How many IDE devices can you hook up to a mobo?

[hairygit]

Basically,
Got this sweet board - IWILLka266r - on the way to me. I'm not going to bother with the RAID (only got this one cos the ka266 is non existent in the uk).
I've got 5 IDE devices that I will need to hook up. I know that it is possible to get 4 IDE devices on 2 cables, but will I be able to get all 5 on?
Or do I have to ditch one of them and settle for USB?

Look forward to hearing from you.
Cheers

 

[Elledan]

4 IDE devices on the onboard IDE channels, then add a IDE-controller (the Promise ATA-100 is pretty good), which will allow you to hook up 4 more devices.

With such IDE-controller cards you can add as many IDE devices as you've PCI slots * 4.

 

[hairygit]

Ok, Cheers for the answer, but, er, where does the Promise controller fit, and what is it? ie does it go PCI, or do I stick it in my ear?
Not too knowlegeable about these new fangled gadgets

 

[Paulson]

It goes in the PCI slot.

(the controller card)

 

[hairygit]

Cheers folks,
one other thing, - should I just use the least used IDE device on the promise controller, or should I just not worry about it and get an early nite?

 

[birddog]

there are plenty of PCI IDE controllers on the market. If ATA-66 works for what you need, you can pick one up for @$20.

There are also some older ATA-33 ISA controller cards (I have one of these old things in my spare parts box) also.

 

[hairygit]

I am now at one with myself.
Thanks for your help, and may the gods be happy with your wise words.

 

[Paulson]

May I ask what your 5 drives will be?

That way, you can put the drive that's the least tidious onto a cheaper pci ata-33 controller and not have to pay very much.

 

[Elledan]

Why save a few bucks on a ATA-33/66 controller if you can get a ATA-100 card which will allow you to hook up IDE devices which require something faster than ATA-33, like a ATA-100 HD? IMHO you can better buy the ATA-100 to be prepared for what the future brings

 

[Athlon4all]

Wait, KA266-R has 4 ports on the mobo right? Shouldn't he be able to hook up 8 devices on 4 cables, and dunno about this, but the controller sharing an IRQ with 1 PCI slot? That's what I would think.

 

[Boonesmi]

hmmm you said you have an iwill ka266r that means your board will support up to 8 ide devices if you use your raid controller as another ata100 controller. it does not plug into a pci slot, its built into the motherboard.

it was all said above, but when i read through the post i thought it looked kinda confusing, thats why i summed it up above

 

[Zach]

Yeah, you say you have the RAID controller on the mobo, so your baord will take 8 devices already, don't get another card you don't need!

 

[NoreagaCNN]

um the KA266-R has 4 IDE ports which can take up to 8 devices, no need for a PCI card.

-Nore

 

[hairygit]

Well heregoes, and everytime I write a list of devices, I miss one out.

floppy
hdd
CD
CDRW
Zip
+ the option to expand my horizons.

I live in the uk. Prices around here are astronomical compared to the us.
whingewhingey

I've just had a quick look, and the Promise ATA100/66/33 comes in at about £32 or in us cash - approx. $45.
Can't complain must eat drink and scratch my bollox.

 

[NoreagaCNN]

<< I've just had a quick look, and the Promise ATA100/66/33 comes in at about £32 or in us cash - approx. $45. >>



You don't need it. This is how it goes.

floppy - Goes on Floppy controller
hdd - If it's ATA 100, goes on ATA 100 IDE
CD - IDE 1 Master
CDRW - IDE 1 Slave
Zip - IDE 2 Master, etc. You still have 4 ports left, just remember you can't use bootable devices on the ATA 100 port. You can't boot off of them, but they work fine in Windows.

-Nore

 

[hairygit]

I asked about the 4 IDE sockets, but it seems that the extra 2 can only be used with RAID, and on that board it seems that RAID 0 or 1 are the options, so no point in doing that i think.

 

[NoreagaCNN]

<< but it seems that the extra 2 can only be used with RAID >>



No, CD roms and stuff work also, just cant boot off them like I said.

-Nore

 

[hairygit]

Hurrah -
all problems have been solved.

Thank you very very very much.
I will buy you a drink one day

 

[dieselstation]

hairygit, are you an alcoholic? am i the only one that sees this?

&quot;Cheers, Hurrah, I'll buy you a drink one day&quot;??? hehehehhe.. very suspicious.

 

[NoreagaCNN]

Heineken will do, hehe

-Nore

 

[hairygit]

AM i an alcoholic?

To be an alcoholic in this country, costs more than being a cocaine addict in your country [I presume the us].

So, no. But thanx for the compliment