
Monoprice
Monoprice 114597 USB 3.0 to SATA Converter Adapter
★★★★★
USB 3.0USB 2.0
A plug-and-play USB 3.0 to SATA adapter that turns any bare 2.5" or 3.5" drive into instant external storage at up to 5Gbps.
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Overview
Key Features
Supports speeds up to 5Gbps
Easy and quick access to external storage
No extra power required for 2.5" HDDs/SDDs
12 VDC power adapter included for 3.5" HDDs/SDDs and 5.25" optical drives
Fully compatible with USB 3.0 and backwards compatible with USB 2.0/1.1
Specifications
Interface
USB 3.0 to SATA
Supported Drives
2.5"/3.5" SATA HDD/SSD, 5.25" Optical Drives
Data Transfer Rate
Up to 5Gbps
Power Adapter
12 VDC (included for 3.5" HDDs/SSDs and 5.25" optical drives)
Compatibility
USB 3.0, backwards compatible with USB 2.0/1.1
Color
White
Pros & Cons
👍 Pros
- Supports 2.5-inch, 3.5-inch, and 5.25-inch SATA devices in a single adapter.
- USB 3.0 interface delivers transfer speeds up to 5Gbps, making large file copies practical.
- Includes a 12V power adapter for drives that require external power.
- Plug-and-play operation requires no driver installation on most operating systems.
- Backwards compatible with USB 2.0 and 1.1 for use with older computers.
👎 Cons
- The adapter is a bare cable-style connection with no protective enclosure for the drive.
- White cable color shows dirt and wear over time.
- Not designed for permanent use as an external drive—better suited for temporary access and data transfers.
- Does not support USB-C natively, requiring an additional adapter for newer laptops without USB-A ports.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this adapter work with both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch drives?
Yes. It connects to both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SATA hard drives and SSDs. A 12V DC power adapter is included for 3.5-inch drives and 5.25-inch optical drives, which require external power. 2.5-inch drives are powered directly through the USB connection.
Is this adapter compatible with USB 2.0 ports?
Yes, it is backwards compatible with USB 2.0 and USB 1.1 ports. However, data transfer speeds will be limited to the maximum supported by the older USB standard (480Mbps for USB 2.0).
Do I need to install drivers to use this adapter?
In most cases, no. The adapter is plug-and-play on Windows, macOS, and Linux. Your operating system should recognize the connected drive automatically.
Can I use this to clone or recover data from an old hard drive?
Yes. By connecting a bare internal drive to your computer via this adapter, you can access its contents for data recovery, cloning, or migration purposes using your preferred disk management or backup software.