My PC has a SATA hard drive (Maxtor 6Y200M0) which is on it's way out.

I'm looking to get a replacement, but the newer one's are SATA II. Would a SATA II hard disk be compatible?

Don't know if there is a big difference, or if the SATA II jobbies are just the newer versions???

 

Will work fine. Only real difference is the newer one can transfer data faster but most HD's will have issues keeping up with the interface anyway.

 

Not necessarily. Some SATA I motherboards, particularly with nForce chipsets, have issues running SATA II hard drives. Check with your motherboard manufacturer.
If the motherboard is SATA I compliant and is compatible with SATA II drives there won't be any speed increase as it will work as a SATA I hard drive only.

 

May just need to set a jumper on the SATA 2