Promise vs HighPoint ATA-100 Controller

[Biggs]

From what I've heard, why is the Highpoint considered "inferior" to the Promise?

 

[Insane3D]

I am going to get flamed for this to no end but here goes...

I have both controlers in my system current system. I have the Highpoint integrated into my motherboard, the Abit KA7-100. I also have a Promise Ultra 100 card (non-raid) that I have a 75GXP and my burner on and it works great. I have two 75GXP 30gb on the highpoint channels ruuning at ATA100/RAID 0 as my main drive. I have been running this same RAID array on the highpoint for almost a year now with no problems. I even installed Win2K as my main OS directly onto the RAID drive. I just loaded the drivers for the highpoint and setup did the rest. Both controllers even share the same IRQ with no problems. The Promise are definately the preferred controllers because highpoint had alot of problems with the ATA66 controllers and now they are generally considered crap by many. I have heard of no problems with the ATA100 one, but because of the ATA66 problems everyone says they all suck. Anyway, both work great and the highpoint actually outperforms my Promise by a slight edge with the newer drivers, but nothing that is noticable. One other thing to consider is that the highpoint mostly comes integrated in mobos by Abit, Epox, etc. while there is only one card form of it that I know of...the Abit Hot-Rod or something. The Promise comes in mobos as well, Asus, MSI, etc., but it is more readily available in card form at most computer retailers...it is only like $30 for the Ultra100 at buy.com. Anyway, I would say that they are both good performers and any performance difference is nominal. So, I think your best bet is probably a Promise Ultra100 as it is much easier to get your hands on and it is very cheap. Good luck.


/puts on flame suit

 

[rmblam]

Every ABIT KT7-RAID user hoots over the highpoint because of the RAID feature. On the same level (non RAID) the Promise outperforms the Highpoint.

With a reversible mod (cable mod) and a bios upgrade you can enable RAID on any A7V now for practically free... pretty cool and soon to be my next mod.

 

[LXi]

Its inferior because HiPoint has many incompatibility issues, and their driver support and cusomter service is nil. Regardless if its ATA100 or ATA66, HiPoint is crap, you'll have so much fun "trying" to get your system to work, "trying" to get your hard drives recognized, "trying" to get RAID going. The Promise is *much* higher quality, less incompatibility issues, and better driver support. Makes little sense to take the HiPoint.

 

[Insane3D]

What a surprise, Lxi and his "objective" opinions are back. Lxi, have you set anything up on the highpoint ATA100? Are you just talking out your a**, or do you have experience to back your statements up? I have both the controllers in question in my system, and they both peform well. I had to setup RAID ONCE, over 8 months ago, and my OS installed right to the highpoint. The highpoint has eight different drivers out, just for Win2k, and the Promise has 1 to my knowledge. Everyone has their own opinion, but at least I am basing mine on experience. If you know so much, please point me to some threads with problems with the ATA100 highpoint, not the ATA66 one. Also, I have seen many a thread about the Promise having tons of problems on the A7V. I seem to remember problems with boot delay and running ATA100.

 

[Cknyc]

I have heard many who have had success with the new highpoint controllers. I have a HPT366 controller on my BP6 and it sucks. It doesnt work well with my 75gxp but works fine with my older hard drive. Their support does suck since they havent fixed the problem yet.

 

[Biggs]

Does the HighPoint controllet 370 on the Abit BE6 II v2.0 work fine with the IBM 75 GXP?

 

[Insane3D]

I don't have that board, but I have the same highpoint controller integrated into my KA7-100 and it runs fine.