SATA or IDE for a Gaming Rig

[Starbuck1975]

I didn't see any SATA threads that addressed this question specifically, so here is my question.

A few days ago, I posted a message asking for comments on the components I have selected for my next gaming rig.

My Gaming Rig Thread

After reading up on SATA, I am not quite sure it is the route I necessarily need to go.

I intend to use this system primarily for gaming, editing and storage of digital photography and storage of my MP3 collection for my iPod. I have used Maxtor IDE drives in the past, and intend to use my current 80GB Maxtor IDE drive as the backup drive on my new system.

I have never built a SATA or RAID gaming rig, so I am not familiar with the terminology. Similarly, I have heard mixed opinions as to whether or not a SATA drive is necessary for the applications I intend to use it for.

The motherboards I am interested in are all SATA 3GB/s compliant...but the SATA hard drives have a nomenclature of SATA150 or SATA2...not sure how you match up a SATA hard drive to the 3GB/s capability on the motherboard. In other words, would a SATA150 and SATA2 hard drive perform the same on a SATA 3GB/s compliant MOBO?

Or is it even worth going SATA...for my needs, is IDE sufficient? I have been using the same IDE hard drive for nearly 5 years on my current system, so I typically do not change out hard drives all that often.

Thanks.

 

[Arcanedeath]

interphase doesn't matter, its the drive mechanics that do, I'd suggest getting whatever drive you can get the best value with, for me recently it was 2 x Sata WD3200JD's for cheap, but you may have better luck finding pata drives cheaper.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Price wise, I believe SATA and IDE drives are comperable to the point of being negligeable...so it really becomes a question of performance...I have read several articles in a variety of online and published resources that classify SATA as being a technology yet to reach maturity...and as such, there are certain performance, stability and compatibility issues with utilizing SATA. If anything, there always seem to be postings on these forums from users who, not being familiar with SATA configurations, are having difficulty getting their system to run.

 

[w00t]

SATA

 

[sandorski]

I'd go SATA if you're buying new drives. The reason being that eventually IDE will be phased out, thus limiting future upgrades.

 

[Starbuck1975]

That seems to be the biggest advantage of going SATA is the fact that IDE will ultimately become phased out.

I am more concerned with the viability and stability of SATA as of now...my current machine is simply too outdated to prolong an upgrade much longer.

If I do go SATA for my OS installed drive, can I still salvage my IDE drive as a backup drive?

 

[Varun]

Originally posted by: Starbuck1975
Price wise, I believe SATA and IDE drives are comperable to the point of being negligeable...so it really becomes a question of performance... the performance difference of single drives is negligeable as well, so there is nothing to compareI have read several articles in a variety of online and published resources that classify SATA as being a technology yet to reach maturity...and as such, there are certain performance, stability and compatibility issues with utilizing SATA. The only issue is having to install SATA drivers for Windows during the installIf anything, there always seem to be postings on these forums from users who, not being familiar with SATA configurations, are having difficulty getting their system to run.

Since my motherboard supports SATA drives, there would be no reason for me not to buy one if I was purchasing a new drive.

 

[fstime]

There is no performence incress.

I'd get SATA just for the cables.

 

[DrZoidberg]

SATA for sure. If you're buying new motherboard might as well get SATA so in future u can upgrade easier. U can still use your old PATA HD alongside SATA hard disk.

AND PATA cables big grey cables are ugly and bad for air flow in case. SATA cables are small thin red much nicer to look at =)

 

[Varun]

Originally posted by: Starbuck1975
That seems to be the biggest advantage of going SATA is the fact that IDE will ultimately become phased out.

I am more concerned with the viability and stability of SATA as of now...my current machine is simply too outdated to prolong an upgrade much longer.

If I do go SATA for my OS installed drive, can I still salvage my IDE drive as a backup drive?

Yes on any current motherboard there are still PATA ports for at least optical drives which seem to be slow to move to SATA, so you can still hook up your PATA drives as use them as well as SATA ones.

 

[supastar1568]

i have a IDE for my gaming rig. It was my first build and i really didnt wanna get into all of the SATA stuff.

Works fine for me

 

[DerelictDev]

Yes

 

[Sensai]

IDE wont be phased out for awhile, there will always be at least 1 ide channel maybe for the next 4 years or more due to the mass use of optical drives. the parallel port still exists on many new boards. something as old as serial port can definately be swept away.

Originally posted by: sandorski
I'd go SATA if you're buying new drives. The reason being that eventually IDE will be phased out, thus limiting future upgrades.

