Hard Drive config. question....UDMA 5

[Rabbitrunner51]

I just got my new Seagate Barracuda drive today and was reading the user info and installation flyer sent with it ...and I have a basic question to ask....

Under the Ultra ATA/100 section..it describes the ability to configure the HD for maximum transfer rate, it can support transfer rates up to 100 Mbytes/sec ( UDMA 5 mode ) in Ultra ATA /100 mode.

Looking up the specs for the MOBO I have ( ASUS P4P800 Deluxe), it does have this mode for in the bios..DMA Mode(auto)

It states that using a softwqare utility I can set this for maximum data transfer..and I need the following:

*Compatibility ..(which it has)

*A 40 pin,80-connector cable

* A software utility to confirm and activate this ATA/100 ( Seagate has this utility which can be downloaded from their web site )

The question I have is ...has anyone here or whatever, done this and it is a good idea or a best feasible solution to do this over the standard disk setup on auto??

I am sure the regular setup would be just fine overall for the operation of this drive..but like everyone else I want to be able to get the max performance out of it.

Hopefully I will get some good answers and recommendations about this ..as I think tommorrow I will do my clean install of windows...using this drive.
I want to transfer some things ect.. on my current drive ..which I will do tonight...

Also....If I pull my old drive out with all the data on it ..is this a good idea?...or should i wipe it clean ..as I will probably just use the two drives( newest one and my WD Caviar for total system OP. and space....( shelve the old unit for extra use some other time)

[Midknyte]

UDMA5 will be auto selected by the motherboard. you don't need seagate software for that. you do need to use the 80 wire cable.

you can leave the data on the old drive. that won't affect performance of the new drive, unless you have a virus or something.

[Rabbitrunner51]

Midknyte...

Is this 80 wire cable a different cable than the standard one we all use for the reg. IDE hookup??

Thanks for the response(s)

[sm8000]

IDE cables are IDE cables, same ribbon width and all. Just look at the wires - angel hair is 80 wires, while spaghetti is 40 wires. Still 40 pins in the connectors though.

[Midknyte]

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/if/ide/confCable80-c.html

that should explain it.

[rsfnatik]

Just don't put your ATA100 drive on the same IDE channel as a slower IDE drive (ie: CD-RW/DVD-ROM/old hard drive) - the BIOS will set the mode based of the slower device... UDMA2 for an optical drive.

[Midknyte]

Originally posted by rsfnatik
Just don't put your ATA100 drive on the same IDE channel as a slower IDE drive (ie: CD-RW/DVD-ROM/old hard drive) - the BIOS will set the mode based of the slower device... UDMA2 for an optical drive.

that used to be the case, but not anymore:

Independent Master-Slave Device Timing
http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/if/ide/confTiming-c.html

[Rabbitrunner51]

Midknyte...This is some great info.Thanks so much for the link sites...I will have to check on the cables I have again as they are made by Vantec I bellieve...easy enough to check out....

Rather than just hooking this up in a regular mode as again it would work fine...this issue has me very curious...as some new info learned about the higher speed drives..as outlined in the great article you gave...If getting a newer cable or differnt one is needed it would not cost much anyway....

Again ..thanks so much for the links and info.....

P.S. I just got a feedback from a site about having my memory upgrade in stock at a great price...and now I can do this...I am so excited....that will put me up to 1GB as originally planned....

[Rabbitrunner51]

Just in case someone reads this before I go ahead and hook this up.....waited a bit ,due to wanting to read some more on this and just the fact that my system is running pretty top notch right now..( wouldn't you know it. I wish I had more immediate reasons to re-install other than just some more speed...but it is a much better drive for the OS anyway...more up to date,faster and probably more efficient.)

I just may have to get a newer DMA compliant cable after alll as they are a bit different with the 80 pin config.

What i want to know is ..if i go ahead and hook this up in auto mode like my current drive is now..can I go back later and switch ths drive to a higher speed DMA 4 or 5 mode??? Logically it doesn't seem to be a reason why you could not do this.

[sm8000]

Yes, you can do that. Shouldn't be any problem.

[Rabbitrunner51]

sm8000.. Thanks for the info...I am going to go ahead and get on with it and use auto .....since both of my drives will be 7200RPM , I read the system will optomize to run at the best speed...which will be good enough for now.....

Its amazing how much info is available on computer systems and operation...( like the post link above) ,and we just keep learning everytime we do something a little bit differnt or play with a new updated piece of technology....

I feel at most times like a kid in preschool.. just learning what the rest of the world already knows...and constantly trying to keep up.

Alot of you guys and gals here have a few more total years of experience than I do..but thats to be expected...considering I got a late start... endless!

[Rabbitrunner51]

Just wanted to let you guys know..I installed the drive (Seagate120GB w/8 MB buffer) , and all went flawless.

This is definitely sweet and the bios recognized it without a problem and i did the clean install of XP pro ....ect..

Like I suspected..,I do notice a big overall differnce in my system as things load faster,run better and my computer is running very top notch now..

I may decide to awitch cables for the HD's later and try to run this on a higher DMA,but no hurry as it runs fantastic as it is...I think the bios automates for best transfer rates anyway....so?

Now..If i can just get my new memory upgrade done with( just found a pair of sticks I have looking for at NewEgg for the cheapest price as the others are out of stock on the internet zone right now....

Happy days!

