SCSI vs. EIDE

ZachMarius

Senior member
May 6, 2004
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I'm looking at a Seagate 18.2GB 10,000RPM SCSI drive and am wondering if it'll work with my regular EIDE drives. I have a Seagate 120GB EIDE and a Western Digital 100GB EIDE. I'm planning on having the 10,000 be just the OS and the 120 my storage. Is there any special cables that I need to get or is it just like an EIDE in that I can plug it in, install it, and do with it what I will?
 

Calin

Diamond Member
Apr 9, 2001
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It is a bit more difficult than that. You must reinstall the operating system on the SCSI drive. So you will need a SCSI controller and a SCSI cable.
To install, you must have on a floppy disk the "XP installation drivers" for your SCSI controller. During installation, press F6 when asked and insert the floppy, then let the Windows installer to recognize the drive.
There is no incompatibilities between different storage medium, as long as I know of.
Remeber: if you don't already have a SCSI controller, you need one. Also a SCSI cable for the SCSI disk. You should buy a SCSI controller at least as fast as your hard drive speed, and with the same cable width (there are three widths for SCSI cables)

Calin
 

ZachMarius

Senior member
May 6, 2004
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I'm not wanting to run it like a SCSI drive. I'm just trying to run it like a EIDE. So would I still even then need the SCSI controller, and SCSI cable? BTW it's a new drive straight from Seagate so the cables and disk should come with it. I've looked at the SCSI cables and they seem the exact same as EIDE cables. Am I wrong in assuming this?
 

alm4rr

Diamond Member
Dec 21, 2000
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I don't recall anyone ever running a SCSI as IDE as they are mutual exclusive

I dont recall any SCSI to IDE adapters
Doesn't ment it doesn't exist, tho :)
 

Sideswipe001

Golden Member
May 23, 2003
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Originally posted by: ZachMarius
I'm not wanting to run it like a SCSI drive. I'm just trying to run it like a EIDE. So would I still even then need the SCSI controller, and SCSI cable? BTW it's a new drive straight from Seagate so the cables and disk should come with it. I've looked at the SCSI cables and they seem the exact same as EIDE cables. Am I wrong in assuming this?

Very. They are not the same. Some older SCSI cables LOOK similar, but are bigger.

It is impossible to do what you are suggesting. You need a SCSI controller to use SCSI HDs.
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
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If you manage to get a SCSI drive plugged into an ATA cable, I wanna see :camera:'s! :confused:

If you'd like to use your SCSI drive, you can start with an LSI Logic Ultra160 SCSI card from Newegg, they're in the $33 area. You'll need an LVD SCSI cable and terminator too, which might be cheaper to get elsewhere since Newegg only carries pricey round ones last I looked. This assumes the drive is a 68-pin model and not 80-pin SCA-2 (which is designed for hot-plug systems).
 

Steve

Lifer
May 2, 2004
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I'm not sure if there are SCSI to IDE adapters, I know there are IDE to SCSI adapters but for their price you may as well get a card and cable, and run it like it ought to be. The LSI U160 card is a great choice.
 

dclive

Elite Member
Oct 23, 2003
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Originally posted by: Calin
It is a bit more difficult than that. You must reinstall the operating system on the SCSI drive. So you will need a SCSI controller and a SCSI cable.
Calin

You don't need to reinstall. Just install the SCSI controller driver while you're using the IDE disk, then ghost it over to the SCSI drive.
 

helpmeout

Senior member
Sep 24, 2001
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Last week when I went to install SCSI drivers, my Win XP,sp2 told me it already had the drivers.
 

ZachMarius

Senior member
May 6, 2004
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After I recieve the drive I will check the connection on the drive to see if I can do without the SCSI controller. For what I've researched the drive should be able to slip right into an IDE without any problems. If this is the case I'll post pics of the revolutionary new (lol) SCSI drive that runs on IDE.

Chris
 

Sideswipe001

Golden Member
May 23, 2003
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I'd like to see the model number or a link to this "revolutionary" new drive.

Seagate's website lists 2 18GB drives (ST318453LC, and ST318453LW) and both are 15K RPM SCSI. None of the IDE ones are 18 GB.

I have a feeling that we will be seeing another post soon asking about a good SCSI controller. Don't say we didn't warn you.
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
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Looks like someone's determined to learn stuff the hard way here... :confused:
 

ZachMarius

Senior member
May 6, 2004
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OK I'm a git and I didn't truly believe it would work but....eh. I have no problem admitting my fault. It is a SCSI true and I'm now trying to figure out what kind of SCSI it is. What would the pin set be? I know it's a

Seagate
18.6GB
10,000RPM
Cheetah.

