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Recommend me a USB to SATA adapter that actually works on Linux (lemmy.ml)
submitted 7 months ago by to c/linux@lemmy.ml
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Title. I need a USB 3 to SATA adapter to use a spare 2.5" SSD with a machine that doesn't have any spare SATA ports and no place to put it at this point.

I've read that most of these adapters have issues with supporting TRIM on Linux. I need one that supports TRIM.

So any recommendations for something that will survive reboots which I'm planning to use for semi-permanent game storage?

An enclosure style is fine.

(Note: I too can search Amazon. When looking into the reviews from Linux users most of the adapters that claim to work with Linux have people clarifying TRIM doesn't work.)

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[–] 5 points 7 months ago* (4 children)

I don't know about TRIM compatibility specifically, but I must suggest you don't get one of those combo SATA/PATA adapters. Although I don't know about TRIM compatibility, I do know for a fact that those combo adapters do not support SMART stats for mechanical hard drives. So I assume combo adapters won't support TRIM either.

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  • [–] 2 points 7 months ago* (3 children)

    That's good info! I've been looking around for a PATA to USB adapter with SMART support and haven't had a ton of luck narrowing one down. Thinking offhand I may need to cobble together a PATA-to-SATA adapter connected to a SATA-to-USB adapter to actually get some SMART info moving from a PATA drive via USB. It's not the only way to do this but it would be a lot easier if it can be done via USB :/

    Also some fun info since you mentioned PATA adapters - The Maxtor OneTouch II is a terrible ATA enclosure, especially on Linux. For whatever reason the built-in chipset does some sort of disconnect right at the end of long operations like formatting, partitioning, etc. so you're never entirely sure if the command worked correctly. I guess it was designed with Windows in mind, or maybe its Linux compatibility isn't 100% there. And of course no SMART info gets passed through.

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  • [–] 2 points 7 months ago (2 children)

    Sadly I've never seen a PATA to SATA adapter that supports SMART stats either. I spent quite a while late last year on eBay looking for a direct USB to PATA only adapter on eBay, with no luck though, all I keep finding are those combo adapters ☹️

    The last ancient USB to PATA only adapter I once had did actually support SMART stats, but apparently the adapter's firmware didn't support drives over 128GB ☹️

    Sigh, maybe I'll stumble into something someday at a thrift store or something 🤷

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  • [–] 1 point 7 months ago* (1 child)

    The last ancient USB to PATA only adapter I once had did actually support SMART stats, but apparently the adapter’s firmware didn’t support drives over 128GB

    So close, you almost had it!

    Same, been thinking of just keeping an eye out at thrift stores and such for an antique USB drive enclosure.. one that isn't a Maxtor OneTouch, heh. Or maybe my idea of a janky PATA-to-SATA connected to SATA-to-USB will actually work for SMART info by some miracle.

    If I had more space for storing old tech I'd maybe just adopt or buy an ancient desktop that actually has PATA ports in it. I've actually seen them come up on Craigslist, like ancient Compaq desktops from back in the day before SATA existed.

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  • [–] 2 points 7 months ago

    That ancient USB to PATA adapter I had, before it got stolen anyways, was actually a repurposed adapter for an external USB 4X CD burner, so it kinda makes sense that it would never support any drives over 128GB (120GB in practice), as it was never actually meant to be used on hard drives in the first place. But for 120GB and less, it worked just fine.

    It sucked for me though, as I had and still have a 1.8" 160GB hard drive from an OG iPod 1 and all the other relevant adapters to connect it to 2.5" PATA. Also sadly, my old Dell B130 apparently also has the 120/128GB firmware limit, so I can't even use it natively, I had sooo wanted to upgrade that thing from 80GB to 160GB..

    🤷

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