 

[Valkerie]

Originally posted by: w00t
SATA

I don't know what these folks are telling you, but if you don't get SATA, you pretty much rule out the idea of even having SATA on your motherboard. Firstly, it's much faster than IDE. I can install Starcraft in two minutes whereas it would take double the time with an IDE drive.

 

[imported_Kensai]

It all depends on the drive mechanics.
Some SATA drives are of newer generation than their IDE counterparts, like Maxtor's MaxLine compared to their DiamondMax. Their DiamondMax series uses a bridge to get onto SATA while the MaxLine's are native SATA.

Generally, you want a drive which is native SATA so you won't be slowed down by the bridge.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Generally, you want a drive which is native SATA so you won't be slowed down by the bridge.

I think this is my biggest concern...ensuring that the drive I select is native SATA...I also do not understand the nomenclature and difference between SATA150 and SATA2.

If someone could briefly explain the nomenclature, and what a 3GB/s SATA capable motherboard means respective to this nomenclature, that would help me the most.

Also, while I have used Maxtor drives in the past, many have recommened going Seagate Barracuda for this build...which company is considered ideal for making quiet and stable SATA drives?

 

[SVT Cobra]

Originally posted by: w00t
SATA

 

[t3h l337 n3wb]

SATA is 150 mbps and SATAII is 300mbps. However, no current drive even comes close to 150 mbps. They'll usually only hit like 50mbps, so it's not useful in terms of speed now, but it will be in the future. I'd still say that you should definitely go with SATA though, because IDE cable are fairly big and bulky, and since you already have an IDE drive in your rig, it would probably restrict some airflow. Also, SATA cables are easier to work with due to their thin-ness.

 

[Suspicious-Teach8788]

Originally posted by: Starbuck1975
Price wise, I believe SATA and IDE drives are comperable to the point of being negligeable...so it really becomes a question of performance...I have read several articles in a variety of online and published resources that classify SATA as being a technology yet to reach maturity...and as such, there are certain performance, stability and compatibility issues with utilizing SATA. If anything, there always seem to be postings on these forums from users who, not being familiar with SATA configurations, are having difficulty getting their system to run.

I don't know about that. All those 300 GB 200 gB hard drive sales are IDE drives. Fry's discounts IDE drives A LOT MORE than SATA drives....

But the difference isn't bad. It's not like a Raptor where storage is like $3 / gb or something...

And yes, go ahead and use your old IDE drive with a new SATA drive. I plan on using a 250gb SATA with a 160gb IDE.

 

[imported_Kensai]

Seagate's 7200.8 is my personal favorite line. Native SATA with NCQ. Quiet with good performance.

 

[Starbuck1975]

SATA is 150 mbps and SATAII is 300mbps. However, no current drive even comes close to 150 mbps. They'll usually only hit like 50mbps, so it's not useful in terms of speed now, but it will be in the future. I'd still say that you should definitely go with SATA though, because IDE cable are fairly big and bulky, and since you already have an IDE drive in your rig, it would probably restrict some airflow. Also, SATA cables are easier to work with due to their thin-ness.

So although there are 3GB/s capable motherboards on the market now, none of the hard drive manufacturers are offering anything yet that is capable of utilizing this capability, but there is the possibility that at some time in the future, they will hit this rate?

 

[lederhosen]

Ya if you want to make the step to SATA it really isn't that hard, but I concur that Seagates are good in general and highly recommend the 7200.8.

 

[Starbuck1975]

Ya if you want to make the step to SATA it really isn't that hard, but I concur that Seagates are good in general and highly recommend the 7200.8.

That's the drive I currently have selected for my new system...given the responses thus far, I will probably stick with that drive.

Thank you to everyone for their feedback and advice.

 

[JSt0rm]

I made a mistake a couple fo years ago installing my os on a 36gig raptor and leaving a ide hard drive connected at the same time. The windows install placed some files on the ide drive just by default. When I pulled that drive (ide) later on, the system was corrupted and it took a lot of troubleshooting to figure out the problem. When you do your os install on the sata drive make sure no other drive is connected.

 

[Starbuck1975]

I made a mistake a couple fo years ago installing my os on a 36gig raptor and leaving a ide hard drive connected at the same time. The windows install placed some files on the ide drive just by default. When I pulled that drive (ide) later on, the system was corrupted and it took a lot of troubleshooting to figure out the problem. When you do your os install on the sata drive make sure no other drive is connected.

Thanks for the heads up.