I'll post the model number when I get back to the drive. I would also like help (instructions) installing the drive in an older machine. What I'm trying to do is take my computer now, and replace the old C: drive (Seagate 120GB 5400RPM) and put in the SCSI for a faster load time. I'd like to keep all my info from my C: drive but I don't know if this is possible. Would I have to do a full wipe/reinstall of the OS or is it possible to transfer the OS to the SCSI and keep the files and folders accessible on my old one.
 

jiffylube1024

Diamond Member
Feb 17, 2002
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Originally posted by: ZachMarius
OK I'm a git and I didn't truly believe it would work but....eh. I have no problem admitting my fault. It is a SCSI true and I'm now trying to figure out what kind of SCSI it is. What would the pin set be? I know it's a

Seagate
18.6GB
10,000RPM
Cheetah.

I'll post the model number when I get back to the drive. I would also like help (instructions) installing the drive in an older machine. What I'm trying to do is take my computer now, and replace the old C: drive (Seagate 120GB 5400RPM) and put in the SCSI for a faster load time. I'd like to keep all my info from my C: drive but I don't know if this is possible. Would I have to do a full wipe/reinstall of the OS or is it possible to transfer the OS to the SCSI and keep the files and folders accessible on my old one.

I'm pretty sure that's an older SCSI drive; it probably would be similar in performance to today's large 7200 RPM Hard Drives; a bit faster in seek times but for transfers, probably about the same speed (due to the massive difference in platter size).

If you really want a *faster* drive for your boot drive, I'd look into a Western Digital Raptor 10,000 rpm Serial ATA HD. SATA is the "new IDE" so to speak, for home computers anyways, and it's faster than older SCSI drives, only losing out to the new 15K Ultra320 SCSI HD's.

About the cables for IDE and SCSI - they are totally different. IDE uses a 40-pin ("80-conductor) cable, while SCSI is 68-pin I believe.
 

ZachMarius

Senior member
May 6, 2004
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Found the Model number it's ST118202LC

So would you suggest returning this one and buy a SATA for my OS? IS what I"m proposing possible?
 

mastertech01

Moderator Emeritus Elite Member
Nov 13, 1999
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That is an SCA hard drive designed for hot swap in a raid tower. (80 pin with no external molex power connector or ID jumpers) To run it individually you will need an SCA LVD adaptor (which converts 80 pin to 68 pin interface with molex power connector and necessary ID jumpers), a 68 pin LVD SCSI cable with terminator, and at least a U2W LVD controller card. Return it and stick with what you know, as SCSI has moved up several generations since that drive was released and it would not improve your performance over a nice SATA Raptor or something along those lines.
 

ZachMarius

Senior member
May 6, 2004
353
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Would anyone know where to pick up jumpers for drives and IDE and SATA cables for pretty cheap. It seems as though Hard drives are a lucritive business. Thanks!
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
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Newegg.com, MWave.com and ZipZoomFly.com are three popular online stores if you live in the USA. Which it looks like you do :)

This might be a good time to mention that SATA is not always simple to get set up either. On some boards it works like regular ATA drives would. On some boards you'll need to have the SATA controller's drivers on a floppy diskette, press the F6 key when prompted during Windows Setup, and maybe alter the boot-device priority settings in your motherboard's BIOS. On some boards it's sort of like a nightmare, except you can't wake up because you aren't asleep :shocked: So what motherboard do you happen to have? :)
 

ZachMarius

Senior member
May 6, 2004
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The board that I'm wanting to put it in is an OEM crom Compaq. It's an S4300NX. I can't say what exact board it is.
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
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I found the spec page and it appears to not have any SATA ports, although you could open it up and do a reality check. So you would need a PCI Serial ATA card to host the hard drive.
 

ZachMarius

Senior member
May 6, 2004
353
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I searched Newegg.com and Zipzoomfly.com and found nothing on jumpers for a hard drive. I'm not sure if they manufactor them to be sold to the general public. I mean it seems like an easy thing to create but I'm not about to create one of my own just because I need a couple. I shall continue searching but would like to ask for assistance in finding some. Thanks!
 

mechBgon

Super Moderator<br>Elite Member
Oct 31, 1999
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Heh, send me a PM with your mailing address and you'll have some free jumpers on Wednesday ;) Will six be enough?