SATA-IDE Ultrabay IBM Adapter

[Likvid]

I talked to Hitachi storage yesterday and they are ceasing all production of IDE/PATA 2.5" drives in favor for SATA.

I read in another thread about the IBM SATA-IDE adapter you could buy and use SATA drives in the Ultrabay.

On Ebay they are selling the 40Y8725.

Would this work in a T41P and can i boot from it by changing the boot sequence in Bios?

I want to know before i order a new 7K200 SATA drive and adapter.

[richk]

Before I answer I will state the obvious point that if you boot to the ultrabay drive, you will need an external optixal drive to read or write CDs or DVDs.

Having said that, you can boot to the ultrabay hard drive. The real IBM adapters have a point sticking out the back to keep it from fitting in a T4x, but that point can be ground down and the adapter will work fine. The adapter has a built-in PATA-> SATA bridge. Also, the ones you buy on eBay are generally aftermarket items from China. They fit fine in T4x machines without modification. Some of them are all black plastic and are not very well made. They fit poorly, but work fine. The ones that look like they are mostly metal are good quality and work fine with no modification. I use one myself frequently. I have not done a speed test, but I would expect a delay related to the PATA->SATA bridge, so you may experience a slower boot.

[sojourner]

the ones you buy on eBay are generally aftermarket items from China. They fit fine in T4x machines without modification. Some of them are all black plastic and are not very well made. They fit poorly, but work fine.

My experience as well albeit the one I have was so out of adjustment it got me concerned. To slide the caddy into the TP without the HDD top rubbing (you know, rubbing the place on top where the label says DO NOT PRESS!) I had to sort of gently press on the sides of the HDD where it felt like there was no pressure on top as it was inserted. But then I wondered if the drive was running in there with constant pressure on the top!! That's when the ol' screwdriver and soldering iron came out and some surgery done so the drive sat properly in the caddy. Now there's no rubbing.

The caddy here cost around $28.50 (shipped, eBay). The IBM's cost more but perhaps you get what you pay for.