windows XP and SATA

[kuda]

1 quick question and 1 observation:

Question: With a brand new system how difficult / problematic is installing SATA hdd with windows xp sp2. I have read over and over how people need to bring your own floppy with sata drivers and install at the f6 prompt ... for some it works for others they continue to have problems of windows not picking up the drive. im surprised this simple issue hasn't gotten its own post by the editors here under the HD section as they recommend SATA drives and XP operating system. both a walk thru and a premptive caution for the newer computer builders would be very beneficial.


Oberservation: In the new October mid-range system guide you suggest as an alternative the MSI K8N NEO platinum MOBO and to go along with it a PCIe video card. I do not believe this NEO platinum mobo supports any type of PCIe cards. i'm on the verge of purchasing this board and wish it had one but alas im stuck with agp. am i overlooking a PCIe slot on this somehow? :/


Thanks for any feedback / directions on installation of sata with new XP install / and the PCIe catch.


~J

 

[ts3433]

I'm not sure how difficult it is, but I really wouldn't recommend SATA at all right now unless you do lots of RAID or absolutely must use Raptors or MaxLines. As of now it offers no performance benefit over regular IDE 7200RPM/8MB drives and is often a tad pricier and harder to set up.

 

[Ka0t1x]

Actually there's a significant performance gain from SATA, Raptors or not. About the drivers, most motherboards have 2 types of SATA adapters, ones on the Northbridge and Actual SATA chips.. for most motherboards, if you use the northbridge it will let you install your OS, and then you can install your Chipset drivers and that will take care of it ( functions as another "IDE" channel. ), with the Actual SATA adapter chips, you have to have your own floppy or slip stream your drivers to a Windows XP CD. ( Unattended@MSFN )

About the observation.. the PCIe video cards will be avail with the Nforce 4 chipset, due sometime in November.

 

[John]

Originally posted by: Ka0t1x
About the drivers, most motherboards have 2 types of SATA adapters, ones on the Northbridge and Actual SATA chips.

Southbridge

 

[imported_Nacelle]

So, could I set a mobo in a pool of water and have it act like a compass? Northbridge always faces north?

 

[oldman420]

Does that board even have a north bridge?

 

[Ka0t1x]

Oops, south..