Can I add another HD?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Terry Pinnell
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Terry Pinnell

In anticipation of running out of HD space some day, a month or two
ago I bought a new 200GB HD, a DiamondMax 10, Model 6L200P0. I'm now
getting serious about installing it. I currently have 2 identical 60GB
Maxtor HDs. I also have two CD/DVD drives. My motherboard on this
3-year old PC is an ASUS A7A266-E, and in its manual I read (but
barely comprehend) the following:
"IDE Connectors
Dual channel bus master IDE connectors support up to four Ultra DMA
133/100/166, PIO Modes £ & 4 IDE devices."

So, in simple terms, does that mean that there's *definitely* no way I
can ADD this as a 3rd HD (i.e. a 5th 'drive')?

I bought it expecting that I'd have to sacrifice one of the 60GB
drives, gaining a net 140GB. But it would be great if there was some
clever way to simply add it. (There is physical space on the panel.)

Once I rule that out, I'll start to get my mind around how to
implement the change with minimum disruption. Hopefully I can get some
help on that here please!
 
Terry said:
In anticipation of running out of HD space some day, a month or two
ago I bought a new 200GB HD, a DiamondMax 10, Model 6L200P0. I'm now
getting serious about installing it. I currently have 2 identical 60GB
Maxtor HDs. I also have two CD/DVD drives. My motherboard on this
3-year old PC is an ASUS A7A266-E, and in its manual I read (but
barely comprehend) the following:
"IDE Connectors
Dual channel bus master IDE connectors support up to four Ultra DMA
133/100/166, PIO Modes £ & 4 IDE devices."

So, in simple terms, does that mean that there's *definitely* no way I
can ADD this as a 3rd HD (i.e. a 5th 'drive')?

I bought it expecting that I'd have to sacrifice one of the 60GB
drives, gaining a net 140GB. But it would be great if there was some
clever way to simply add it. (There is physical space on the panel.)

Once I rule that out, I'll start to get my mind around how to
implement the change with minimum disruption. Hopefully I can get some
help on that here please!
Click to expand...
If you have an open PCI slot, you can add an additional controller.
You should be able to find one for about $15-30. Additional potential
issues include power supply capacity and space in which to mount the
drive.
 
In anticipation of running out of HD space some day, a month or two
ago I bought a new 200GB HD, a DiamondMax 10, Model 6L200P0. I'm now
getting serious about installing it. I currently have 2 identical 60GB
Maxtor HDs. I also have two CD/DVD drives. My motherboard on this
3-year old PC is an ASUS A7A266-E, and in its manual I read (but
barely comprehend) the following:
"IDE Connectors
Dual channel bus master IDE connectors support up to four Ultra DMA
133/100/166, PIO Modes £ & 4 IDE devices."

So, in simple terms, does that mean that there's *definitely* no way I
can ADD this as a 3rd HD (i.e. a 5th 'drive')?

I bought it expecting that I'd have to sacrifice one of the 60GB
drives, gaining a net 140GB. But it would be great if there was some
clever way to simply add it. (There is physical space on the panel.)

Once I rule that out, I'll start to get my mind around how to
implement the change with minimum disruption. Hopefully I can get some
help on that here please!
Click to expand...

I would get rid of one CD/DVD drive, to start with.
 
Terry Pinnell said:
In anticipation of running out of HD space some day, a month or two
ago I bought a new 200GB HD, a DiamondMax 10, Model 6L200P0.
I'm now getting serious about installing it. I currently have 2 identical
60GB Maxtor HDs. I also have two CD/DVD drives. My motherboard
on this 3-year old PC is an ASUS A7A266-E, and in its manual I read
(but barely comprehend) the following:
Click to expand...
"IDE Connectors
Dual channel bus master IDE connectors support up to four
Ultra DMA 133/100/166, PIO Modes 3 & 4 IDE devices."
Click to expand...

That is saying you can have 4 IDE devices.
So, in simple terms, does that mean that there's *definitely*
no way I can ADD this as a 3rd HD (i.e. a 5th 'drive')?
Click to expand...

You can if you add an extra IDE card.
I bought it expecting that I'd have to sacrifice one of the 60GB
drives, gaining a net 140GB. But it would be great if there was some
clever way to simply add it. (There is physical space on the panel.)
Click to expand...

You can if you add an IDE card for the drives past 4.
 
