HDD Upgrade Question

[astro]

I am running a 3.2GB harddrive at U-33, 5400RPM. I would like to upgrade to a larger HDD @7200RPM. My MB will not support the U-66 HDD. If I install the new hard drive will I be throwing my money away. I'm guess it would work as U-33, but would I see a increase in speed. I don't really need the bigger drive, just more speed.

[cheapster]

I think you may even be surprised at the speed of some of the newer 5400 rpm drives. I have a couple of new Maxtor 20 gig drives and they seem pretty fast with their 2 MB buffer. A 7200 rpm drive will be noticeably faster than your current drive, even at U-33. It will probably also generate more heat. If your current motherboard only supports U-33, does its' BIOS support drives larger than 8.4 gig? I had a tyan TX chipset board that would have required a BIOS flash to use larger than 8.4. Something else to consider.
Chuck

[astro]

Thanks Chuck. I'll check that out.

[Nighthawk]

Even the 440bx boards with the PIIX4 only supported DMA-33.

Your 66 drives will work (I know, I had 2 on a BX board) but their top burst speed will be 33, not 66.

[astro]

Yea, I knew it would run at 33, but didn't know just how much new speed I would gain by purchasing a 7200RPM. I guess I can purchase a controler card of some kind to make it a U-66.

[Fingers]

astro, take a look at this review. It compares ATA33 to ATA66 as well as 5400rpm to 7200 rpm.
http://www.hwupgrade.com/hd/ata66_vs_ata33/

[astro]

Well, that link was interesting. I can't see myself fretting over the 33 or 66 anymore. I'll just go with the 7200RPM and forget it.
Thanks.