P3B-F Upgrades

[Slammy1]

My friend needs a high capacity HD for my old system. The MB is the P3B-F which has a PCI bus master UDMA/33 controller on-board (BIOS 1008 IIRC). He doesn't currently have a controller card, though I suppose they're cheap enough if he needs it (currently running UW SCSI, but the drives are getting old). What capacity of drive could he handle without a new controller? Also, I was looking at some 5200s for a video upgrade as he currently has an old ATI Rage Fury Pro (32MB?). If you have any input in that I'd appreciate it. TIA.

 

[Slammy1]

Anyone have any input? I won't bump again.

 

[bacillus]

iirc with the latest beta bios you should manage 120Gb.
nevertheless suggest you get an ata pci controller card to run such a drive to its maximum potential.

 

[Slammy1]

Thanks Bacilus. I know it's an esoteric topic, I just wanted to figure his best options. An ATA/100 card runs around $20 on NewEgg, I was thinking it'd be nice but he doesn't have a lot of money for the upgrade. Been watching FW. Thx again for the input!

 

[Promethply]

The Promise ATA133 controller enables older mobo to use HDs with capacities bigger than 120GB.

 

[Arcanedeath]

Just get a cheap add in PCI IDE or SATA card, you'll bottleneck any newer drive by using the BX chipsets IDE controler, it's worth spending the 20 or so delivered dollars for the PCI card to get the performance out of any newer drive you would add.

 

[Slammy1]

Thanks again to everyone for the replies.

I was reluctant to get a controller as it wouldn't be something to carry over in an upgrade, plus my friend doesn't use the system extensively (primarily music playback, also some recorded content I give him). He's a die-hard console fan, it's a wonder we've been friends this long. I know it'd be a big performance boost, removing some of the processing off the MB as well which is why I went the SCSI route when it was mine. Maybe I'll just foot the cost to get him going, and in the case of upgrade I have another firend with a 333MHz CPU (which he'll upgrade probably before my 850MHz friend here) and my parents have a 200MHz system (66MHz FSB, it takes some getting used to). They're all hoping I'll upgrade (except maybe my parents, whose most advanced use for their computer is Hoyle cards), as upgraded components find homes quick with my friends.

Anyway, I wanted also to let people know that BB has an advertised 80GB for $19 AR ($89-$40-$30) that starts today.