If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above. You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed. To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below. |
|
|
Thread Tools | Display Modes |
#1
|
|||
|
|||
# of Hard drives
Am I limited to 4 drives if I only have 2 IDE channels? I want to add an
additional drive and want to know if I must buy an external enclosure or not. I have a Gigabyte GA-7VAXP with 2 DVD burners and 2 hard drives. Can I add another drive? |
#2
|
|||
|
|||
"Dave Zass" wrote in message ... Am I limited to 4 drives if I only have 2 IDE channels? I want to add an additional drive and want to know if I must buy an external enclosure or not. I have a Gigabyte GA-7VAXP with 2 DVD burners and 2 hard drives. Can I add another drive? you could fit a PCI IDE card, I think these can add 2 or 4 additional hard drives. typically, http://www.cablestogo.com/product_list.asp?cat%5Fid=1901&engine=adwords!654& keyword=%28pci+ide+card%29 |
#3
|
|||
|
|||
On Wed, 1 Jun 2005 16:24:45 -0400, "Dave Zass"
wrote: Am I limited to 4 drives if I only have 2 IDE channels? I want to add an additional drive and want to know if I must buy an external enclosure or not. I have a Gigabyte GA-7VAXP with 2 DVD burners and 2 hard drives. Can I add another drive? Sure. You can also buy a PCI card controller and add a harddisk though I had stuttering sound when I did that with a Promise card , a lot of people do that though. Im running 4 Hard disks and 2 burners --- many of the new boards have extra sata connections to get you over the 4 drives max limit. |
#4
|
|||
|
|||
On Wed, 1 Jun 2005 16:24:45 -0400, "Dave Zass"
wrote: Am I limited to 4 drives if I only have 2 IDE channels? yes I want to add an additional drive and want to know if I must buy an external enclosure or not. No, you could buy an internal IDE, SCSI, or SATA card. You could still buy an external (USB or firewire) enclosure instead, which makes it transportable and removable, but they're far slower than modern internal controllers. I have a Gigabyte GA-7VAXP with 2 DVD burners and 2 hard drives. Can I add another drive? If you have a spare PCI slot, I'd get a PCI card (since you mention no specific need for external(ness)), either SATA or IDE depending on which type of drives you want. Your next system will probably have SATA built-in but PATA (IDE) too, so it's your call... PATA drives are still a little cheaper but the cards themselves are nearly same prices on average. |
#5
|
|||
|
|||
If you have a spare PCI slot, I'd get a PCI card (since you
mention no specific need for external(ness)), either SATA or IDE depending on which type of drives you want. Your next system will probably have SATA built-in but PATA (IDE) too, so it's your call... PATA drives are still a little cheaper but the cards themselves are nearly same prices on average. Thanks to all who replied. I'll be building a new SATA system in a month or so, but needed add'l storage now. I got a good deal on a IDE drive to hold me over. My options look like buying an external enclosure ( USB 2.0 & 1394, for flexibility ) to house the drive, or buying a IDE PCI card, correct? I guess I'd get use out of the enclosure on the new system, the card would be useless.... |
#6
|
|||
|
|||
On Wed, 01 Jun 2005 21:30:45 GMT, kony wrote:
On Wed, 1 Jun 2005 16:24:45 -0400, "Dave Zass" wrote: Am I limited to 4 drives if I only have 2 IDE channels? yes I want to add an additional drive and want to know if I must buy an external enclosure or not. No, you could buy an internal IDE, SCSI, or SATA card. You could still buy an external (USB or firewire) enclosure instead, which makes it transportable and removable, but they're far slower than modern internal controllers. I have a Gigabyte GA-7VAXP with 2 DVD burners and 2 hard drives. Can I add another drive? If you have a spare PCI slot, I'd get a PCI card (since you mention no specific need for external(ness)), either SATA or IDE depending on which type of drives you want. Your next system will probably have SATA built-in but PATA (IDE) too, so it's your call... PATA drives are still a little cheaper but the cards themselves are nearly same prices on average. A good place to get them is on Ebay. I bash Ebay and am not that crazy about buying things there as Ive wasted way too much time in the past trying to get things only to see them jump close to retail price at the end but one of the few things they seem to have OK prices on are little things for PCs like controller cards, sata converters etc. Even pricewatch I dont know if many stores are avoiding them now but they dont seem to show very good prices nowadays. Its better to just search Newegg , Monarch and ZZF yourself though its worth one search I guess if you are looking for something just to make sure. With ebay for instance they show controller cards for $8 but the shipping is like 8 bucks so it inevitably comes out around 15 bucks or so usually. Monoprice.com is also well known for knickknacks for PCs at a rockbottom price. They used to sell on ebay maybe they still do. Thats how I ended up buying the converters and DVI cable there and they had incredible prices and ship USPS which is important for me and gave me decent service. Everyone points out they have great prices on various cables. Cant remember if they sell controller cards though. Its possible newegg etc may have one for cheap with cheap shipping that might come out cheaper than Ebay. |
#7
|
|||
|
|||
On Wed, 1 Jun 2005 17:41:10 -0400, "Dave Zass"
wrote: If you have a spare PCI slot, I'd get a PCI card (since you mention no specific need for external(ness)), either SATA or IDE depending on which type of drives you want. Your next system will probably have SATA built-in but PATA (IDE) too, so it's your call... PATA drives are still a little cheaper but the cards themselves are nearly same prices on average. Thanks to all who replied. I'll be building a new SATA system in a month or so, but needed add'l storage now. I got a good deal on a IDE drive to hold me over. My options look like buying an external enclosure ( USB 2.0 & 1394, for flexibility ) to house the drive, or buying a IDE PCI card, correct? I guess I'd get use out of the enclosure on the new system, the card would be useless.... Not necessarily, you could get a PCI raid card and use the old drives for a redundant backup on the new system. Plus, beware that arrays created to work on a motherboard based controller will need compatible (often same) controller, so supposing your board failed, the controller card and drives are transportable to another system. |
#8
|
|||
|
|||
Not necessarily, you could get a PCI raid card and use the
old drives for a redundant backup on the new system. Great idea, thanks! Plus, beware that arrays created to work on a motherboard based controller will need compatible (often same) controller, so supposing your board failed, the controller card and drives are transportable to another system. Good point. |
#9
|
|||
|
|||
You would have to add a PCI style IDE card to your computer to add any more
drives. -- DaveW "Dave Zass" wrote in message ... Am I limited to 4 drives if I only have 2 IDE channels? I want to add an additional drive and want to know if I must buy an external enclosure or not. I have a Gigabyte GA-7VAXP with 2 DVD burners and 2 hard drives. Can I add another drive? |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Thread Starter | Forum | Replies | Last Post |
FS PRINTER PARTS trays fusers drums printheads -- oki fujitsu hp genicom epson ibm dec jetdirect laserjet lexnmark qms okidata ml320 mannesmann tally printonix tektronix qms toshiba zebra otc ibm lexmark intermec dec compaq montreal canada toronto o | [email protected] | Printers | 2 | May 8th 05 09:58 PM |
Win XP doesn't like a second hard drive! | N9WOS | General | 9 | January 6th 05 01:10 AM |
Removable Drive Bays | Rod Speed | Storage (alternative) | 35 | January 3rd 04 08:31 PM |
Hitachi 7K250 any good? | Jerry | Storage (alternative) | 20 | December 19th 03 12:47 AM |