Dell Latitude D610 SATA Mod

[MrMaguire]

I've come across some posts on this forum about modding certain models of ThinkPad to use SATA hard drives, and I was wondering if the same thing could be done with a Dell Latitude D610. I've searched and found that the D610 uses the Intel 915GM chipset and found a diagram on Intels website which mentions SATA: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ ... 915gm.html.

And another for the 915PM which the ThinkPad T43 uses: http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ ... 915pm.html.

I understand that the reason why this modification works on ThinkPads is because there is a SATA controller with a SATA to PATA bridge attached. Does the D610 use a similar setup? The two notebooks are quite similar in terms of hardware when you compare them side by side.

Thanks for any info in advance.

- George

[RealBlackStuff]

Find out if it has a Marvel 88SA8040 (SATA-PATA bridge) or equivalent chip. If so, you might???
I would suggest you pose your question on a Dell forum.

[MrMaguire]

Why not here? I mean, the Dell support forum is pretty useless for stuff like this, they would just say the machine is too old, long out of support and that I should get something newer.

Besides, you guys have experience that no Dell forum has in relation to my question. I've never seen this kind of mod been done before except on a ThinkPad.

- George

[RealBlackStuff]

We don't support Dell...

[MrMaguire]

And you can't atleast help? That is the very least that I could ask for.

[RealBlackStuff]

The SATA mod thread describes exactly what (Marvel) chip needs to be removed and where to solder the SATA connections to/from.
If your machine has the same chip(s), you might be in business.
Other than that, you're pretty much on your own.

[MrMaguire]

Interesting, I'll take another look.

Thank you very much.

- George