PATA to SATA adapters

[Nowhere]

Thread about eSATA reminded me about one question

I want to buy new HDD, but I'd like to use it also when I'll build a new computer. So pretty much it has to be SATA.

But my current mobo doesn't have SATA ports, and I don't like the idea of using PCI SATA card (potential mess with drivers; and besides I have motherboard (ASRock K7S8X, SiS 746fx) with very good HDD controller connected to northbridge without PCI bottleneck...oh, and there's TV card and gigabit NIC on PCI).


Apparently there's hope though...recently I've found on local eBay-like site adapters that plug directly into PATA port on the motherboard, and which allow using one SATA device. I imagine they are using the same/similar bridges as adapters working in other direction/integrated with early SATA HDDs.
But...those things aren't available in normal shops.
No luck finding reviews/impressions.
They are noname.

So I wonder...anybody knows/heard/witnessed how good those things are working?

they all seem to be the same:

http://allegro.pl/item214397246_interfejs_mostek_z_ide_na_sata_komplet_kabli_.html

[schmosef]

we used something like that once to put a cd-rom drive on SATA. it was fine.

[az]

Early mainboards with SATA on board used bridge hardware as well. But there's no way to know how the adapter you are thinking of buying is going to perform, if you don't know what chip (and revision) is used on it. It's like with USB drive boxes: Some are fast, many are not, some are really slow.

[Jammrock]

I have an addonics PATA to SATA adapter and it has been working fine for about 2-3 years now with no issue (other than it's kind of big).