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Promise FastTrak66 or Iwill SideRaid66 with Windows 2000

K

Kwad Guy

Diamond Member
Here's the question:

Which is better for use with Windows 2000:

1) Modded Promise Ultra66 -> FastTrak66 raid
2) Iwill SideRaid 66

There were a lot of annoying issues at one time with
respect to getting the FastTrak66 to work properly
with Windows 2000. Does anyone know if it's still
a pain? I assume that even if workarounds have been
developed, it's still not automatic using just the
drivers in native Win2000?

I believe the Iwill card came out too late to have
native Win2000 drivers...But it might still avoid
some of the other issues...

In general, can anyone comment on the relative strengths
(weaknesses) of these two cards?

Kwad
 
Promise has fixed that issue, and if you use the NEW BIOS, and load the new drivers on a floppy, then you will be fine.
 
Kwad: Is the Promise Fasttrak66 KNOWN to have problems with Maxtor Drives???
I am having problem with a system I'm currently building that uses the FastTrak66 and two Maxtor 10GB, 7200 RPM, ATA-66 drives (retail-boxed) from the DiamondMax Plus 40 series.

I have yet to try other solutions but I am beginning to suspect that a drive/fasttrak
compatibility problem MAY be the "root" of my symptoms. If you wish... please see my thread atthis location here at Anandtech Forum.
 
Hey CompuGeekIAM:

I haven't implemented a Maxtor/Promise solution. But I have read
in several places that the performance with such a setup is
horrid...From what I gather, both Promise and Maxtor are aware
of the problem, but each blames the other for the problem (while
barely admitting the problem in the first place)...

...I have also read that there are complementarity problems between
the Promise card and other makes of drive. About the only drives
people seem to agree work well with the Ultra66 are the IBM 75GXP.

This is why I have been asking this question. If the IWILL card
works reasonably well AND works well with Maxtors, I'll pick one
up (even though I already have the Promise card).

Kwad
 
Are the Maxtor\Promise Fasttrak66 problems only a Win2k thing? I am a Windows 98 user.
Also, is it only the TOP model in IBM's 75GXP line that works well with the FastTrak66 or ANY model in that series?

Also, you state something about Maxtor drives and ULTRA66 (not FastTrak66) having problems.
I wonder if that was a typo on your part?
I have built two other systems for family members this year, each are using a Maxtor drive on a Promise ULTRA66 controller with NO PROBLEMS AT ALL. (One of the mobos uses an Intel BX-440 chipset, the other, VIA's Apollo Pro 133)....

BTW, are you in the market to buy two "just out of the box" retail-packaged Maxtor 10GB, 7200 RPM, ATA-66 drives???
 
I cant tell you about the RAID part.... except Id never buy software RAID controllers... Hardware RAID like Adaptec is the only way to go RAID if you really need RAID.
 
The Promise FastTrak66 IS a hardware-based RAID solution, albeit an inexpensive one.

And Kwad, in reference to my Ultra66 question, I just remembered reading at ...
another famous hardware site about the FastTrak66 just being a slightly modified
Ultra66. Sorry for that post.
 
Promise Ultra 66 works just fine with Maxtor. I have not experienced even the slightest hint of any problems past 8 months. What I understand is that people complain about Fasttrack66+Maxtor RAID, which I intend to steer clear of.
 
Very good idea corner. I'm just in the process of installing OS and APPS from scratch on the system I'm building because I've come to the conclusion that my Promise FastTrak66, dual identical Maxtor drives RAID 0 is to blame for my system freezes and crashes. And I then have to also install and configure a NIC, DVD decoder card, TV Tuner card and Soundcard and have it all ready by 2 PM tomorrow when my aDSL provider is supposed to arrive.

Maxtor on Ultra66 is great..... on Fasttak66 in RAID 0 configuration..... FORGET IT!!!!
 
Promise is NOT a hardware RAID like Adaptec.... Thats why you can mod a Ultra66 to a Fasttrack66. What I mean by hardware is like the Adaptec has its own coprocessor for RAID control. Promise controllers etc use alot more CPU time then a Adaptec also the Adaptec is alot more stable. Youll risk losing data alot more using RAID 0 on a promise. Plus the adaptec offers RAID 5. IMO RAID is useless. If you are REALLY going to use RAID Adaptec is the only way to go. With the others you gain performance but risk losing data a hell of alot more. I hate this whole cheap RAID thing its a joke.... run RAID 1 on Promise or whatever and unplug a drive... I bet you cant keep going... Ive tried it, you have to reboot, and youll be lucky if you can boot up. With a adaptec if one of the drives go you KNOW youll beable to stay up. RAID 0 is a joke ESPECIALLY on these cheap software RAID controllers.
 
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