Promise ATA100TX2 controller - better than the mobo? Should I put both drives on this?

[MichaelD]

Check it out here

I purchased this today, as a means of getting both my CDR and my CDRW as masters on their own IDE channels. According to the datasheet (see link above) this card has some kind of "advanced controller" that allows for higher transfer rates.

My mobo is an Abit KT7R. Both raid channels are in use, as are both regular IDE connectors. I was going to put the CDRW on the Promise card, but now I'm wondering if I should put both the CDR and the CDRW on the card. Opinions? Ideas? Abuse?

 

[MichaelD]

up

 

[bacillus]

<< I'm wondering if I should put both the CDR and the CDRW on the card. Opinions? Ideas? Abuse? >>


should work ok as you're using a PnP OS!
this is copied from the promise site

Will my Ultra100 work with a CD-ROM, or other ATAPI device?
Cause: ATAPI, CD-ROM, Removable Devices, DOS, Windows NT, PnP
Solution: Removable media devices can only work on the Ultra100 in PnP OSs (like Win9x). In an OS like DOS/WinNT, that is not PnP, the removable media drivers cannot see our card because it doesn?t use standard resources. In a PnP OS, the Ultra100 drivers must be loaded before the device will be seen.

don't try to load your OS from your cd drive if it's attached to your promise controller as it won't work! you'll need to reattach the drive to the m/board ide controller for this operation!

 

[bacillus]

btw, I wouldn't get too carried away by promise's claims of higher transfer rates!
the claimed 40% increase in hdd performance never materialised for me!

 

[MichaelD]

You're the man! Thanks Bacillus!

 

[Insane3D]

The one advantage is to put your HD's on it because it is speced to run up to a 66mhz PCI speed. So even if you overclock your FSB to some insane levels and have your PCI bus real high, your HD data will be fine because of that card. That's the major difference between the old Fasttrack 100 and the new TX2 model.

 

[NelsonMuntz]

Michael, I don't think you will see any performance improvement with your CD devices on there over the mobo IDE channels. You will probably see some improvement (don't expect a ton) with your hard drive, but not with the CD devices.

 

[MichaelD]

Thanks gentlemen.

 

[Insane3D]

HEY!!! Who are you calling a gentleman?!?!? LOL!

NP Michael...