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Maxtor 40GB and a WD Raptor 36GB

icejunkie

Platinum Member
Well, I'm bringing myself to buying a new system after I sell the parts from this older one.
I am currently running a 40GB Maxtor (6L040J2). After the upgrade I hope to keep this 40GB Maxtor, as there is nothing wrong with it, and add a WD Raptor drive.
Thing is the Maxtor is IDE and the Raptor is SATA, and I've heard mixed thoughts about how they will perform together. So my question is what do you think of running the system like this? I know I would prefer to sell the 40GM Maxtor and just buy another Raptor and RAID them, but thats not really an option considering the other parts I want to purchase.

Thanks for your help 🙂

PS - The main reason for the Raptor is games, video editing (nothing requiring major GB, but nonetheless) and the likes...
 
I'm not sure about video editing and Raptors but I know for gaming they aren't worth it. You might see a couple of seconds load time decrease but nothing major. I would use the money saved on a bigger drive
 
Ok, thanks. My question still stands even if I don't go for the Raptor. In general, should I make use of an SATA drive along with the IDE Maxtor or not?
 
To see a big speed benefit from this raptor, you'll need to install your OS onto it, then install your games, programs, etc on it. Use the 40gb ide for storage of media and such.

BTW, theres a bit of a trick to installing XP onto a sata drive - press f3(i think it is) during the beginning of the setup, and after its done loading various files, something will appear asking you for a disk to install the driver you want - pop in the floppy disk(has to be a floppy) for the sata controller drivers - this should have came with your motherboard/sata controller. if it didn't go the the manufac's web site, yadda, yadda
 
That's funny cause I just got a 36 gb raptor and have a 40 gb maxtor. The Raptor is a huge improvement.

I couldn't get them to work together though so I just left the 40 gig ide out. (although when I used the maxtor as the main drive I could see the Raptor but couldn't see the Maxtor when the Raptor was the main drive.....very odd) I'm sure it's probably a bios setting or something though. I didn't mess with it to much. Definatly make the raptor the main drive though for the speed.

And also I didn't have to press f6 and install SATA drivers. Just got to make sure your motherboard is set for sata and windows should see it just fine (but if for some reason your MB doesn't do that you'll have to intall drivers from a disc).
 
That maxtor is a 2 mb cache drive right? 2 mb drives are garbage. The Raptor being 8 mb cache AND 10,000 RPM's is going to be a dramatic difference.
 
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