[n] Large HDD support 4

[niravpatel]

Hi there all.
Greetings..

Straight question.
My motherboard, Intel CA810E is out of Intel support. So, no BIOS updatres available...
I have two HDD (20 + 8) and two optical drives. I would like to have on e more HDD (80 GB).

1. Does my motherboard supports large HDD like >80GB ?
2. I don't have BIOS updates so how do I set this new HDD with full capacity as a main HDD (i.e. with OS on it)
3. If I use PCI - IDE controller card, will it solve the problem of supporting large HDD and if I connect this to PCI will I able to boot it from it as a main drive?

Final point,
I want to have 80 GB HDD working as full capacity (even if I have to remove any of my previous old HDD/Optical drives)

ANY (Straight) SOLUTION....

Thanks...

Nirav

Nirav Patel
#include<NoOneLivesForever>

 

[ski]

Your old BIOS will probably not see a HD that large, but the HD may come with software to work around that issue.
Check with the supplier on the HD's software.

If the BIOS cannot see it and the HD does not have the required software, then a PCI IDE card may fix things. But make sure BIOS has the option to boot from SCSI so that the new HD will be bootable.

The other issue is the O/S. If you use Windows 98, then its fdisk partitioning and formatting utility will recognize only up to a 64 GB HD.

 

[wolluf]

Would agree with ski - but there is a patch for the 64GB issue on 98 -

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;263044&Product=w98

 

[niravpatel]

Hi,
My board is Intel Desktop Board CA810E and Intel has stopped the support (new BIOS, drivers etc)
So, If I choose to have new HDD on IDE (pri/sec) Is there any option apart from BIOS upgrade to have access the whole HDD size. What's that overlay soft as mentioned by one of the answer and will it affect the performance (some mapping of tracks/sectors, ??)

Also, I have heard that if I use PCI IDE controller, I must disable the onboard IDE otherwise I can't use this new card, is it true? (this is strange and I think is not true but i m not sure)

Final, I already have four drives as mentioned (2 HDD, 2 optical) I just want to add new HDD (80 GB) and expect all other to continue functioning as it it also I'll make this new HDD as system HDD (i.e. all OS and booting from that)

Any idea??

Thanks
Nirav


Nirav Patel
#include<NoOneLivesForever>

 

[ski]

If you plan to use all 5 drives, then you will have to install a PCI IDE controller card.
And you do not have to disable any of the onboard IDE controllers in order to use it.

But in order to get maximum performance out of the new HD, it's recommended to connect it to the PCI card, since the card's chipset should support up to ATA/133(which is probably the new HD's maximum burst rate), while your MB's chipset may be limited to ATA/33.
But if the new HD is connected to the PCI card and you want to use it as the boot drive, then your BIOS must have an option to configure SCSI as the 1st boot device.

If the SCSI boot option does not exist in BIOS, then you will have to either connect the new HD to the onboard IDE 1 channel and hope that either the BIOS recognizes it, or that the HD's software gets it recognized.
Otherwise, it will be time to shop for a new MB.

 

[garebo]

Im going to suggest you simply get a new hard drive if you cant use the pci ide card for your primary hard drive, mainly because if you have to rely on the mobo ide then your new hard drive will likely only run at the 33 speed and will drag you down so slow you will not be happy with it. Again, its only a suggestion.

 

[garebo]

Sorry, in above post, i meant to suggest you get a new motherboard, not new hard drive.

 

[niravpatel]

Hi all,
Well, fortunately when I jsut tried attaching one 80 GB HDD to my main onboard IDE, BIOS shows 76 GB and Windows XP says 74.X GB........phew...
So, I don't need BIOS support now and no PCI IDE is required... )

One thing, In boot option in BIOS it shows "ARMD HDD" along with other options like floppy, ATAPI CDROM, IDE 0...etc; what's that?

Thanks for answering...

Nirav

Nirav Patel
#include<NoOneLivesForever>

 

[ski]

I already have four drives as mentioned (2 HDD, 2 optical) I just want to add new HDD (80 GB) and expect all other to continue functioning"
If this is still your plan, then you will have to install a PCI IDE controller card.

ARMD -> ATAPI Removable Media Device
ARMD HDD -> Zip drive, etc.

 

[niravpatel]

Hi all,
What abt this 80 cunductor cable thing?
I have one 80 cundct. IDE cable, on which my current two HDDs are working (pri)..and other one is 40 cundct. on which two optical drives (CDROM + CDRW) are working...

Is there any performace boost from 40 -> 80 cundct. How much? IS it worth to buy new 80 cundct and replace 40 cundct?

Thanks..
Nirav

Nirav Patel
#include<NoOneLivesForever>

 

[garebo]

The 40 pin cables are fine for optical drives. Most newer hard drives will work only on 80 pin ide cables. So you can leave the 40 pin cables on the optical drives as is.

 

[niravpatel]

How abt the performance diff between 40 & 80 conduct. cables?

Nirav Patel
#include<NoOneLivesForever>

 

[garebo]

I dont think there is a performance difference with 40 pin ide cables and optical drives.
I believe there is a difference with some hard drives as some hard drives wont work with a 40 pin cable, and most of the newer hard drives wont work with a 40 pin cable, so 80 pin is best as even older hard drives that will work with 40 pin will also work with 80 pin. I have found this to be true about 99% of the time.
The difference between the 40 pin and 80 pin is that the 80 pin cable allows some sort of better communication, maybe less interference and better signaling, kind of like a shielded versus an unshielded cable. You dont get more speed out of a 80 pin cable, just less interference and better quality signals with less errors. And since some hard drives are running so fast, the 80 pin cable is needed, while perhaps the optical cdroms dont run that fast so they only need the 40 pin cable. Its something like that, minus the real technical wording that i cant recall at this moment.

 

[Freestone]

40-conductor cable:

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/if/ide/conf_Cable.htm

80-conductor:

http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/if/ide/confCable80-c.html

 

[niravpatel]

Thanks all. That is of great help.
What could be the best combination for;
1. New 7000 rpm 80 GB UDMA HDD
2. Old 5400 rpm 20 GB UDMA HDD
3. Old 5400 rpm 8 GB (UDMA?) HDD
4. CD Writer (support UDMA mode 2)

I think
Primary(80 pin) : master -> 7000 rpm 80 GB HDD
slave -> CD Writer

Secondary (40 pin) : master -> 5400 rpm 20 GB HDD
slave -> 5400 rpm 8 GB HDD

Reason: We don't use CDRW on an often so there woun't be interference to new 80 GB HDD and the whole line is dedicated to HDD in primary channel(My guess!!) is it correct?

Can any one suggest me the best performar combination of the above mentioned config?

If I replace 40 -> 80 pn cable (sa i have only one 40 pin, now), will is increase performance ( + reliability!)

Thanks,


Nirav Patel
#include<NoOneLivesForever>

 

[garebo]

That is a good combination that you have mentioned.

I would suggest you replace the 40 pin cable as it will likely improve reliability and most of us either already have extras or can get one from a friend or somewhere else real cheap.

 

[TekTippy4U]

niravpatel;
all you had to do was POST that info in the beginning you bozo

TT4U

Notification:
These are just my thoughts....and should be carefully measured against other opinions.
Backup All Important Data/Docs

 

[garebo]

Ya, he could have, but he didnt. Thats the nice thing about this place, it answers pretty much all questions. I know I have asked some questions that i should have already known the answer. Better to ask and find out, least you get the right answers here!