laptop, which I have to use to access our company network, and either my X61 or a Macbook Pro that I carry along for my personal use. I thought I'd just remove the HD from the company laptop and place it in the Ultrabay Adapter eventually, moving my essentials from my current internal to the SSD.

I have to do some more research at this point, but I was initially excited to lose all of the travel weight and complexity as well as airport security hassle.

cc2f wrote:... x61 tablet, and the associated docking station so any SATA drive adapter for the docking station will be SATA->PATA right?

EOMtp wrote:Correct.

Which means what? That you can connect a SATA HDD in there or a PATA HDD?
Or is it that it would allow connecting a SATA HDD but it bridges over to X61T via Ultrabase over a PATA interface? (Since the speed / throughput / performance & translation overhead would come into play?)

crashnburn wrote:Which means what?

It means that the X6x/T6x 2nd HDD Adapter has a "bridge" between the SATA connector to which the SATA drive connects and the connector to the machine's PATA interface, i.e., the adapter "maps" SATA to PATA.