You can have SATA and IDE drives in the same PC at the same time, as long as you have separate IDE and SATA headers on you motherboard, or a SATA controller PCI card. SATA drives use a completely different interface as well as different data and power cables.
You can't have a SATA drive on an IDE channel, or vice-versa, which is what it sounds like you are asking.

Actually, with these converters you can connect ide drives to sata headers or sata drives to ide headers.


IDE to S-ATA converter: Link

S-ATA to IDE converter: Link

HEY TYCUS: I have a total of 3 HDs on my PC. 2= IDE 1=SATA, and room for one more SATA. I just got a SATA PCI card and it works great. Also I know that the 10000rpm drive cost…….but let me tell you it’s worth it if you want you PC to run at top speed. I have the WD 80gig RAPTOR and it is awesome.

yes but the converters defeat the purpose of adding a SATA to your system [they cut the data transfer rate of 1.5 GB to 133mb or less]That is why SATA drives are faster they transfer more info per sec than IDE.If you have a bundled comp.[e-machine, HP,Compaq]normally you cant use a SATA, but most custom box's or INTEL boards will take a SATA drive  Hope that clears it up and helps you Tycus.And yes you can use both though it kind of defeats the purpose of a faster drive [SATA]Acronis.com has a utility [15 or 30 day trial]that will copy your whole system from IDE drive to SATA drive in about 10mins .Works great i used it when i made the jump to SATA and tell ya i will never go  back 

good to know that, SIXX21! right now i have two IDE HD of 75 GB(each one), and it seems that my motherboard has the connections for IDE and Sata, here is a pic of it(i'll close the two connections in a red circle):


It's a Intel D865PERL


But how can i make that the Sata HD became the primary hard disk(master) and the Ide HD into the secondary hard disk(slave)?

Yes i agree i have a WD74gb raptor 10,000rpm and speed difference is very noticable [seek 4 milli sec opposed to 8 or higher with most drives IDE or SATA]

When you boot your PC it should give you an option to enter you BIOS setup utility…..I think it will be under boot/hard disk drives, this will let you select the hard drive you want to boot form.

i have the intel 865 GBF it easy you just have to go into the bios and pick drive to boot from SATA drive get you have to put a jumper in the drive [ to tell it SATA 1 or 2 ]that board is same mine SATA 1

I don’t think that Master/Slave applies to SATA HD

WD74gb raptor 10,000rpm

My bad  

Works great i used it when i made the jump to SATA and tell ya i will never go back

Me Too  

NO its not master or slave it is to set the transfer rate to 1.5 0R 3.0 depending on the drive some are SATA 1 some ARE SATA 2 i went through it but he gets a WD there 1-800 num is very helpful they will walk you right through it

What will happen if dosn't use the jumper[it comes one]some boards will not pick it up even it is plugged in

THey are awsome arent they  [boot time 20sec not counting login ]

I don’t think that Master/Slave applies to SATA HD

I was just telling TYCUS that I don’t think that Master/Slave applies to SATA