The Right ATA Controller?

Alex_is_Axel

.:: FTPAlex ::.
Joined
2 Jun 2002
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Goodevening everyone,

I have now come to a time where i do not have enough IDE slots on my motherboard anymore to have anymore hard drives :(

So.. its time for a hardware boost :D

Ok, I want an ATA Controller which can let me have more hard drives. The hard drive i would like to add to this new ATA controller is a Western Digital 120GB 5400RPM which is Ultra ATA/100.

*If you are wondering, yes this does mean this would be my third 120GB hard drive on my computer*

I have found a shop near me website in the UK called Maplin and it has 2 ATA Controllers but at different prices. I was wondering which would be the best option for me in getting a new ATA Controller, either one i dont mind buying. I have the money for buying either.. i just want to make sure i will be gettin a suitable one

The first one i found is here:
ATA/100 £14.99
Its priced at £14.99 and is capable of supporting the hard drive i want to add.. right?

The second one i found is here:
ATA/133 £39.99

So which one is the best to get?

I have also come across with this one:
Ultra ATA 133 PCI RAID £19.99
Is this one better than the other to?

Thank you for all your time and help, i am most greatful :)

Sincerly Alex
:cool:
 
PROMISE ULTRA 133 TX2 PCI CONTROLLER FOR 33/66MHZ PCI BUS FOR 4 HDD RET

this card does a lot of work for me. and does it very well.
 
only seen one of them for the ATA100 and thats £50 :eek:

What about the ones i posted? Aren't any of them any good? :(
 
not compared to the promise TX2 card no, is your happy with ATA100 then get the TX2 for £50, if you pick a cheeper card, they use more system resource to run. i can transfer files and use almost no CPU usage on the controller card. i run software raid with XP, still susprised at the sisoft benchmark wetting all over a ultra scsi 15,000 rpm :)
 
ATA/133 Host Adaptor @ £39.99 has on board bus mastering, i wouldnt trust the £20 and £15 models as far as i could push them into a motherboard. i know its £50 for a TX2 but think of a 120gb on each channel swopping gigs of movies without your PC breaking a sweat.
 
Do the hard drives used on the ATA.. get shown up like normal on the My Computer screen? Does the extra IDE slots show up on the motherboard BIOS? How do i set up new hard drives on them? Do i just plug it in and then Windows will install the drivers it needs?
 
Maxtor UDMA133 Controller PCI Retail

£30.00 (inc VAT)

at www.dabs.com - Quicklinx: 28J4WS

:) I have it and it works fine! And cheap too!
 
So the ATA/133 Host Adaptor is the best out of the 3 i spoke about? I dont mind payin £40 :)
 
which is better.. the ATA/133 Host Adaptor i spoke about or the Maxtor UDMA 133 Controller PCI?
 
ATA133 TX2. Promise is renound as 1 of the best ATA card makers. Maxtor are good at makin hard drives.

and its a 2nd BIOS after the System BIOS, loads up any attached drives and they show in windows like any other drive, the cards installed as a SCSI adapter as far as windows is concernd
 
Thank you for your help everyone,

Ill have alook tomorrow to see what i can get and ill let you know how i got on

Thank you once again

Alex
:cool:
 
I use Ultra ATA 133 SIIG from PC World £29.99, but possibly cheaper elsewhere.
Runs a NEC DVD RW.
 

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