So I have this Conrad branded IDE & SATA to USB 3.0 converter. Conrad artno: 976534.
It's quite nice with external PSU and everything, however it has some issues.
When I connect the USB cable to the PC there can sometimes be a spark, and pop in the speakers.
So I started using it with the laptop only on battery power.
I mainly use it to make Ghost copies of drives for customers, and for troubleshooting.
But as I sometimes work on older systems I may need to limit the size of the drive so it can work with the host systems BIOS.
This requires direct SMART access so that for example HDAT2 can access the drive in DOS.
But this drive does not seem to offer it.
I was also shocked by how shitty some of the soldering is when I opened it up.
Can't say I understand why the power adapter manages to cause that pop in the speakers either.
The primary and secondary on the PSU are only connected by the transformer and an Y cap, which seems to have the proper safety ratings.
The power adapter is a Flypower Model PS30IBCAK2000E claiming to provide 2Ah 12v
It uses a Prolific PL2773 SATAII > USB3 controller.
And a Jmicron JMD330 IDE > SATAI controller.
Any recommendations for an adapter offering the same functionality but also supporting S.M.A.R.T access for DOS so HDAT2 can be used would be very nice!
Do note that my original adapter is only branded Conrad, it has been discontinued and now they are selling this one with the "Renkforce" branding on the cover.
Not sure if it's exactly the same thing inside or not.
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