What hard drive should I get?

[OuchMyComputer]

I'm slightly confused about some of these Hard Drive interfaces. I've been googling for the past hour trying to figure some of this out on my own but I'm a bit more confused than I was before I started.

For starters I'm attempting to run a Asus A7N8X-E Deluxe, with two 80 gig Hard Drives connected via IDE. I've had awful problems getting this computer to work untill recently (http://www.sysopt.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=150599&perpage=15&pagenumber=1) if you want to read up on it. Anyway turns out I need to get a new hard drive and I don't know if I can purchase another IDE hard drive because I already have two connected to the IDE port. Is it possible to have more than two connected like that?

The new hard drive I get is going to be the one that I install my OS to and need to boot to. The faster the better, my only other question is what is the difference between RAID and SATA? What one is better, faster and more reliable? What ones can I use with my motherboard? I read in the Mobo book and it mentions SATA and RAID...do they use the same cord to connect to the mobo? Thanks so much for your help!

[BipolarBill]

SATA drives are faster depending on brand. Western Digital's 76GB drive is a screamer, but it's not cheap. I believe that you have SATA. If you already have 4 drives connected to the regular ports, you may as well use the SATA connectors. Yes, they use special cables. Any decent shop will have them.

For tips on how to install Windows on a SATA drive, look at the stickies in this forum.

[dajogejr]

Your board came with SATA connectors, they're the skinny red ones. Unless you bought this board OEM...

Also, the Raptors are a great choice, if:

You have the money...
Space is not as much an issue versus speed.

I have a single 36 GB Raptor, and you'd have to pry it from my cold, dead...fingers.

Raptors also use a standard 4 pin molex connector for power, whereas some others need a special power adapter...

But...I also have a 60GB IDE backup drive for data, ghost image, etc.

That is a good little board, if you comb through that BIOS, and disable the stuff you're not using, (game ports, MIDI Ports, etc.) that will curb boot time...

[OuchMyComputer]

I see, so is it possible to have more than two Hard Drives connected to on IDE port? Do they make other cords so you can connect three on one IDE port? Also is there any down side to haveing two or three connected to one IDE port?

I don't think I have any more molex connectors and would prefer one that uses the special power addapter becaues I think that my power supply has that connector on it. I have no more molex connectors because the new case I purchased has 7 fans on it.

[BipolarBill]

Originally posted by OuchMyComputer
I see, so is it possible to have more than two Hard Drives connected to on IDE port?

I have no more molex connectors because the new case I purchased has 7 fans on it.

NO.


So unplug a fan or buy a power splitter. Which is more important to you? Let's not be silly.

[ukulele]

Originally posted by BipolarBill
NO.


So unplug a fan or buy a power splitter. Which is more important to you? Let's not be silly.

Better yet, connect 3 or four of them to one connector with a fused switch so you can turn them off the 90% of the time you don't need them. ;)

[Bigjakkstaffa]

At th emoment i personally cant see any real worthwhile benefits from going SATA, so i'll be all IDE friendly and reccomend the IBM/Hitachi 7K250

--Jakk:t

[OuchMyComputer]

Originally posted by BipolarBill
NO.


So unplug a fan or buy a power splitter. Which is more important to you? Let's not be silly.

It's not as much silly as it is practical. If my Antec 550 Power supply has the connection to power a serial ATA HD then why purchase a HD that doesn't have it and have to unplug a fan? I just would prefer to do it that way, unplugging a fan is no big deal, but it just makes sense that since I'm shopping for a serial ATA HD and would like to have all my Fans plugged in that I get one that I can plug directly to my Power Supply.

The only reason I would go with a Serial ATA HD is because of the speed and because I guess I can't plug in any more HD's to my IDE port. I could use the Serial ATA HD to install Windows and some programs to. I already have two 80 Gig HD's for data.

[dajogejr]

You won't notice any difference in speed, or, hardly any, unless you go with the Raptor, because of it's 10K RPM.

150MB transfer rate is theoretical...just as 100 and 133 are.

You don't notice difference in 100 to 133, really...so, 150 is not much of a jump.

Do you really need 7 fans, for one...and two...if you already have 2 80GB hard drives,do you still need more?

