Use of SATA Hard disk drive

[nigelf1234]

Hi
I have a computer with only a small (38GB) hard drive. I would like to replace it with a 500GB SATA hard drive, but I have been told both the power supply & motherboard need to be suitable for a SATA drive. Two questions therefore:
Is this correct?
And if it is, how can I tell if motherboard & power supply are suitable?
Many thanks

[ChuckFickens]

with a 38gb drive in it I would be fairly certain it is not compatible with SATA

it would be far easier to buy a SATA card to put into your current computer then replacing the motherboard.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Advance-PCI-ST101-Cont roller-Card-ports/dp/B00117DVK2/ref=sr_1_4?ie= UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1236257045&sr=8-4

Look at the frequently bought together link as you will need the card and the cables

[ACtheTROLL]

with a 38Gb drive it's possible that the mobo won't actually support a 500Gb hdd (132gb is more likely)

and adding sata to (a p3?) isn't going to do much good - certainly won't see any speed benefits.

further guessing that it's usb 1.1 - so a 500Gb external drive isn't going to be much good either

personally a 120Gb ide drive (�30) sounds like a safer good deal