question about HD usage

[cain]

is it possible to use more than 2 IDE HD without using usb enclosures? what i mean is how can i connect them since there are only two ide cables, i am using two plugs for dvd and cdrw and 2 plugs for two of my hd already. how can i add a third hd?

 

[Mike2002]

Yes you can use more than 2 hard drives in most systems today. I'm not really sure what you mean by a USB enclosure but if you do not have enough 3.5 inch slots in the case then you can buy 5.25 inch mounting brackets so you can mount the hard drives in a CD-ROM bay. If this does not cover your quesiton then just let me know.

 

[justin1466]

I've got two Hard drives and room for one more. USB enclosures ?

 

[cain]

updated

 

[oupei]

you can get a pci ide controller that will add more ide channels if your already using the 2 on your mobo.

 

[cain]

so this thing is called pci ide controller?

 

[Mike2002]

Here is a card from newegg that you can buy that will allow you to add up to 4 more IDE devices. http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=16-102-002&depa=0

 

[cain]

thanks guys

 

[cain]

i have heard that drives that are plugged into pci ide controllers tend to be slower, any comments?

 

[0roo0roo]

pcimicro or was that pci-micro had a silicon image controller for 19 bux when i got it. adds 4 hd or optical. i have 2 of these cards.

 

[Mike2002]

I doubt they would be much slower than the drives that are plugged directly into the motherboard but if you are using a few of them at the same time then I think it is possible to saturate the PCI Bus. If this were to happen then that would cause a slow down for all of the drives.

 

[RaNDoMMAI]

or u can change, and use the pci ide controller with your dvd drive and the normal ide mobo connector to the HDD

the DVD doesnt need to be fast anyway, i acually use nero drive speed to slow down my drive when playing anime or a music cd so the drive doesnt make alot of noise and i can hear the music.

~RaNDoM

 

[cain]

wow, thanks all for the inputs.