[OuchMyComputer]

Originally posted by dajogejr
Do you really need 7 fans, for one...and two...if you already have 2 80GB hard drives,do you still need more?

The only reason I'm going with another hard drive is because I don't want to format either of my HD's I have now. I'm unable to boot to XP due to a problem after upgrading several components to my PC. I would rather not purchase another hard drive, but I don't know what else to do aside from it. If you want to read up on the booting issue you can check out the other forum post at http://www.sysopt.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=150599&perpage=15&pagenumber=5 I dunno how to boot past this issue so like I said I would just purchase another HD and install windows ME to it and then upgrade it to XP. Any suggestions to get past this issue would absolutely rock my face off.

[dajogejr]

If you are trying to say there is absolutely no way you can live without data that is on either hard drive...than...buy a cheap, small hard drive.

Install XP, as mentioned in the other thread...

If it's an upgrade CD, it will ask for the ME CD, period. Then...it will continue to install XP.

Take all the files off one of the 80's, put it on the other.
Format the first 80, then install the OS.

Yes, XP over ME....

[OuchMyComputer]

Originally posted by dajogejr
If you are trying to say there is absolutely no way you can live without data that is on either hard drive...than...buy a cheap, small hard drive.

Install XP, as mentioned in the other thread...

If it's an upgrade CD, it will ask for the ME CD, period. Then...it will continue to install XP.

Take all the files off one of the 80's, put it on the other.
Format the first 80, then install the OS.

Yes, XP over ME....

The problem with purchasing another hard drive is because I already have two HD'S on my IDE port. How would I move all the files from one HD to the other when I can only have two hooked up to one IDE port at a time? That's why I'm considering a Serial ATA and because my Power Sourse has two Serial ATA connectors included. I understand how to install windows just fine, it's just that I think there must be a way to fix this problem. Although I have tried just about everything to get past it and nothing seems to help.

[bubbalou32]

You should have 2 IDE ports that can handle 2 drives apiece for a total of four. You may have CD/ROM, CDRW or a DVD/ROM or writer also connected to the IDE cables. Also IDE cables come with either one or two connectors for drives even though the IDE controller can handle two drives per channel. Check it out - maybe you just need to invest in new cables to handle more than two drives.

[OuchMyComputer]

Ahh see I didn't even know I could use one of the CD drive cables for my HD, nor did I know that I could get a different cable that would allow three HD's on one IDE port.

[dajogejr]

Originally posted by bubbalou32
You should have 2 IDE ports that can handle 2 drives apiece for a total of four. You may have CD/ROM, CDRW or a DVD/ROM or writer also connected to the IDE cables. Also IDE cables come with either one or two connectors for drives even though the IDE controller can handle two drives per channel. Check it out - maybe you just need to invest in new cables to handle more than two drives.

Don't waste your time...if you can find this cable...it might not recognize all the drives on it, anyways...
Use a CD Rom and a new hard drive on one...the other two 80's on the other. Done deal....no need to make this any more complicated...

[bubbalou32]

I don't believe any single IDE port can handle 3 drives.

I meant 2 drives on each of two ports.

[dajogejr]

Thanks...for clarifying.
I don't know of any IDE channels that handle more than 2 devies...

I don't even think Promise IDE PCI cards handle more than 2 at a time.


Bottom line, as noted...3 hard drives, 1 CD ROM, get it done!

[Rabbitrunner51]

Yeah !...that's about right....they make the boards for two on one mobo connector....

I am going to get a third HD and use a promise card ..just like my old sytem which had just one port...

while i am also learning a little about the Sata drives....for basic purposes,which are fine I would stick with the IDE connection.

All basic cables work on both HD's and CD-R drives....basicly..

I just wish those darn split cables would leave another 2 inches for connection adjustability... ( longer )

[Thundershaft]

get round cables.. I did..

4X 160 GB MAxtors..
2 Raptors..
120 + 160 backup..
DVD rom..

I know what u r going through.. u should get a bigger power supply too =)

[CaptHandsome]

What in gods green earth do you need 6 HDD's for?? Must have alot of dirty movies...j/k :D