CompactFlash to IDE Adapter Purchasing Question

Sir Games-A-Lot · Post by **Sir Games-A-Lot** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:07 pm

Since this was more of a general/experience question I thought it would be better to put it here than in Tech Q&A.

So as the title says I need a CF to IDE adapter. It's easy to get one for less than $10 shipped from ebay, from a US seller. Now there are places online who sell these things for 25.99 or more, is there a noticeable difference between the units from the two price ranges? Also, do any of these adapters work with 3.5" IDE to 2.5" laptop IDE adapters?

Post by **bicostp** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 3:13 pm

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

(CF based DOS gamer laptop!)

I can't say I have used any CF-IDE adapters, but I don't see a reason for them to not work with laptop adapters.

Kyosho · Post by **Kyosho** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:06 pm

You know, you can get CF to IDE 2.5" adapters too.

Post by **benheck** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 7:38 pm

Technically you don't even need an adapter, you can wire IDE right to the CompactFlash (or a CompactFlash slot)

-Ben

blackbox_dev · Post by **blackbox_dev** » Fri Dec 15, 2006 7:48 pm

It should work with notebook hard drives if you attach a 2.5" adapter.

Sir Games-A-Lot · Post by **Sir Games-A-Lot** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 1:31 pm

Thanks guys, since it seems the general concensus is that it will work with the 3.5" to 2.5" adapter, I guess it wouldn't hurt to just order one of the cheap ones and see how it goes from there.

(And yes this is for a new portable, but not a videogame based one, I hope to start work in ernest after the holidays. The Blot Thickens!)

Post by **Sparkfist** » Sat Dec 16, 2006 3:38 pm

I own a Compactflash > Laptop adpater. I've even used it to run Deli Linux on my old laptop for a semaster of school. They work just fine, in fact work best as if it's a laptop you don't have to be so gentle with how you handle it.

This you have to do, no exceptions, turn off virual memory. If you leave it on the flash cells will get burned out in a matter of hours or days and become useless.

Edit - Here is what my adapter looks like.