View Full Version : Bought a SATA Blu-Ray Burner by mistake


Dana Salsbury
September 2nd, 2008, 09:54 PM
Does anyone know what I'll need to convert my SATA Blu-Ray to IDE?

I purchased a sw-5583 BluRay SATA burner for a MacPro Quad. From what I understand, I cannot use the sata by the fan, so I'm trying to convert the sata to ide. Should I look for a 16 pin extension cable to go with a sata to ide converter? (The IDE cable in my quad isn't long enough to plug into available adaptors). If I went with a converter alone, it doesn't look like the ide cable would reach. Do I have to plug into both the 16 pin and the white plug in? Will that also power the unit?

Robert Lane
September 3rd, 2008, 07:43 AM
I've noticed that Panasonic is no longer offering the ATAPI/ATA version of this drive, however there is a "C" version which comes with adapters and a newer firmware specifically to talk to the added SATA port (NOT a HDD port) and the adapters to make the conversion.

I don't know where you bought your drive but maybe return it and get this one instead:

Panasonic SW-5583 Blu-ray(Single/Dual Layer... (SW-5583-BK) at OWC (http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Panasonic/SW5583BKMP/)

William Hohauser
September 3rd, 2008, 09:17 AM
If you can't exchange it consider purchasing an external housing for the drive and use it via FireWire. Other World Computing has a good selection of boxes for drives.

Michael Wisniewski
September 3rd, 2008, 12:33 PM
Can't you just buy an inexpensive US$30-$70 SATA controller? Won't that solve the problem? Or is there another issue involved? Seems ashame to downgrade the connection to IDE or firewire. If you're running out of space (by the fan?) maybe you could swap stuff around to make it fit.

Robert Lane
September 3rd, 2008, 01:58 PM
Can't you just buy an inexpensive US$30-$70 SATA controller? Won't that solve the problem? Or is there another issue involved? Seems ashame to downgrade the connection to IDE or firewire. If you're running out of space (by the fan?) maybe you could swap stuff around to make it fit.

The new Panasonic "kit" is designed to talk to the extra SATA port on the MacPro internal board. You can't use a SATA controller card because then you have no tray "in-out" controls.

The data-rate on optical drives is so low that there's no difference in communication between ATAPI and SATA, it's simply that SATA has become the internal peripheral connector standard so the newer drives are being updated.

Dana Salsbury
September 3rd, 2008, 04:31 PM
If I got a casing I could burn from my MacBookPro and free the Quad up to edit. This might be a possibility if it makes no difference between Firewire, ATAPI and SATA. I will need to get a Firewire hub though. I just priced the enclosure at $80! It would be a lot less if I went with USB. Should I even think about that?

The other possibility is SATA to IDE converter cables. I just don't know if I need both power and host interface. If I could get by with ordering these two cables and card, I'd guess I'd be fine:

Amazon.com: 6pcs BRAND NEW 18 inches IDE to SATA Power Cable: Musical Instruments (http://www.amazon.com/6pcs-BRAND-inches-Power-Cable/dp/B0018B62PW/ref=sr_1_26?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1220480303&sr=8-26)

Amazon.com: Addonics ADSAIDE SATA to IDE-ATAPI Converter: Electronics (http://www.amazon.com/Addonics-ADSAIDE-SATA-IDE-ATAPI-Converter/dp/B0002FGEAS/ref=pd_cp_e_0?pf_rd_p=413863501&pf_rd_s=center-41&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B0018C5KYK&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0KFXZMEN8NPE45JE1R77)

Amazon.com: Cables Unlimited - IDE / EIDE cable - 40 pin IDC (F) - 40 pin IDC (F) - 4 ft: Electronics (http://www.amazon.com/Cables-Unlimited-IDE-EIDE-cable/dp/B00007E7L2/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1220480819&sr=1-7)