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Better or Worse PATA to SATA Adapters? - TAM

Forums > Vintage Apple > Macintosh > Beige PowerPC (Old World ROM) > PCI-based Power Macintosh

JustG
New Tinkerer
California
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Joined: Dec 12, 2021
Posts: 62
Likes: 16
May 8, 2023 - #1
I just picked up a Twentieth Anniversary Macintosh, check that one off the unicorn list! I'd like to drop a SSD into it as the original drive is pretty noisy and I'd rather not kill the one that came with the computer. Has anyone had any more or less luck with PATA to SATA adapter brands? Based on my 10 minutes of research some people have experienced issues with longer than normal start up times when using an adapted SSD. I know Action Retro did a series where he ran a PCI SATA controller but I'd rather not use the fat back and run a bunch of cables. I'm willing to sacrifice speed for tidiness.

Is there an adapter plate that will mount the SATA drive in the location of the old drive? From what I understand the mounting pattern is different on new drives.

Francois
Tinkerer
France
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Joined: Aug 9, 2022
Posts: 116
Likes: 51
May 8, 2023 - #2
Or use a CompactFlash Card, with a passive adapter. CF cards are natively IDE drives, so better compatibility and I think enough performance for the relatively low end computer that is the TAM.

retr01
Senior Tinkerer
Utah, USA
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Joined: Jun 6, 2022
Posts: 2,474
Likes: 810
May 8, 2023 - #3
@JustG, yes, there is an adapter you can use that is IDE and accepts an SSD.

As long as the IDE HDD in the TAM is 2.5" (9.5mm) high with a 44-pin connector (or by using an adapter), you can get this:

Ableconn IIDE-MSAT mSATA SSD to 2.5-Inch IDE Adapter Converter with Aluminum Frame Bracket

This works with vintage PowerBooks, G4 Cube, etc.

@jajan547 may have some insight to share.

Francois
Tinkerer
France
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Joined: Aug 9, 2022
Posts: 116
Likes: 51
May 8, 2023 - #4
It's the physical installation of whatever replacement drive you're using that is somewhat bothersome, because nothing will line up with the mounting points on the drive bracket of the TAM.

Double-sided tape to the rescue! It's the easiest way to do it, I think.

jajan547
Active Tinkerer
Houston, Texas, USA
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Joined: Mar 25, 2022
Posts: 738
Likes: 297
May 9, 2023 - #5
>> retr01 said:
@JustG , yes, there is an adapter you can use that is IDE and accepts an SSD. As long as the IDE HDD in the TAM is 2.5" (9.5mm) high with a 44-pin connector (or by using an adapter), you can get this: Ableconn IIDE-MSAT mSATA SSD to 2.5-Inch IDE Adapter Converter with Aluminum Frame Bracket This works with vintage PowerBooks, G4 Cube, etc. @jajan547 may have some insight to share. Click to expand...
Actually I agree with what you say but remember the drive is a smaller 2.5 style sized drive.

retr01
Senior Tinkerer
Utah, USA
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Joined: Jun 6, 2022
Posts: 2,474
Likes: 810
May 9, 2023 - #6
>> jajan547 said:
Actually I agree with what you say but remember the drive is a smaller 2.5 style sized drive. Click to expand...

Right. 1.8" high, but there have been reports that a 2.5" can work. Hmmm.

Liked by jajan547

jajan547
Active Tinkerer
Houston, Texas, USA
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Joined: Mar 25, 2022
Posts: 738
Likes: 297
May 10, 2023 - #7
I think THIS is a great solution I've ordered one for my TAM. Plus at USD $15.00 it's quite a bargain.

Liked by retr01

Francois
Tinkerer
France
--------
Joined: Aug 9, 2022
Posts: 116
Likes: 51
May 10, 2023 - #8
I had my TAM lock up while reading from the CD-ROM drive when using a similar SD adapter. A CF card (+ passive adapter) being natively IDE is the more compatible solution.

Liked by retr01

JustG
New Tinkerer
California
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Joined: Dec 12, 2021
Posts: 62
Likes: 16
May 10, 2023 - #9
I'm dumb, I completely forgot about dosdude1's IDE SD project. I'd be willing to bet that'd be about the best option. Small and knowing him, very compatible.

Liked by retr01

retr01
Senior Tinkerer
Utah, USA
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Joined: Jun 6, 2022
Posts: 2,474
Likes: 810
May 11, 2023 - #10
@JustG, do you mean this one?

GitHub - dosdude1/2.5-inch-ide-ssd: A custom-designed IDE SSD for use in any machine that utilizies a 2.5" IDE hard disk.

A custom-designed IDE SSD for use in any machine that utilizies a 2.5" IDE hard disk. - dosdude1/2.5-inch-ide-ssd
[Image: github.com] github.com
Attachments:
github.com [View]
github.com [View]

JustG
New Tinkerer
California
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Joined: Dec 12, 2021
Posts: 62
Likes: 16
May 11, 2023 - #11
That's the one. Need to send him an e-mail and see if he has any left for sale or if he's working on another batch.

jajan547
Active Tinkerer
Houston, Texas, USA
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Joined: Mar 25, 2022
Posts: 738
Likes: 297
May 12, 2023 - #12
>> JustG said:
That's the one. Need to send him an e-mail and see if he has any left for sale or if he's working on another batch. Click to expand...
Wow I didn't even know about this thank you @JustG for mentioning it and @dosdude1 for creating this neat little solution!

Liked by retr01

retr01
Senior Tinkerer
Utah, USA
--------
Joined: Jun 6, 2022
Posts: 2,474
Likes: 810
May 12, 2023 - #13
This is nice, @dosdude1! :)


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