New SATA drive or just get IDE controller card?

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jzinckgra

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Aug 31, 2006
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I am building my new puter:p5B Deluxe and knew it only had one IDE port. I will plug my HD (maxtor 120G) into that, but don't have a plug for the CD-ROM. I was told I can do three things:
1. get a PCI controller card, so I can plug the CD-Rom into that
2. get one of those IDE to SATA adaptor cards
3. Plug the HD and CD-ROM into IDE slot and set CD-ROM as slave.

Option one looks the cheapest, but I need a card asap and saw one at Worst Buy for $40. I know they are much cheaper online.
OPtion two is a possibility, but I have seen problems at newegg with compatibility with those cards
Option 3, which I was considering, am now 2nd guessing. My HD is UDMA 133, while the CD-ROM is 33, so won't there be a huge slowdown of my HD when sharing the same IDE as the HD?

Last, and most $$$ is gettting a SATA HD and be done with it. MAybe the Raptor? Any suggestions? Thanks
 
Baked

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
17
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I plug my DVD writer to the only IDE socket on the mobo and bought a Seagate 320GB SATA2 HD. Still waiting for an affordable DVD writer w/ SATA port. I have a couple ATA133 controller cards in my parts bin, but I don't IDE cables criss crossing in my case.

You won't see a huge performance dip by putting the HD and CD on the same IDE chain, so I pick option 3.
 
J

jzinckgra

Member
Aug 31, 2006
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Originally posted by: coolVariable
HD = Master
CD-ROM = slave

Why get a card???
Click to expand...
I meant to say that I would be sharing the same IDE cable for both the HD and CD, therefore setting the jumper on the CD as 'slave'

 
J

jzinckgra

Member
Aug 31, 2006
65
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You won't see a huge performance dip by putting the HD and CD on the same IDE chain, so I pick option 3.
Click to expand...
Really? I read somewhere that if the CD rom is slower than the HD, which it is in this case, then the HD has to slow down to the speed of the CD. Is this only when the CD is being used?For instance, I need to reformat my HD and reinstall winxp for this new build. How much slower will it be? I can live with a slowdown for reloading the OS, but what about games that need the CD in the drive to operate?
 
Baked

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
17
81
Originally posted by: CDC Mail Guy
Originally posted by: coolVariable
HD = Master
CD-ROM = slave

Why get a card???
Click to expand...
I thought they both had to be set to Master and on differrent cables/ribbons???
Click to expand...

They don't have to.
 
C

CDC Mail Guy

Golden Member
May 2, 2005
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Originally posted by: Baked
Originally posted by: CDC Mail Guy
Originally posted by: coolVariable
HD = Master
CD-ROM = slave

Why get a card???
Click to expand...
I thought they both had to be set to Master and on differrent cables/ribbons???
Click to expand...

They don't have to.
Click to expand...
So, you set jumper on HDD to master, and it goes at end of ribbon. Then set Optical drive to secondary, and it goes on other connector. Good to know that works now, cause I never had any luck with doing it that way in the past!:eek:

 
C

coolVariable

Diamond Member
May 18, 2001
3,724
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76
Originally posted by: CDC Mail Guy
Originally posted by: Baked
Originally posted by: CDC Mail Guy
Originally posted by: coolVariable
HD = Master
CD-ROM = slave

Why get a card???
Click to expand...
I thought they both had to be set to Master and on differrent cables/ribbons???
Click to expand...

They don't have to.
Click to expand...
So, you set jumper on HDD to master, and it goes at end of ribbon. Then set Optical drive to secondary, and it goes on other connector. Good to know that works now, cause I never had any luck with doing it that way in the past!:eek:
Click to expand...


That always worked.
Even when CD-ROMs first appeared.
 
J

jzinckgra

Member
Aug 31, 2006
65
0
0
Originally posted by: jzinckgra
You won't see a huge performance dip by putting the HD and CD on the same IDE chain, so I pick option 3.
Click to expand...
Really? I read somewhere that if the CD rom is slower than the HD, which it is in this case, then the HD has to slow down to the speed of the CD. Is this only when the CD is being used?For instance, I need to reformat my HD and reinstall winxp for this new build. How much slower will it be? I can live with a slowdown for reloading the OS, but what about games that need the CD in the drive to operate?
Click to expand...


so, what's the consensus here?
 
Baked

Baked

Lifer
Dec 28, 2004
36,052
17
81
Originally posted by: jzinckgra
so, what's the consensus here?
Click to expand...

Have the HD and CD drives share the single IDE port while you order a IDE card online.
 
S

skriefal

Golden Member
Apr 10, 2000
1,424
3
81
Really? I read somewhere that if the CD rom is slower than the HD, which it is in this case, then the HD has to slow down to the speed of the CD.
Click to expand...

Don't believe everything you read. That was true -- 10 years ago. But it's not true with any modern -- or even semi-modern -- IDE/PATA controller. Modern controllers are quite capable of supporting independent timings for two devices occupying the same channel.

Please don't add to the confusion by repeating this myth...
 
0roo0roo

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
yup, still better use separate channels if you have to access both at the same time though.
 
RebateMonger

RebateMonger

Elite Member
Dec 24, 2005
11,586
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Originally posted by: 0roo0roo
yup, still better use separate channels if you have to access both at the same time though.
Click to expand...
Yes. IDE cables can only carry one set of signals at a time, so if you try to access both the master and the slave drives on a single cable at the same time, one of them gets put on hold.

I believe the Intel TX chipset (1997) was the first to feature independent timings for Master and Slave drives on the same IDE channel.
 
S

skriefal

Golden Member
Apr 10, 2000
1,424
3
81
Yes, if you place the hard drive and CD/DVD drive on the same channel then both drives cannot be transferring data at the exact same physical instant. This most likely will not be a problem unless you are frequently copying large amounts of data from CD/DVD to the hard drive. And even then, the hard drive will still be transferring at full ATA133 speeds (i.e. as fast as it can) whenever it is transferring data -- it's not limited in any way by the fact that an ATA33 CD drive is attached to the same channel.

If you'd like to purchase an ATA133 card, this one should do nicely: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16816132004
The SIL0680-based cards are supposed to be a good choice.

Edit... get this one http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16816132005 if you don't want to set up a RAID array.
 
0roo0roo

0roo0roo

No Lifer
Sep 21, 2002
64,795
84
91
yup got 2 and still usin 2:) the sil0680, i don't think the raid bit matters unless u bother trying to enable the raid since its just garbage software raid. default its just a normal controller
 
sygyzy

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
HD master, DVD slave is probably the same setup I'll use. The problem is you are going to get nasty twisted cables. The HD will undoubtedly sit below the DVD drive so you have to go down, then up, then back down to the IDE connector on the motherboard. Yuck.
 
S

skriefal

Golden Member
Apr 10, 2000
1,424
3
81
Why? It doesn't matter which connector on the cable is used for the hard drive versus which one is used for the DVD drive. Well, it would if you use cable select (CS)... but why would you do that?
 
sygyzy

sygyzy

Lifer
Oct 21, 2000
14,001
4
76
Originally posted by: skriefal
Why? It doesn't matter which connector on the cable is used for the hard drive versus which one is used for the DVD drive. Well, it would if you use cable select (CS)... but why would you do that?
Click to expand...

Are you saying that if I set the DVD as a slave and put it first in the chain, it'll still act as a slave?
 
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