Previously Terry Pinnell said:
In anticipation of running out of HD space some day, a month or two
ago I bought a new 200GB HD, a DiamondMax 10, Model 6L200P0. I'm now
getting serious about installing it. I currently have 2 identical 60GB
Maxtor HDs. I also have two CD/DVD drives. My motherboard on this
3-year old PC is an ASUS A7A266-E, and in its manual I read (but
barely comprehend) the following:
"IDE Connectors
Dual channel bus master IDE connectors support up to four Ultra DMA
133/100/166, PIO Modes £ & 4 IDE devices."
Click to expand...
So, in simple terms, does that mean that there's *definitely* no way I
can ADD this as a 3rd HD (i.e. a 5th 'drive')?
Click to expand...
I bought it expecting that I'd have to sacrifice one of the 60GB
drives, gaining a net 140GB. But it would be great if there was some
clever way to simply add it. (There is physical space on the panel.)
Click to expand...
Once I rule that out, I'll start to get my mind around how to
implement the change with minimum disruption. Hopefully I can get some
help on that here please!
Click to expand...

Add an IDE controller card. I made good experiences with
Promise 100tx2 (or 133tx2). Not expensive at all. You
should avoid putting two drives on one channel with them
though, since that slows them down considerably in
some set-ups.

Arno
 
CJT said:
I wasn't going to recommend specific hardware, but since you opened
that door --

I'm not too keen on Promise. I'd probably go with this:

http://www.provantage.com/buy-7SIIG...e-scsi-hdd-controllers-sc-pe4b12-shopping.htm
Click to expand...

Thanks all, appreciate the advice. I reckon I'll get another IDE card
then. I'm in UK, so will want to buy from UK supplier. Is it just a
matter of looking for words like 'Ultra ATA 133 Dual Channel
Controller'?

Is installation a relative no-brainer please?
 
Terry said:
Thanks all, appreciate the advice. I reckon I'll get another IDE card
then. I'm in UK, so will want to buy from UK supplier. Is it just a
matter of looking for words like 'Ultra ATA 133 Dual Channel
Controller'?
Click to expand...

probably some combination of those words :-)
Is installation a relative no-brainer please?
Click to expand...

it should be on a par with most other add-in cards -- i.e. it varies

one advantage of the siig cards are that (I believe) they use the same
controller chip used on many motherboards, which might help ensure
compatibility
 
Thanks all, appreciate the advice. I reckon I'll get another IDE card
then. I'm in UK, so will want to buy from UK supplier. Is it just a
matter of looking for words like 'Ultra ATA 133 Dual Channel Controller'?
Click to expand...

They dont always call it that, and you dont really need ata 133 too.
Is installation a relative no-brainer please?
Click to expand...

Yes, as long as you only install one. The Promise
cards can be a bit tricky if you install more than one.
 
Terry Pinnell said:
I reckon I'll get another IDE card
then. I'm in UK, so will want to buy from UK supplier.
Is it just a matter of looking for words like
'Ultra ATA 133 Dual Channel Controller'?

Is installation a relative no-brainer please?
Click to expand...


Try search words like "PCI IDE controller .uk" in Google.
Almost all of them are dual channel, and most lines now
contain ATA/133 models. The SIIG cards feature 256byte
buffers:
http://www.siig.com/product.asp?catid=103&pid=437 .
It might be easier to search on specific model nos.

There will be an installation CD that contains the driver,
and an installation manual, but installation is just one
step up from "no brainer".

*TimDaniels*
 
Timothy Daniels said:
Try search words like "PCI IDE controller .uk" in Google.
Almost all of them are dual channel, and most lines now
contain ATA/133 models. The SIIG cards feature 256byte
buffers:
http://www.siig.com/product.asp?catid=103&pid=437 .
It might be easier to search on specific model nos.

There will be an installation CD that contains the driver,
and an installation manual, but installation is just one
step up from "no brainer".
Click to expand...
Thanks for those follow-ups.
Does this look OK>
http://www.savastore.com/productinf...me=Savastore&product_id=10277247&pid=45&tid=2

And this very cheap one, despite the presumably additional RAID
capability?
http://myahead.com/go/look/product.show_product?v_id=8632

Tim: I was already looking at SIIG based on your 5th Sep reply to my
earlier post. But that link
http://www.siig.com/product.asp?catid=103&pid=437
seems to offer only US suppliers?
 
Terry Pinnell said:
Thanks for those follow-ups.
Does this look OK>
http://www.savastore.com/productinf...me=Savastore&product_id=10277247&pid=45&tid=2

And this very cheap one, despite the presumably additional RAID
capability?
http://myahead.com/go/look/product.show_product?v_id=8632

Tim: I was already looking at SIIG based on your 5th Sep reply to my
earlier post. But that link
http://www.siig.com/product.asp?catid=103&pid=437
seems to offer only US suppliers?
Click to expand...

http://www.google.com/search?as_q=SC-PE4B12&as_sitesearch=.uk
 
Terry Pinnell said:
Thanks for those follow-ups.
Does this look OK>
http://www.savastore.com/productinf...me=Savastore&product_id=10277247&pid=45&tid=2
Click to expand...


