Is it possible for my set up to take one more HD ?

[HiRoshi]

Hello,

My question is, is it possible to add a new hard drive with one of the IDE controller card thru PCI ?

my current set up is

20 gig hd ( master) ---- 45 gig hd ( slave)-- ide 1
8x plextor writer ( master) ---- 48x cd rom drive ( slave)-- ide2

since there are 2 devices on each ide chain, if I buy a new controller card for the new hard drive, will I be able to install it ? New HD is ata 100. so I guess I will need an ata 100 controller card ?

If buying a new controller card ( PCI) allows me to add one more HD to existing set up, what ata 100 controlelr card do you all recommend ?

Thanks

 

[cavingjan]

Yes you will be able to add another controller card to add that hard drive. Usually these cards to not like non hard drives on them so you'll have to leave your cdroms on the onboard controller. I would suggest putting your hard drives as master for each channel and then either slaving your cdrom to the last hard drive with the burner having its own channel or keeping with the current arrangement for the cds.
I can't offer any suggestions for which controller card though. But I'm sure someone else will be glad to help.

 

[HiRoshi]

What do you mean slave the cd rom drive ? If I add the controller card, it will just be the HD itself adding on to my existing set up.
since the new HD will be the only device on the controller card connex.

I am going to get a controller card later and see if I can install it,
DOes it matter if I buy ata 66 controller card for ata100 drive ? will it work ?

thanks

 

[bacillus]

<< DOes it matter if I buy ata 66 controller card for ata100 drive ? will it work ? >>



either will work but IMO get the promise ata 100 card with a view to future upgrades!

 

[cavingjan]

If you get another controller, you will be able to hook up 4 more devices. Since you arleady have two drives slaved to two other drives, you can separate them a little and give most of your drives their own channel. IDE works on a master/slave configuration for each channel where only one of the two devices can talk at a time. By separating them, you eliminate this situation.

 

[HiRoshi]

I thank you all for the help ! one more question
Will get the ata100 card and set everything up later.

Is there anything to do with the BIOS setting ? or the pci card will just config everything automatically ?

Thanks in advance

 

[cavingjan]

Follow the directions that come with the PCI board. I've had them set up a couple different ways now. If you are making a drive that is on the pci board (should be the easier way to go) as the boot drive, you will need to set the boot order to look for the card before any local drives.