Works fine, I've used both PATA and SATA internal ones with USB-adapters (SATA adapters might need a new firmware). You might want to do some research about drives though, in general old ones are better than new ones and if you want a bluray unit Asus BW-16D1HT is one of the last models where you can make use of a "loophole" for reading blurays (https://forum.makemkv.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=19113 , https://www.dvd-cloner.com/knowledge/uhd-friendly-drive-list_377.html).On a different topic, are there any compatibility issues with optical drives? As noted I want to get a new/faster one while I'm doing this, since I still receive optical media.
cd0 at ahcich2 bus 0 scbus2 target 0 lun 0
cd0: <HL-DT-ST DVDRAM GH24NSC0 LY00> Removable CD-ROM SCSI device
cd0: Serial Number KLIJ9P14455
cd0: 150.000MB/s transfers (SATA 1.x, UDMA6, ATAPI 12bytes, PIO 8192bytes)
cd0: 0MB (1 0 byte sectors)
I have quite a few Intel PRO/1000 single, dual, and quad port Ethernet cards that came from decommissioned servers via eBay...or just get a pulled NIC from a server etc
You might need to buy an adapter... VGA port is shaped differently than HDMI or DP. If your monitor only has a VGA port, but your PC does not, then you need an adapter. You can get those from Amazon for about $15-20. A KVM port might work for than, but only if it has both VGA and (HDMI or DP).Which video output port should I be looking to use with my old VGA monitor, "HDMI port" or "Display port"?
So just get a simple adapter?
What about an old KVM switch (only for purposes of doing the config from old->new), slap a video adapter on it?
Yeah. Two monitors, keyboards, and mice might actually be easier.The transition involves using both computers simultaneously to copy/configure for the new, so switching (for a short time...) between the two. With one having VGA port & one HDMI, this seems to be a challenge for KVM.
That takes either a crossover cable or going via a router.Yeah. Two monitors, keyboards, and mice might actually be easier.
Can you ssh to one from the other?
Actually, that's the case for a KVM switch...If you have monitor with VGA and HDMI inputs you could conceivable connect it to to both computers and switch back and forth using the monitor's input settings. You'd still need two keyboards. Still sounds like a pain.
They still manage to introduce directionality, by having a plug/socket directionOf course, all of that doesn’t apply to passive converters, like DVI to HDMI, or VGA to DVI(-A). These are always bidirectional because they don’t contain electronics for converting signals.
Well, if you mess up even the socket direction, there's always a cheap coupler/direction changer plug you can buy. I think the important point that people tend to miss is that cables have two (2) ends to check, not one (1).They still manage to introduce directionality, by having a plug/socket direction