[sm8000]

At some point, you will benefit from having UDMA-2-at-best drives on a separate channel from the ATA-66-or-better drives. When you feel the need and do so, you'll then notice the difference.

[Rabbitrunner51]

As far as I know..the drives are set on automatic in the bios..which according to what i read...on the most recent Mobos..this enables...for the highest rate under who knows what settings..which is a question...

Is there any way to find out just what they are now currently running on....?you say DMA2...which isn't that high a rate..

After downloading some files..running programs and opening zip folders..the speed is sugnificantly better by far right now....

Also, why i it i cannot find very many IDE cables that are 24" that hook up to two devices..on most of the leading sites? Those 18" cables are too short.

[Midknyte]

Originally posted by sm8000
At some point, you will benefit from having UDMA-2-at-best drives on a separate channel from the ATA-66-or-better drives. When you feel the need and do so, you'll then notice the difference.

that used to be the case, but nowadays you'll only notice a degradation in performance when accessing the slower drive. it will not slow down the system just because the two drives are on the same channel.

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/if/ide/confTiming-c.html

18" is the max spec length for IDE. anything longer and you risk data corruption.

http://support.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/CS-009261.htm

[sm8000]

To see what DMA or UDMA mode your drives are running, check Device Manager - see attachment.

18 in or 45 cm is the maximum standard cable length for IDE. Yes, there are longer ones out there, but it's your data....use at your own risk.

As for BIOS doing the DMA/UDMA mode for the drives automatically, you should check and set the each drive's transfer rate is indeed set to Auto. By default it is (And WinXP enables DMA/UDMA by default at the OS level too), but if it's been changed before you may want to just double-check.

[sm8000]

MidKnyte, I saw you say that earlier, but that's not what I meant - suppose on IDE1 you have two ATA-100 drives. Drive 1 (slave)transfers data to Drive 0 (master). This will happen a bit faster than if Drive 1 could only do ATA-33 at best.

I also like to keep the optical drives on a separate channel to ensure integrity during rips and burns. Won't matter once I switch to SCSI though :D

[Midknyte]

Originally posted by sm8000
MidKnyte, I saw you say that earlier, but that's not what I meant - suppose on IDE1 you have two ATA-100 drives. Drive 1 (slave)transfers data to Drive 0 (master). This will happen a bit faster than if Drive 1 could only do ATA-33 at best.

I also like to keep the optical drives on a separate channel to ensure integrity during rips and burns. Won't matter once I switch to SCSI though :D

The interface is one part, but it would also be slower because the two drives have to share time on the line. IDE cannot read/write to two drives simultaneously like SCSI can.

You could always get an SATA drive instead of SCSI. It would probably end up saving you some $$ unless you went with a 74G Raptor. :)

[Rabbitrunner51]

Midknyte..as always you provide excellent insight and useful links... many thanks! I thought so ,on the issue of the rate of speed with both drives hooked up..it seems quite obvious to me. I would know just by the overall operation of...

Also, both drives are now 7800 drives which helps the issue a great deal...I am much happier now, and so far in my overall choices for computer components and system accesories,I have made good choices...
It pays, like i tell people, to do your homework first to avoid as many issues as possible before jumping to the jist of things...
It just takes more use and experience to know about what hardware and technical upgrades to use and or avoid...

sm8000...thanks for the system properties link..I didn't think of that...

Things like HD's, memory and processor all work together to provide the best possible speed and operation of..; I had forgot about the drives as being an important equation when analyzing my system and its efficiency... the drive is every bit as imortant if not more so....
When I get my additonal ram to equal 1GB..then that will be all the additons to my Computer for awhile....
The debt is mounting..but again it makes me feel at ease knowing all is running sweet and in good order....

Both you guys have very good overall knowledge and advice..Thanks!

[sm8000]

Originally posted by Midknyte
The interface is one part, but it would also be slower because the two drives have to share time on the line. IDE cannot read/write to two drives simultaneously like SCSI can.

You could always get an SATA drive instead of SCSI. It would probably end up saving you some $$ unless you went with a 74G Raptor. :)

I'm not reading/writing in two places at once, just sending data from one to another.... :confused:

I'm going with SCSI, it's already started - have two HBAs (U160 and legacy UW) and one 15k drive so far, expect more this summer. SATA to me is still just IDE in the end.

[Midknyte]

Originally posted by sm8000
I'm not reading/writing in two places at once, just sending data from one to another.... :confused:


when you send data from one drive to another you are reading from the source drive and writing to the target drive. it's just like when you move a file. you aren't really moving it; it's a copy then a delete.

SCSI is still better than SATA, but I didn't know you already had the hardware. :)

[sm8000]

Originally posted by Midknyte
when you send data from one drive to another you are reading from the source drive and writing to the target drive. it's just like when you move a file. you aren't really moving it; it's a copy then a delete.

True, true. That's right, I remember that's how it works now. Been a long time since I've had to think about it ;) It's a good part of my desire for SCSI :)

[Rabbitrunner51]

It is just amazing how much better my system is running overall,and the speed difference in operations and gaming also...

Has got to be the best hardware choice I have made to date..

It makes me wonder if all the other computer users out there knows what a differnce a good HD will make in their system operation.
I read posts in this forums and others to learn and hope I might gain just a bit of knowledge and wisdom..and that is what led me to make this change.

:t :r :r