(How well) Will a ATA/100 or /133 drive perform on a /33 controller?

[Syndicate200]

Hello y'all...,

This question about backwards compatability of harddisks in general might be interesting for everyone who will buy a /133 harddisk...

I am planning to buy extra storage in one of my ATA/33-controller systems. It has an ASUS-motherboard with an onboard SCSI-controller .
It will be a big one (probably 60 GB or bigger). Do you suggest a fast /133 disk or even a SCSI-drive? I think /33 drives are no longer available...

Also I am also planning to create me a new system (based on KT266A), possibly with a /133 harddisk. Do I have to buy an additional controller to make my harddrives function? Or will it work on my /33-controller, but just a little slower? And what about the 80pin cable in stead of the usual 40pin cables, are they necessary?

I am asking this question because all my PCI slots are full, I am already one short!...

Wouter

 

[Topochicho]

An UDMA 133 Drive will perform well, on a UDMA 33 controller. Since you will be using UDMA 33 your 80 wire cable will perform the same as a 40 wire so it doesn't really matter which you use. If you are buying UDMA 133 for the 133 rating you are wasting your money. A bigger cache, faster access times, high rotation speed, greater aeriel(sp?) density will do more for your money.
If the machine has SCSI and you are willing to pay the SCSI premium, go that way... the performace boost is nice if your willing to pay.

EDIT: cause I'm a big dummy and don't proof read

 

[cuteybunny]

performance of the harddrive is dependent on the drive itself not the controller it dont squat or wont help speed your harddrive anywhere pass the 33mb/sec barrier that most harddrive today can't even sustained a 7mb/sec transfer rate but more like 4-6mb/sec which is something that the manufacturer do not want you to know such as Intel's PIV hype. it's the limitation of the harddrive itself not the controller so that the problem, until there is 10,000 RPM will we see a benefit in ATA66 and with 15,000 rpm drive will there be a benefit to ATA100. and with ata 133 you going to need at least 20,000 rpm harddrive to take advantage of this bus pipe.
bottom line is if you buying a cheap 5400 rpm, you wont notice anything different between 33/66 or 100.
but with 7200 rpm drive you will benefit maybe a little say 10 percent from 33 to 66.

 

[Athlon4all]

If the drive is fairly new, and is 7200 RPM. You might lose 5% or so of performance by running @ ATA/33, but really it won't be noticeable. I know because, I don't fret over the fact that my ATA/100 7200rpm drive is only running @ 33.

 

[Kingofcomputer]

modern 7200rpm ide hd has over 50MB/s internal transfer rate,
so ATA33 is not enough for it now,
need ATA66 at least.