I've had mixed success with those generic adapters. Some older VIA-based motherboards don't like the JMicron chip which they use. Intel-based motherboards seem to work fine with them most of the time.

If you want an alternative, StarTech adapters are more expensive but they do provide better compatibility since they use a Marvell chip. Phil reviewed them recently in this video.

Use startech.

I have one of those adapters which didn't work properly.
Reflowing the SATA and IDE connector solderpoints with leaded solder and removing R5 (which links pin 34 to ground and might mess up the PDIAG signal) it started working. Now the PDIAG signal goes via R4 to pin 34 and the bridge chip controls it.
Haven't had time to do extensive testing though.

There's a nice article on hackaday about reverse engineering the JM20330 evaluation board: https://hackaday.io/project/186809-m2-sata-to … rse-engineering
It seems from the original circuit that one should not populate both R4 and R5 (R15 and R16 on the Eval Board) at the same time.
And I do believe this DOF chip and JM20330 are the same.

But if you want something that just works then I'd also say Startech adapter is the way to go.

Thanks - out of curiosity gave pulling the r5 resistor out a go but still dead.

Sounds like startech or a bigger cf card is the way to go

texspex wrote on 2023-07-26, 22:33:

I have one of those adapters which didn't work properly. Reflowing the SATA and IDE connector solderpoints with leaded solder a […]
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I have one of those adapters which didn't work properly.
Reflowing the SATA and IDE connector solderpoints with leaded solder and removing R5 (which links pin 34 to ground and might mess up the PDIAG signal) it started working. Now the PDIAG signal goes via R4 to pin 34 and the bridge chip controls it.
Haven't had time to do extensive testing though.

There's a nice article on hackaday about reverse engineering the JM20330 evaluation board: https://hackaday.io/project/186809-m2-sata-to … rse-engineering
It seems from the original circuit that one should not populate both R4 and R5 (R15 and R16 on the Eval Board) at the same time.
And I do believe this DOF chip and JM20330 are the same.

But if you want something that just works then I'd also say Startech adapter is the way to go.

I'm using a Generic KingWin ADP-06 I bought at Fry's just before they closed in Silicon Valley. I've been using it for the last 4 years in my 486 and it's been great (but I have Dual IDE). I don't think it has any jumpers though, just a thought. However, I have had AMAZING luck getting SATA drives working on that system and a few of my other 486s using that adapter. It runs a full 256GB SSD on a PTI-255W VLB controller card, so if you're running ancient stuff like I Do you might want some kind of high-speed IDE controller to use with it. I really should try it out with some other computers - including my cranky old NanTan FMA3500C (if it'll run on that, it'll work on anything).

squelch41 wrote on 2023-07-27, 20:41:

Thanks - out of curiosity gave pulling the r5 resistor out a go but still dead.

Sounds like startech or a bigger cf card is the way to go

Ah, too bad. Might be a faulty DOF chip then.
It is a hit and miss sometimes with these cheap adapters.

Came across one those adapters at Microcenter yesterday and bough it. It's by Vantec. Haven't tried it yet. Planning on using it with a Win95 build.

texspex wrote on 2023-07-26, 22:33:

There's a nice article on hackaday about reverse engineering the JM20330 evaluation board: https://hackaday.io/project/186809-m2-sata-to … rse-engineering

That's the first time I've heard of a JMicron-based converter working at a higher speed than ATA33/UDMA2 on a VIA chipset. I'll have to see if there's a difference between the converters or if later chipsets work better.

Stay away from the cheap adapters.
Ive got two Startech ones and never had a problem.
They do some nice quality stuff.