Simon Finnigan wrote:
"Warra" wrote in message
...
Am in the UK. Running an old system which works quite well: Via 266
mobo with Duron 1800 processor and 768MB of SD-RAM.

Will upgrade the system when I need the extra power. Currently need
to add to my data storage. Don't want to get Parallel IDE (PATA)
because newer mobos will support only SATA.

Can get a 250GB Samsung hard drive (from Komplett) for about £60 inc
delivery which is a real bargain.

But a PCI SATA adaptor by Sunsway from the same dealer costs £19. It
supports 2 SATA devices. That is definitely not a bargain as it's
one- third of the price of the 250 GB drive! What a swizz!

What viable alternatives do I have?

My new motherboard has 2 PATA channels. Wasn`t enough for me, so
paid about £10 for a PCI PATA card, giving me another 2 channels,
allowing me 8 PATA drives. Maybe this would be the better way round
for you to go - get a PATA drive now, and buy the PCI card in the
future IF your new M/B doesn`t have enough channels.

Makes more sense to do it the other way, buy a SATA drive
and a SATA PCI card, because that will be used only in the
dinosaur that wont be that fast anyway. No point in crippling
the speed of the hard drives in a new fast system by having
them on a PCI card.