Pros: Among the various offerings for similar products, I chose the StarTech PATA2SATA3 on account of other StarTech products I've used in conjunction with user-reviews of this same item. It works as one would expect, and the transfer rates reported in my Stablebit Scanner software for my WHS-2011 server system are consistent with those expectations.

I purchased the PATA2SATA3 specifically for connecting 500GB Hitachi IDE drives mounted in a hot-swap drive bay to my server for on-the-fly backup.

Cons: Really, the only "Con" I have for this product is the shortcoming of all such IDE-SATA3/SATA3-IDE adapters: they require some extra mouse-clicks and choices within Windows Device Manager when you want to use the "Safe to Remove Device" icon that otherwise provides easy removal for SATA devices configured for the built-in MSAHCI driver of Windows.

But I solved that problem -- explained in "Other" below.

Other Thoughts: I had previously purchased this product and RMA'd it for refund when I discovered the shortcoming already mentioned.

A little further internet research convinced me that the PATA2SATA3 could be hot-pluggable for a StarTech IDE hot-swap bay if its 5V power-source could also be powered down when you turn the key-switch on the bay to unlock the drive. Some gurus -- one UK user in particular -- had managed to (solder) connect an IDE-SATA converter similar to this one by locating a particular pinout on the bay's own little circuit-board.

Instead, I discovered two things: (a) the hot-swap bay had a rear plug to add a small 35mm cooling fan to the bay, and (b) the little power-plug connection for the fan powers down when one turns the keyswitch to unlock a drive caddy. So the solution to making the PATA2SATA3 hot-pluggable only required purchase of a 5V regulator from Radio Shack, soldering together a connection wire with appropriate plugs for the StarTech adapter and the fan connection so that 12V power is converted to 5V.

This all works like a charm, and has been working just fine for more than a year now.

Pros: None.

Cons: Cheap build.Dip switch broke first time I move it. The instructions say there is a diagram of how switches work but there is no diagram. Tried it on two different computers three different drives it does not work at all. I have done my own computer builds for years and this product is a no brainer and should work easily. Cheap plastic quality. The molex that came with it is unbelievably cheap. Total disappointment.

Manufacturer Response:

Dear Daniel,

Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on our PATA2SATA3 adapter. We apologize for the issue you are experiencing with the product and would like to offer some assistance.

If the adapter has broken DIP switches, we wouldn’t expect it to work properly, as the selection of certain modes is required depending on the direction you are adapting.

Regarding the instructions, our online manual for product PATA2SATA3 can be found as a pdf file here: http://www.startech.com/PATA2SATA3#dnlds. The DIP switch settings diagram can be found around the middle of page 1.

We would be happy to replace the adapter for you, so please contact us and reference case number 303-206336 so we can assist you further.

You can contact us via the link below, or you may respond here and we will be sure to follow up.

Thank You,

Customer Support
StarTech.com
http://www.startech.com/techsupport

Pros: It works as advertised
Has drive lights
Small and Compact

Cons: Well this is an interesting one. I couldn't figure out why you would need to power this thing but now I know. The connector that needs to connect from the power supply was installed the wrong way. I had to take the pins out of the connector and made sure they were installed correctly .

Other Thoughts: Pretty cool device.

Pros: I use these adapters for two IDE harddrives on a SATA III motherboard. These adapters were very easy to install following simple directions and were recognized on first boot up with no further configuration or fiddling necessary. Both adapters have been 100% trouble free since I installed them almost a year ago. These adapters cost a lot less than two new SATA harddrives would have.

Cons: Not really a con but an unknown -- I can't say how they may or may not work in SATA harddrive on IDE motherboard configuration

Other Thoughts: I am using these adapters with three different 64bit Linux OSes: Debian 7.3, Ubuntu 12.04.3 and Mint 16.

Pros: None

Cons: With this item installed per the included instructions, my IDE HD remained invisible in W7. Ended up using a PCI-E controller card purchased locally, which worked as advertised.

Pros: Enables the continued use of still-useful IDE devices on a SATA-only board. I used this for the CD/DVD drive since I didn't need a new one and they're slow anyway. It worked great; board recognized the drive, so I was able to install the OS booting from CD. Also hooked it up to my old hard drive to transfer some data over, and it worked fine for that, too.

Easy to install. Instructions were sufficient.

Bonus: comes in a cardboard box (recyclable) instead of a clamshell (trash).

Cons: Glows red. Could be a pro, if you want more red glowy things.

Other Thoughts: Sticks out behind the drive you're attaching it to, so be sure you have a few inches of room for it.

Pros: does what i need it to

Cons: none to speak of

Other Thoughts: good quality works great

Pros: Windows 7 recognized the Adapter and Kingwin KF-21 IDE mobile rack and "old" IDE hard drive without having to download or install additional drives. All I had to do was turn on the computer once everything was installed and plugged in. The Adapter comes with all the cables you need. Just connect the supplied SATA cable to the back of the Adapter and then to a open SATA port on the motherboard and you are in business. No additional controller needed. NewEgg had this in stock and shipped very quickly.

Cons: None that I can think of. Just be sure you have the room inside your case for it as it does add a couple of inches to the length of your hard drive. You may have to change your other hard drive SATA cables depending how they are attached if they are not the straight in type or are at a right angle. Just make sure you have room for the Adapter. Some folks will say it's slow - that is true - because you are running a IDE into a SATA motherboard - but to salvage my old computers data saved me hours if not days of work.

Other Thoughts: I used this with a Kingwin KF-21 IDE Mobile Rack installed in a new Windows 7 machine. Now I can transfer the data off my older IDE Windows XP computer's hard drive and also use the hard drive to back up to. That also means I can swap out other IDE hard drives too. It comes with everything you need, SATA cable, Power Cords, etc. Just make sure your case can handle the additional length of the Hard Drive rack and the Adapter attached to the back of it. My Cooler Master Elite 430 works well with this. The old drive and adapter were recognized without adding any drivers using Windows 7.

Pros: Very easy to figure out and was delivered very fast

Cons: none.

Other Thoughts: This was part of my first purchase through Newegg and I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised with the service and speed of everything. I didn't choose rush service but most of my order was processed same day! I know that may not be something that happens every time but I will definitely order from Newegg again (Actually just placed another order!)

Pros: Versatile: plug an IDE (aka PATA) drive into your SATA mobo, or a SATA drive into your IDE mobo

Cons: For the latter (SATA into IDE mobo connector), it means only 1 drive instead of 2.

Other Thoughts: Wish it had an IDE gender changer so it could plug into an IDE connector on the cable, instead of having to remove the cable and plug into the mobo IDE connector, losing BOTH devices. If you have 2 HDs & 2 CD/DVDs, you'll need to decide which to keep, possibly rejumper or use HD & DVD on same cable, slowing HD down.
Also, remember that a SATA drive plugged into this device will be running at IDE (OK, UDMA at best) speeds, and an IDE plugged in here to a STA port, still can't go faster than IDE speeds (SATA II is 3Gbps, UDMA is rarely over 0.133Gbps)