Experienced users know that the procedure for connecting a hard disk to a computer is not a matter of second and requires certain skills, as well as at least basic knowledge of the system unit architecture. The presence of two current standards IDE and SATA, each of which at the same time has its own connection features, can seriously complicate the process. And, as practice shows, it often complicates. An important factor is the ease of connection: each time to shut off the computer, as required by hard drives, with daily work with them is unacceptable.
It was for such situations that special portable hard drives were released that connect to a computer via the USB interface and, accordingly, fully support the so-called hot connection. Rather compact, low noise, made in a convenient housing, they quickly gained popularity among buyers. And this despite the higher price than the classic HDD price.
However, not always and not everyone has the opportunity, albeit for convenience, to purchase such a drive. And at home, for example, lies the unnecessary old 120-gigabyte hard drive, instead of which a faster and more capacious HDD or even SSD is already installed in the bowels of the computer. It is such a disk that can be quite successfully adapted to a means of transferring information. And for this, itβs enough to purchase an inexpensive adapter that allows you to easily connect a hard drive via USB.
Adapters
You can distinguish between these devices according to two main parameters: the interface and the form factor. The interface differences are due to the current standards - IDE and SATA. Differences in form factor can be based not only on the interface, but also on the form, as well as the functionality.
Interface type
This group includes all intermediary devices between the hard drive and the computer, focused on external connection to the HDD. They are divided, respectively, into IDE types, SATA types and universal. Price range - within 2000 rubles for the most functional model.
IDE Adapters
The rarest device group to date. They are mainly found in the form of compact modules with external power and IDE connectors for 3.5-inch and 2.5-inch hard drives. The adapter itself is a little smaller than a palm, and the power supply is quite massive, because it receives 220 V from the outlet. To connect a hard drive via USB, just connect it to the corresponding adapter connector, then apply power to the adapter. then you can connect the USB cable to the computer. Depending on the connected hard disk, the speed of determining the disk by the operating system, as well as the speed of reading and writing, may vary slightly.
Some modifications may be equipped with a twin USB cable. When using 2.5-inch devices to connect a hard drive via this type of USB cable, external power is not needed. But if you connect HDD 3.5 ', then they will have to use it.
SATA Adapters
SATA-adapters for connecting a hard drive via USB are found in three versions. In the first case, it will be an ordinary connecting cable with a SATA connector for a 2.5-inch HDD on one side and two USB connectors on the other. Disks of the old type cannot be connected with such an adapter. The adapter of the second type is similarly made, except that there will be one USB plug here: this modification is designed for the USB 3.0 standard. The third adapter is a functional analogue of the IDE adapter: the ability to connect 2.5 'and 3.5' hard drives, a dual USB cable, as well as additional external power.
Universal Adapters
The most functional, and, accordingly, the most massive and expensive adapters that allow in most cases to connect a hard drive via USB, regardless of its type and form factor. Usually equipped with all types of cables and power connectors.
Form factor
A special type of device to which the concepts of βadapterβ or βadapter for connecting a hard disk via USBβ is not applicable. Firstly, the connection method is different, and secondly, the functionality of such equipment can be somewhat wider.
Containers or boxes
They are a certain size box, inside of which one or more HDDs are placed. At the same time, such devices are most often focused on one type of interface and drive size: the location of the contacts of each of the connectors, as well as the size of the box, will simply not allow you to install the wrong hard drive. Outside is an interface panel, indicators, and sometimes additional power connectors.
Currently, such devices are designed mainly for connecting a hard drive via USB exactly according to SATA and 2.5 'standards as the most common, but quite rare, but there are also IDE-compatible cases.
To connect a hard drive using such a box (for example, SATA. 2.5 '), you need to put the HDD inside and with a slight movement until the click connects the contact groups of devices. It should be borne in mind that, depending on the box model, the process of loading a disk into a container may differ. After that, it is enough to connect the USB cable to the port on the computer (or two, if the power requires it), but the operating system will determine the hard drive quite quickly.
The price of such devices varies from two hundred rubles for the simplest boxing to several thousand for an impressive container size for several hard drives at once.
Docking stations
In fact, they are designed to make working with the hard drive as comfortable and convenient as possible: the user only needs to insert the HDD into the slot of the station already connected to the computer or TV, and in a couple of seconds everything is ready to work with data. But manufacturers did not stop there, and docking stations with advanced functionality began to appear on the market, which are not so much convenient devices for connecting a hard drive via USB as home storage media libraries, Wi-Fi network extenders, home file servers with the ability to Internet access, and more. Accordingly, the price range is very wide: from a thousand for the simplest device to several thousand for a multifunctional one.