A couple of questions.

[card_magic]

My first question, I should know.. but I don't. So now its time for me to learn. I bought a 61.5 gig hard drive, but I can only format at like... 58 or 59 gigs. (only.. hehe). Why is this, and is there a way around it?

My second question: I just bought an IDE card, so now I have the capability of having 8 IDE devices instead of 4. However, my power supply can't power any more than the 4 IDE drives I'll already have, plus my floppy. Is there any danger in taking the power supply out of an old computer (Same type.. both are AT) and use it to power my other drives at the same time my original is powering my first 4? If I can do it, do they have to power on simultaneously, or is there a good way to chain them together so they both get activated by my one switch?

Thanks,
-Jim

[NDC]

My first question, I should know.. but I don't. So now its time for me to learn. I bought a 61.5 gig hard drive, but I can only format at like... 58 or 59 gigs. (only.. hehe). Why is this, and is there a way around it?

There would be no way around it. The size that the manufacturers say on their drives refer to un-formatted size.


My second question: I just bought an IDE card, so now I have the capability of having 8 IDE devices instead of 4. However, my power supply can't power any more than the 4 IDE drives I'll already have, plus my floppy. Is there any danger in taking the power supply out of an old computer (Same type.. both are AT) and use it to power my other drives at the same time my original is powering my first 4? If I can do it, do they have to power on simultaneously, or is there a good way to chain them together so they both get activated by my one switch?

I think the best thing to do is to go out and buy a 300W PSU and you can get PSU wires that branch out for more power connections to IDE drives.

[JimG]

1. That's unformatted size . . not formatted. My HD is 20.5 Gig unformatted; once formatted, it's 19.11 Gigs. I don't think that's something you can change.
2. I gotta admit, i never thought of using 2 power supplies in the same system like that. However, I wouldn't do it. Much better idea to get a nice, brand new 300W P.S. (or better yet, if you can afford it, 400W).

>>Sorry NDC, I just restated what you said . . . man, you're fast on that keyboard.

[This message has been edited by JimG (edited 09-29-2000).]

[Win_98]

you must disable your onboard controller to use your ide controller card, using both can be a problem since they will conflict. I have tried both, what happen is that you cannot read or write from onboard controller to PCI IDE controller. EVEN thought there is no IRQ conflict. These PCI ide card are meant to replace your onboard controller not work in conjunction even thought it said so, it is wrong about it. Heck I couldn't even get drive 1 to write to drive 2 on PCI controller when both is enabled, I end up returning it because it is no use and having too many IDE harddrive actually consume too much power from your power supply and 2nd it give off tooooooo much heat. cardmagic, you have 61gig for just one drive and that more then enought. I suppose you want to attach those junk drive say 1gig, 1.2gig, 1.6gig, 2gig, to fill up those 7 that you thought would be a good thing?! The funny thing is they give off more heat then your 61gig that is quieter as well. man forget them, put them on your 2nd computer, 3rd etc. dont have too many in one computer.

[This message has been edited by Win_98 (edited 09-29-2000).]

[drn]

i have to agree with Win_98 get rid of the old ones and put the big one in alone

[NDC]

>>Sorry NDC, I just restated what you said . . . man, you're fast on that keyboard.

No problem, happens to me all the time. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

By the way, I'm a very slow typer. http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[NDC]

you must disable your onboard controller to use your ide controller card, using both can be a problem since they will conflict. I have tried both, what happen is that you cannot read or write from onboard controller to PCI IDE controller. EVEN thought there is no IRQ conflict. These PCI ide card are meant to replace your onboard controller not work in conjunction even thought it said so, it is wrong about it


Sorry Win98. But I use Abit HotRod66 PCI hard disk controller card on one of my system and have no problems at all. I'm using a Soltek EV-1 with a HotRod66 Card and it shows as SCSI device in the Device manager and havent't ran into a single problem yet. The reason for me to buy the hotRod66 card for that system was because I ran out of IDE channels to add more IDE devices. I contacted Abit before I bought the card and asked them about the conflict I might face due to having 2 different controllers on the mainboard, and the answer was that there would be no problems...... and they were right! http://sysopt.earthweb.com/forum/smile.gif

[This message has been edited by NDC (edited 09-30-2000).]