UGREEN USB-A 3.0 to SATA Converter – CM257

The UGREEN CM257 is a USB 3.0 to SATA adapter cable that transforms internal 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SATA drives into external storage devices. This tool-free solution supports transfer speeds up to 5Gbps and features UASP acceleration technology, making it invaluable for students recovering data from old laptops and business users performing system migrations or hard drive diagnostics. The plug-and-play design eliminates the need for external enclosures when accessing bare drives temporarily.

Key Features & Benefits

• Universal SATA Drive Support: Works with both 2.5-inch (laptop) and 3.5-inch (desktop) SATA hard drives and solid-state drives, which means you can recover files from old computers, test used drives before purchase, or repurpose internal storage without investing in permanent enclosures.
• USB 3.0 High-Speed Transfer: Delivers data rates up to 5Gbps (approximately 500MB/s in real-world use), so backing up a 500GB drive takes around 20 minutes instead of several hours with older USB 2.0 adapters.
• UASP Protocol Support: Incorporates USB Attached SCSI Protocol acceleration for up to 70% faster transfer speeds on compatible systems, reducing wait times during large file transfers like photo libraries or video archives.
• Tool-Free Connection: Simply attach the SATA connector to your drive and plug the USB cable into your computer—no screwdrivers, enclosures, or complicated setup required, making it ideal for quick data recovery or drive testing scenarios.
• 12V Power Adapter Included: Comes with an external power supply to support power-hungry 3.5-inch desktop drives that draw more current than USB ports can provide, ensuring stable operation during intensive read/write operations.

Technical Specifications

Interface Specifications

• Host Connection: USB 3.0 Type-A male (backward compatible with USB 2.0)
• Drive Connection: SATA III (6Gbps) compatible with SATA I/II
• Data Transfer Rate: Up to 5Gbps (USB 3.0 theoretical maximum)
• Protocol Support: UASP (USB Attached SCSI Protocol) for enhanced performance

Drive Compatibility

• Supported Sizes: 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch SATA drives
• Drive Types: HDD (hard disk drives) and SSD (solid-state drives)
• Maximum Capacity: Supports drives up to 10TB (limited by drive specifications)
• Interface: SATA I (1.5Gbps), SATA II (3Gbps), SATA III (6Gbps)

Power Specifications

• USB Power: Bus-powered for 2.5-inch drives (draws from USB port)
• External Power: 12V/2A DC adapter included for 3.5-inch drives
• Power Connector: Standard barrel connector (5.5mm × 2.1mm)
• LED Indicator: Activity light shows power and data transfer status

Cable Specifications

• USB Cable Length: 19.7 inches (50cm)
• SATA Cable Length: 11.8 inches (30cm)
• Cable Type: Integrated SATA data and power connectors
• Construction: Oxygen-free copper conductors with shielding

Physical Characteristics

• Adapter Dimensions: 3.35 × 1.97 × 0.79 inches (85 × 50 × 20mm)
• Weight: 3.88 oz (110g) without power adapter
• Housing Material: ABS plastic with heat dissipation design
• Color: Black

System Requirements

• Operating Systems: Windows 11/10/8/7/Vista/XP, macOS 10.6+, Linux
• USB Port: USB 3.0 recommended (works with USB 2.0 at reduced speeds)
• UASP Support: Requires Windows 8+ or macOS 10.8+ for acceleration
• Driver Installation: Plug-and-play (no drivers needed for most systems)

Additional Features

• Hot-Swap Support: Safely connect/disconnect drives without rebooting
• SMART Monitoring: Compatible with drive health monitoring software
• TRIM Support: Enables TRIM commands for SSD maintenance
• Sleep Mode: Automatically spins down idle drives to conserve power

Use Cases & Applications

For Students: Computer science students can use the CM257 to access drives from decommissioned lab computers for data recovery or forensics coursework. When upgrading your laptop’s storage from HDD to SSD, the adapter transforms your old drive into external backup storage without purchasing a separate enclosure. Engineering students building custom projects or NAS systems can test and format drives before installation, ensuring they’re healthy and properly configured.

For Business Data Recovery: IT departments can quickly assess employee hard drives when troubleshooting computer issues or performing emergency data recovery from failed systems. The tool-free design allows technicians to connect drives within seconds during time-sensitive data retrieval scenarios. Small businesses transitioning between computers can transfer files directly from old drives to new systems without paying for professional data migration services.

System Upgrades & Maintenance: Home users upgrading desktop computers can clone their existing drives to larger or faster models using disk imaging software while both drives are connected via the CM257 and the internal SATA connection. The adapter also enables secure drive wiping before selling old computers—connect the drive externally and run data sanitization software to protect your privacy.

Hard Drive Testing & Diagnostics: Technology enthusiasts purchasing used or refurbished drives can verify their condition before committing them to important storage roles. Connect the drive via the CM257 and run diagnostic utilities to check SMART status, scan for bad sectors, and perform read/write speed tests. This approach prevents integrating faulty drives into RAID arrays or backup systems.

Temporary Storage Expansion: Photographers on location can offload camera cards to bare internal drives when their primary storage fills up, creating affordable high-capacity temporary storage without carrying bulky external hard drives. The USB 3.0 speeds accommodate raw image transfers from professional cameras without significant waiting.

Drive Cloning & Backup Operations: System administrators creating disk images or performing full drive backups can connect source or destination drives externally, allowing cloning operations without opening computer cases or occupying internal drive bays during the process.

The UGREEN CM257 delivers practical functionality for occasional drive access at a competitive price point. However, remember that 2.5-inch drives draw power from the USB port alone, while 3.5-inch desktop drives require the included power adapter—attempting to run 3.5-inch drives without external power will cause connection failures. The adapter works best for temporary connections rather than permanent external storage solutions; for drives you’ll access daily, consider a proper external enclosure with better heat dissipation and physical protection.

When connecting drives containing important data, always ensure your computer recognizes the drive correctly before attempting any write operations or formatting. The adapter supports hot-swapping, but safely ejecting drives through your operating system before physical disconnection prevents data corruption. For maximum USB 3.0 performance, connect directly to your computer’s USB ports rather than through hubs, and verify your system supports UASP if you want the fastest possible transfer speeds. Some older drives may not spin up reliably with USB power alone, even when they’re 2.5-inch models—in these cases, the external power adapter provides additional stability.