PDA

View Full Version : Possible to replace zip drive with HD?




8thMan
May 4, 2006, 10:17 AM
I have a DA G4 Powermac. Both hard drive bays are full, but I would like to install an additional hard drive, if possible. Could I disconnect the (useless) zip drive, and hook up a hard drive to its power and data connectors? Would that work? I realize that there is no "bay" for it but I'm sure that I could rig some place to mount it if it were electronically compatible. Thanks.



yellow
May 4, 2006, 10:22 AM
I'd be more concerned with the powersupply and it's ability to supply power to all those drives (mobo etc) simultaneously.

8thMan
May 4, 2006, 12:49 PM
I'd be more concerned with the powersupply and it's ability to supply power to all those drives (mobo etc) simultaneously.

Yeah, that makes sense, particularly since I've already upgraded the CPU and the video card. Thanks.

GimmeSlack12
May 4, 2006, 12:54 PM
I think it is possible. As long as the Zip drive is IDE. The last thing to look up is how many devices the IDE controller in the G4 can handle. For some reason I'm thinking 2 HD's is the max, but I'm about 20% sure.

8thMan
May 4, 2006, 01:43 PM
I think it is possible. As long as the Zip drive is IDE. The last thing to look up is how many devices the IDE controller in the G4 can handle. For some reason I'm thinking 2 HD's is the max, but I'm about 20% sure.

I think I might be better off installing an ATA card and running an additional drive from that.

9Charms
May 21, 2006, 12:22 PM
Would the IDE bus that the ZIP drive and CD Drive are on be ATA33 or something like that? Wouldn't that mean that it's waaay too slow for a hard drive?