Raid MoBo Question !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Herkulese]

I am looking to buy a Raid MoBo, but not for Striping or Mirroring.
I simply want support for more that 4 IDE devices without having to add a controller card.

Q1) Is it true that you can use a raid board simply as support for up to 8 IDE devices?
Q2) Is it better to get more IDE support with a Raid board or with and add on controller?

 

[GrInNer]

1) Yes, but with the AMI controller (can't speak for others) the DMA100 connectors cannot be used for CD, Zip or Tape (not that you would want to anyway...).

2) I think the extra PCI slot is worth having, especially if you are loaded out right now, so the on board RAID may be the thing for you. Otherwise I'm not sure that there is any benefit one way or the other.

Why not use the raid if you have it?