How hard is SATA to set up vs ATA

[The Pentium Guy]

I've never worked with SATA before, and I'm helping a friend choosing his parts - he's a first-time builder. I've heard people having problems when it comes to installing windows on SATA drives.

He's most likely getting a GA-K8NXP-SLi ($20 more than the Ultra version, but comes with a wireless card) or an ABIT AN8 Ultra --> both with passive cooling.

Just wondering what you guys thin about SATA (most likely 80GB Seagate with NCQ)

-TPG

 

[mechBgon]

Those combos wouldn't be too bad, they ought to emulate standard ATA to start out with. Maybe this will help you take in the bigger picture on what the pitfalls can be: link to SATA page

 

[WT]

Only issue to concern yourself with is the need to have a floppy (and a floppy drive installed, of course) with the SATA drivers for your board. I still shy away from SATA drives as I have more board without SATA than I do with SATA. When its upgrade time, the hard drives go into other PCs and compatability is more important than the added work required to get SATA going. Apparently, Win XP SP2 CDs come with SATA drivers on the CD so thats finally caught up to system builders at this point.

PS - mech, two thumbs up on your system guide ... I've posted it in the gaming/tech lab forums for a game server I've played on for over 7 years and it was met with nothing but praise ... I should link it on my home page for all of the PC n00b builders that I encounter !

 

[keeleysam]

Just remember to diable RAID in the BIOS and then Windows can't tell the difference.

 

[SNM]

The SATA install isn't hard at all, at least w/ an Ultra-D. Just read the directions.

 

[Promethply]

If you connect HDs to the native nVidia SATA connector, OS installation will be as simple as installing OS to PATA HDs.

And like keeleysam indicated, just make sure to check that RAID is disabled in the BIOS before you proceed with the installation.

 

[grooge]

Originally posted by: WT
Only issue to concern yourself with is the need to have a floppy (and a floppy drive installed, of course) with the SATA drivers for your board. I still shy away from SATA drives as I have more board without SATA than I do with SATA. When its upgrade time, the hard drives go into other PCs and compatability is more important than the added work required to get SATA going. Apparently, Win XP SP2 CDs come with SATA drivers on the CD so thats finally caught up to system builders at this point.

PS - mech, two thumbs up on your system guide ... I've posted it in the gaming/tech lab forums for a game server I've played on for over 7 years and it was met with nothing but praise ... I should link it on my home page for all of the PC n00b builders that I encounter !

Using nvidia controller, no drivers will be needed for SATA, unless the controller is set to operate in RAID mode. Using a third party controller, like Promise or Sil, then drivers will be needed to operate either in SATA or RAID mode. This is du to the controller using the PCI bus to connect to the system.

WinXP doesnt have drivers for SATA controller. SATA is the interface between the controller and the IDE drive. Yes, SATA drives are normal IDE drives. That's the BIOS that report the SATA drive to Windows as a normal IDE drive because the controller send the right info to the BIOS.

So, tu use SATA drive, set the nvidia controller to operate as a IDE controller and not as a RAID controller, connect the drive and install. If using the onboard PCI controller, set it to operate as SATA and when installing, press F6 to install third party drivers and insert the floppy disk when asked to do so. Make sure to use the right floppy for the controller, as the nvidia RAID drivers wont work for a Sil controller, ie.

 

[Solema]

If he's just getting the single 80GB SATA drive, hook it up to the Nvidia ports, disable RAID, and install away. Easy as apple pie.

 

[The Pentium Guy]

MechBGon - Nice guide! I learned a few things from that. Thanks, I'll let him read the guide and decide on his own.
Thanks guys.

 

[mechBgon]

Thanks for the compliments TPG and WT

 

[ExpertNovice]

Allow me to give you thanks as well. The computer shop couldn't get SATA to work on my system because "it doesn't work with Win 2k." Needless to say they will not be doing the build that will start when I receive the Antec P180 case.

The information y'all have provided will certainly help.

PS Y'all.... that means each of you.

 

[mechBgon]