I will be upgrading my Sky satellite HD box with 1TB Western Digital HHD!
Are they compatible in a PC desktop? Meaning, could i take out my PCs HDD and put it in my SKY HD box?
I was wondering if they were and also what is the real difference in SATA and IDE? Can you use them both for the same thing? Are they universal or SATA and IDE are for specifics PCs or something?
If not then I don't see what the argument is about to be honest.
I see people talking about greek language and things that have nothing to do with the subject. You're all BONKERS! You're too busy fighting with words and grammar! i aint no smart talker with words but i get down to the point!
Anyways, please help me with my question. It might seem foolish for you guys but its something i dont know.
Confused , , UK
That's a very sensible question and if we haven't explained it properly I apologise.
SATA and IDE (PATA) disks are exactly the same inside. The only difference is the way they talk to the outside world (such as the computer). As a matter of fact in many circumstances you can add a converter to the connectors to make them interchangeable.
In the old days computers only had IDE connectors but now they usually have SATA and IDE or rarely, only SATA.
SATA are somewhat easier to install than IDE.
SKY
Now to get down to your original question. The
Sky satellite box (sold here in Australia as Foxtel) does have a hard disk to hold the recordings. In the original (Foxtel IQ here in Oz) it was an IDE drive. I don't know what the HD box (IQ2 here) has but it may be SATA.
Yes it is the same sort of disk that's in your PC and could be swapped between them, but remember that the satellite box isn't a PC and uses a different storage system so it has to be re-formatted between swaps.
Also remember that (if Sky is the same as Foxtel) you don't own the box so you have no right to swap the disk.
Having said that there are plenty of places on the 'net to find out all about it. They'll also tell you what size disk you can use. I'll just go find some for you.
Here you go --
try these.Paul ZuckerJohnPosted: 01/02/2010
re: Which hard disk for the PVR?
While Paul is correct in saying the disks can be swapped, there are disks made specifically for PVR use, the Western Digital AV series is one such type.
Quote from WD "Significant design advances in WD's hard drive technology, combine optimized AV performance with best-in-class power consumption and thermally optimized operation"
They are available in both SATA and IDE type.
PVR's use propriety formats that can't be accessed by a pc, so swapping them in and out for the purpose of viewing or edditing on the pc won't work.
An exception to this is the later model Topfield which actually provide tools with which to read their format on a pc.
(Thanks John. -PZ)