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View Full Version : Someone please clarify this for me


ufcrusher
07-14-2010, 10:02 PM
Is a PATA drive te same as a standard Ultra-ATA?
Thesifer
07-14-2010, 10:07 PM
Yes. Basically just different names for the same thing. All "ATA"
ufcrusher
07-14-2010, 10:22 PM
So would a MB that supported an old ULTRA ATA 33 take a PATA replacement? Laptop HD died on an old workhorse that was great to use when I didnt want to risk a newer system.
Thesifer
07-15-2010, 01:46 AM
Well as far as I know PATA is just what it was named before they dropped the P.. and the 33, etc are only speeds.
Jeffbx
07-15-2010, 04:40 AM
Yup - PATA, ATA & IDE are all the same thing.

SCSI and SATA have different interfaces.
cruelpupet
07-15-2010, 06:36 AM
any PATA, IDE, ATA drive you buy now, will all be backwards compatible with whatever speed your old laptop has.
bachviet
07-15-2010, 09:04 AM
On old laptops, BIOS might only supports smaller size hard drive. My friend has a Dell Inspiron 9300 and the BIOS only sees up to 137GB. He can't use any 250GB or 320GB hard drives out there.