Motherboard Question - Can I run SATA HDs?

[A4orce84]

Hey Guys,

Currently I have an older desktop running IDE HDs. I checked Frys.com, newegg, few other places and it seems the largest PATA (IDE) HD I can purchase today is only about 320 GB.

So I decided to think about it differently, and see if my Motherboard could accept SATA HDs....but got a bit confused. Here are the specs for my old MSI Mobo:
MSI P7N SLI NVIDIA nForce 750i SLI Socket 775 ATX MSI MS-7380 P7N SLI

It lists "4 Sata Ports," but I wasn't sure if that was for HD's or something else. If someone could let me know, if I can connect up a new 1TB Sata HD to my old computer, that would be greatly appreciated.

If you need any additional information, please let me know! Thanks in advance!

--Asif

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Those SATA ports are for hard drives. You should be OK.

You will need SATA cables. They might be included with your new drive or you may have to buy them separately.

 

[pebbly]

Hi A4orce84, yes the mobo will accept Sata HDDs ,the newer type HDDs are backwards compatible so yuo will be ok

 

[A4orce84]

Thanks guys! So can I run both? I am currently running on 1 IDE (PATA) HD, can I just buy the SATA and hook it up and Windows should see both HDs (PATA and SATA) with no issues?

Thanks again!

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Yeah, you can run IDE and SATA at the same time.

The new drive should be seen by Windows once partitioned and formatted. You can do that in Windows Disk Management.

 

[pebbly]

Thanks guys! So can I run both? I am currently running on 1 IDE (PATA) HD, can I just buy the SATA and hook it up and Windows should see both HDs (PATA and SATA) with no issues?

Thanks again!

Yes you can run both types , but try and make the sata the operating system drive and use the IDE for backup/storage

 

[A4orce84]

Thanks guys !