Author Topic: Do all computers have multiple SATA ports? (Read 2275 times)

Sunglasses · June 25, 2011, 10:03:45 PM

Im thinkinof buying a new hard drive for my 10 year old computer, but i need to know if it will have another SATA port in it for me to add another hard drive...

I cant go much longer with this hard drive because i only have 4 out of 20 GBs left.

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Stocking · June 25, 2011, 10:05:35 PM

No, not all computers have multiple SATA ports.

Sunglasses · June 25, 2011, 10:06:24 PM

Quote from: Stocking on June 25, 2011, 10:05:35 PM

No, not all computers have multiple SATA ports.

Do all computer have A sata port? I could always replace this current drive...

or is there a workaround where i can plug 2 hard drives into 1 port?

Monocle · June 25, 2011, 10:14:40 PM

I don't believe they used sATA cables 10 years ago. :o I believe they used standard ATA cables.

Legodude77 · June 25, 2011, 10:15:44 PM

Open up your computer and see. Its not that hard.

Sunglasses · June 25, 2011, 10:19:19 PM

Quote from: Legodude77 on June 25, 2011, 10:15:44 PM

Open up your computer and see. Its not that hard.

hmm, is sata the one with 327 pins or the one with 12735?

Monocle · June 25, 2011, 10:21:56 PM

Quote from: Sunglasses on June 25, 2011, 10:19:19 PM

hmm, is sata the one with 327 pins or the one with 12735?

Have fun counting, lol.

Sunglasses · June 25, 2011, 10:24:15 PM

Are there any converters i can buy?

Dropshock · June 25, 2011, 10:25:20 PM

Quote from: Sunglasses on June 25, 2011, 10:19:19 PM

hmm, is sata the one with 327 pins or the one with 12735?

Refer to your motherboard manual, or otherwise look at the board labels and see if you see "SATA" anywhere.
In worst case, SATA plugs look SOMETHING like this:

(The ~~black ones~~ red ones. [I think? I'm really tired right now. Sorry if I'm wrong! :( ] )
Edit: Wait no I'm pretty sure it's the red ones. Sorry. Edit again: Wait no it might be the black ones. OH GOD I DON'T KNOW

Tokthree · June 25, 2011, 10:27:48 PM

If you mean SATA as in

then the motherboard should have at least two connectors, located somewhere around the CMOS battery or whatever it's for.

Sunglasses · June 25, 2011, 10:29:41 PM

Quote from: Dropshock on June 25, 2011, 10:25:20 PM

Refer to your motherboard manual, or otherwise look at the board labels and see if you see "SATA" anywhere.
In worst case, SATA plugs look SOMETHING like this:

(The black ones [I think? I'm really tired right now. Sorry if I'm wrong! :( ] )

I got my computer for free from a friend, didnt some with a manual

Legodude77 · June 25, 2011, 10:29:46 PM

These are sata connectors:

And these bigger ones are IDE. Older computer have more of these.

Tokthree · June 25, 2011, 10:31:56 PM

I always thought that IDE cables looked cool, sort of sci-fi compared to regular cables

Dropshock · June 25, 2011, 10:32:18 PM

Quote from: Sunglasses on June 25, 2011, 10:29:41 PM

I got my computer for free from a friend, didnt some with a manual

... Then read the rest of my post? You can do it without a manual.

Tokthree · June 25, 2011, 10:34:31 PM

By the way Dropshock, I'm not sure but I think the red ones are male SATA connectors, and the black ones are female connectors.
I don't know what difference it makes, but cables are usually plugged into a female connector.

I'm probably wrong though, since I've never needed to know what those red ones are for