Are ATA controller cards as good as onboard controllers

[prvteye2003]

What I mean is will I get the same type of speed from a lets say an ATA 133 pci controller card? I've only got 2 IDE controllers on my mobo and they are taken up with 2 hdd and 2 cdrw. I'm wanting to add another hdd that I have already and was looking for a way to do this. I do have 2 sata onboard controllers but I don't have a sata hdd.

 

[0roo0roo]

yes. or else raid cards would be useless.

 

[prvteye2003]

well, I didn't think of it that way. Thanks for the reply.

 

[AgaBoogaBoo]

Also, in almost all cases yes except for SATA because it has faster connections.

Remember that most computer don't even go past the Specs of ATA 66 and so for most of the time ATA100 and ATA133 is marketing. That may not be entirely true now since I'm guessing we're in the range of ATA66 and ATA100 now, but ATA133 is useless.

Also, some controller cards are better than onboard controllers because they process some of the data not reuiring the CPU to do it.

 

[0roo0roo]

most useful part of ata 133 isuspport for really large hd sizes.

 

[prvteye2003]

I appreciate the replies. This is the info I was looking for. I would like to have a SATA drive though so I can use the sata controllers already on my board. Thanks again guys.

 

[Flakk]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
yes. or else raid cards would be useless.

well, your motherboard may just not have it in the first place

 

[NokiaDude]

So putting a fast PCI ATA controller card in a 6 year old PC will speed things up for the HDD?

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: Flakk

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
yes. or else raid cards would be useless.

well, your motherboard may just not have it in the first place

?? the point was if the raid cards were slower then even non raid onboard, there would be no point to raid at all. well cept for mirroring, but we know thats not true. and its obviously not true that only onboard raid is useful.

and as for your old 6 year old pc... maybe. that thing probably doesn't even have ata 33 or 66.

 

[Budman]

I do have 2 sata onboard controllers but I don't have a sata hdd.

Why dont you use 2 ide to SATA converters? they can be found for about 25$ each.

RocketHead100 Converter

 

[Budman]

Found them on newegg for 20$.

HIGH POINT TECHNOLOGY SERIAL ATA Convertor.

 

[prvteye2003]

Why dont you use 2 ide to SATA converters? they can be found for about 25$ each.
Didn't know there was such a thing. Something to think about. Thanks, I really appreciate it.

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: Budman

I do have 2 sata onboard controllers but I don't have a sata hdd.

Why dont you use 2 ide to SATA converters? they can be found for about 25$ each.

RocketHead100 Converter

because for 20 dollars on ebay you can get an ata 133 raid card

 

[prvteye2003]

when you set up a raid drive, the hdd have to be the same size right? ie. 40GB x 40GB

 

[0roo0roo]

no, but the total usable size is based on the smaller drive.

 

[prvteye2003]

ok, I see. Listen guys, I really appreciate all the info.

 

[Flakk]

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo

Originally posted by: Flakk

Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
yes. or else raid cards would be useless.

well, your motherboard may just not have it in the first place

?? the point was if the raid cards were slower then even non raid onboard, there would be no point to raid at all. well cept for mirroring, but we know thats not true. and its obviously not true that only onboard raid is useful.

and as for your old 6 year old pc... maybe. that thing probably doesn't even have ata 33 or 66.

oh it was cause you said raid card, not ide/ata card...