Yup, that's the Real Deal. And Highpoint is a major brand -
probably can't go wrong.

And this very cheap one, despite the presumably additional RAID
capability?
http://myahead.com/go/look/product.show_product?v_id=8632
Click to expand...


I know zip about RAID cards, but as I've read, the removal of
a jumper converts it to a simple IDE controller. You'd have to
check with the manufacturer or retailer, though.

Tim: I was already looking at SIIG based on your 5th Sep reply to my
earlier post. But that link
http://www.siig.com/product.asp?catid=103&pid=437
seems to offer only US suppliers?
Click to expand...


Rod Speed, who knows how to run Google better than I,
found UK suppliers for the SIIG cards. The higher prices
for SIIG cards in the UK mirrors the higher prices here
in the U.S. as well. I see no reason to pay more for SIIG
except that the SIIG cards look prettier. If you need to
rationalize a SIIG card to yourself, focus on the 256-byte
FIFO buffers. ;-)

*TimDaniels*
 
Timothy Daniels said:
Yup, that's the Real Deal. And Highpoint is a major brand -
probably can't go wrong.




I know zip about RAID cards, but as I've read, the removal of
a jumper converts it to a simple IDE controller.
Click to expand...

Yup, that confirms that you know indeed zip about RAID cards.
You'd have to check with the manufacturer or retailer, though.




Rod Speed, who knows how to run Google better than I,
Click to expand...

Shows how Roddles can follow simple instructions on the Google site:
http://www.google.com/help/operators.html

Apparently that's out of your reach.
found UK suppliers for the SIIG cards. The higher prices
for SIIG cards in the UK mirrors the higher prices here
in the U.S. as well.
Click to expand...

Couldn't even get that right.
 
Timothy Daniels said:
:


Yup, that's the Real Deal. And Highpoint is a major brand -
probably can't go wrong.




I know zip about RAID cards, but as I've read, the removal of
a jumper converts it to a simple IDE controller. You'd have to
check with the manufacturer or retailer, though.




Rod Speed, who knows how to run Google better than I,
found UK suppliers for the SIIG cards. The higher prices
for SIIG cards in the UK mirrors the higher prices here
in the U.S. as well. I see no reason to pay more for SIIG
except that the SIIG cards look prettier. If you need to
rationalize a SIIG card to yourself, focus on the 256-byte
FIFO buffers. ;-)
Click to expand...
Tim, Rod: Thanks both, very helpful.
 
Timothy Daniels said:
:


Yup, that's the Real Deal. And Highpoint is a major brand -
probably can't go wrong.
Click to expand...

Will probably order
http://www.afterhours.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=46
Highpoint R-133 2c ATA 3319 [E1301] £20.50 / £24.09 inc

or

http://www.savastore.com/productinf...=Savastore&product_id=10277247&pid=45&tid=279
PCI Dual-channel ATA-133 Adapter £21.19 ex. £24.90 inc.

I didn't see any mention of the cable in the specs of either. Sp
presumably I have to order that separately?
 
Terry Pinnell said:
Timothy Daniels said:
:


Yup, that's the Real Deal. And Highpoint is a major brand -
probably can't go wrong.
Click to expand...

Will probably order
http://www.afterhours.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=46
Highpoint R-133 2c ATA 3319 [E1301] £20.50 / £24.09 inc

or

http://www.savastore.com/productinf...=Savastore&product_id=10277247&pid=45&tid=279
PCI Dual-channel ATA-133 Adapter £21.19 ex. £24.90 inc.

I didn't see any mention of the cable in the specs of either. Sp
presumably I have to order that separately?
Click to expand...

Some of the pics on some of the sites appear
to indicate that the cables come with that card.
 
Terry Pinnell said:
Timothy Daniels said:
:


Yup, that's the Real Deal. And Highpoint is a major brand -
probably can't go wrong.
Click to expand...

Will probably order
http://www.afterhours.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=46
Highpoint R-133 2c ATA 3319 [E1301] £20.50 / £24.09 inc

or

http://www.savastore.com/productinf...=Savastore&product_id=10277247&pid=45&tid=279
PCI Dual-channel ATA-133 Adapter £21.19 ex. £24.90 inc.

I didn't see any mention of the cable in the specs of either. Sp
presumably I have to order that separately?
Click to expand...

Looks like it,
http://www.highpoint-tech.com/datasheets/R133_R133s_R133SB.pdf
http://www.highpoint-tech.com/manuals/R133_133SB_133S_manual_v1.zip
 
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