New system - IDE or SCSI?

[bhuie]

I've decided to join the Pentium II generation, but I would like to get some feedback/recommendations regarding my choice of storage options.

I'm trying to decide between biting the bullet and getting a Ultra2 Wide SCSI controller and drive versus an IDE drive with a cheap SCSI card for my CD-ROM & CD-R.

I've narrowed my storage choices to:

Asus P2B-S mobo w/ onboard Ultra2 Wide SCSI
IBM Ultrastar 9ES

vs.

IBM Deskstar 14GXP
Tekram 390 SCSI controller

The primary reason that I want SCSI is because I plan to add a CD-R later. Most of the time, this computer will probably be 50/50 games/business apps, but I want to eventually play around with photo/video editing. What happens when Time-Warner
finally offers cable modem here and I run a web/ftp server? Is this enough to justify going to a fully SCSI system? The difference in price for me right now is about $150 + 5GB of HD space.

Going by the benchmarks, it would seem as if IDE is the way to go, but what happens when the number of drives starts piling up? From what I understand, SCSI will be much more efficient than IDE after I start adding devices. Will I still have to worry about making coasters because of buffer underruns with IDE drives?

Any feedback on the rest of my system?:

Asus P2B MB (P2B-S if I go SCSI)
Pentium II 350
128MB PC100 RAM
Diamond Viper 550
Viewsonic V95 19" monitor
SoundBlaster 128PCI

[CMonster]

Sounds like you already answered your own question, you are just procrastinating on account of the proverbial bullet you must bite - extra cost.

Rest assured that what ever you pay now in 6 months it will be 40% less, buyer's remorse is the norm...bite the bullet!

George

[Myuu2]

I agree,
If you have the $$$ buy the best, you'll see a major performance in your system if you do. Whatever you buy, it gets cheaper after a month anyway, go for it. If you want to save, then you could do that too, no matter what you decide, I'm jealous

[Stan]

Well, I do like the SCSI-2, but you might consider the new IDE interface: UDMA-66.
The way I would build my system is as follows:
- P2B
- Promise UDMA-66 PCI controler card
- IBM HDD Deskstar 22GXP (with 2MB cache), connected to the Promise controler
- PII 400
- 128 Mb 100MHz (maybe 256Mb)
- SB Live value (not the PCI 128, not worth it...)

So with this config, you can plug up to 8 IDE devices.

I know, no SCSI allowed, but this IBM HDD has nearly the same perf as the IBM U2, but it has got 22Gb (instead of 9Gb)) and it is cheaper too !

At the end, it your decision...

Stan

[Fallen Kell]

Or you could look into getting a motherboard that has 5 PCI slots in it an get a SCSI and an EIDE controler cards. That would still give you 2 ISA and 3 open PCI. Considering its only about $30 to get the controler cards, this gives you the best of both worlds

[gruven]

I'm now running an ASUS P2B-S with a seagate barracuda 7,200 RPM Ultra2 LVD drive...with a P-II 400 oc'ed to 448 and I'll tell you this....it ROCKS!!!!!1 NO IDE devices in my system...SCSI zip, cdrom, and burner....

Not too sure about udma66...heard some good things...but you need to know SCSI drives use ALOT less CPU usage....but they run pretty hot...had to put a cooler around mine...just blows 2 fans over my drive....and good for case cooling too....so I'm happy...and I have a kryotech Renegade vapor refrigeration case coming this week so heating should never be a problem....it's all up to you I guess...I do some pretty intensive apps.....along with games....and if your gonna play alot of games.....just get a decent 2d card and opt for a voodoo2......NOTHING beats em....
I've heard TnT this and TnT that and compared em for myself....I'll stick with the voodoo2
But one thing...you MUST get the patch for the Adaptec controller on the P2B-S....can get it from ASUS's taiwan site....file called 95nt.....and you must load it IMEDIATELY after loading windows...don't and you'll see why

that's the way to go if you have the maney to do so....but you'd get better performance if you got a ABIT BX6 ver 2 with adaptec ultra2 controller card and celeron 300A oc'ed to 454
cheaper and GREAT sytem to overclock.....and'll blow that P-II 350 away.....just some thoughts..

gruven

[bhuie]

Thanks for the info, guys. I've decided to go with the SCSI alternative, so it will be:

Asus P2B MB
Pentium II 350
128 MB RAM
Adaptec 2940U2W
IBM Ultrastar 9ES
Diamond Viper V550
SoundBlaster PCI128
Optiquest V95 19" monitor

I decided to get a separate SCSI controller so it will be able to migrate to my next motherboard. The IBM drive beat out a Barracuda because of the noise factor. From what I have read and some personal experience, I don't think I would enjoy having something that sounds like rocks in a blender in my bedroom.

So am I right in thinking that the controller will put the Ultrastar and my SCSI CD-Rom drive on a separate channel? And that this will allow my drive (and future drives) to run at U2W speeds and other stuff to run at ordinary SCSI speed? Will I also need a special LVD U2W 68-pin cable for the drive?

One last question I have is what type of memory should I get? I know I should be buying PC100 rated memory, but what about ECC, CAS2 or 3, and the speed rating. From what I have been able to find, it seems like any PC100 memory should be able to run up to a 100Mhz bus speed. Is this correct?

Why am I not surprised that this resulted from thinking about a small $200 upgrade a couple of weeks ago?

[This message has been edited by bhuie (edited 03-12-99).]

[gruven]

man...if I knew you were upgrading so soon I woulda sold you my stuff....upgrading soon myself.....and yes...you LVD and other SCSI will be on seperate channels....complete different cable...you cant mix the 2 up....just make sure when SCSI bios loads it says ultra2-SE and the rest say only Fast-SE

has to be ultra2 to be running LVD....and a note...Plextor just came out with the 40x wide scsi cdrom...but you'l have to make sure that controller card has Ultra2 and ultra wide conections...and not sure what your talking about the barracuda...mines quiet as all heck,,....but the IBM is REAL nice too...

As far as RAM....if your only gonna run at 100Mhz...then regular pc-100 is gonna be fine...but always remember the future....when you might wanna overclock.....then go for the CAS2....wish I did.....so fi you want a 128 stick of CAS3 PC-100 then let em know and I'll sell you mine...2 months old.....just let me know......I need to get some CAS2 to run at 133Mhz

Good Luck...

Gruven
"What don't kill ya, only makes ya stronger"

[OiRogers]

I noticed a good point further up... drop the PII 350 and get a celeron... 300a, 336, 400... all cheaper all very much so overclockable... perhaps it will offset the extra cost of SCSI?

Cheers,
Rev. Matt

[najdorf]

A good combination is Yamaha's new 4x4x16 with an adaptec 2904 SCSI card. It's had rave reviews is quite cheap