IDE

[leichaolan]

Currently, I've got a DVD rom, a primary HD, and a removable HD. In the future, I'd like to add a burner and another non-removable HD. Question is, how do I do this. I think the primary and secondary IDE can only have two devices each so I'll have to sacrifice something. Is there any way to basically have extra IDE devices installed in your system? If there is and you do it, will it seriously hog your pc resources? Thanks.

[diurnal]

Its called a promise controller, never used one so dont know about the resources or what not. Should be at every retail store on line. Its basically a pci card and has a ide controller on it. See ya

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Sledgehammer will save the day!

[andyswork@beci.net]

I have one in every system I got(3). I also use removeable hard drives. On a promise card you can add up to 4 new devices. I have been using mine for 9 mons. without any trouble. I think they are about $40 to $50. That will solve your problem. On my system, even with the promice card I am maxed out and still no problems.

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One day I will be a pro, Thanks Andy

[leichaolan]

Hey thanks man, that helped a lot. I went to their website, and I'll probaby go with that solution. How does it work though? What happens if I plug the HD with the OS into it? Will it still boot up, or do these things just work with HD's that are used solely for storage? On a slightly different note, are there any differences between the primary and secondary IDE ports in your mainboard besides their labels?

[andyswork@beci.net]

I can go into bios and set my boot order to scsi and it boots to promice card. I would leave my o/s on ide. no differance on motherboard. You have to load drivers so if you format promice will not work until you have o/s and card drivers loaded. Any other help I can I will.


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One day I will be a pro, Thanks Andy

[This message has been edited by andyswork@beci.net (edited 11-11-2001).]

[bassman]

Hello Leichaolan,
I believe if you have onboard IDEs, then adding a card will simply add more drive capacity in the order that you add cards. The difference between Primary and Secondary is, the system will look to the Primary first, and be looking for your Master device on that channel (your C http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/smile.gif
Example:
6 HDDs, the first device will be "Primary/Master" on the primary onboard.
Second device will be Primary/Slave on the primary onboard.
Third device will be Secondary/Master on the secondary onboard.
Fourth device will be Secondary/Slave on the secondary onboard.
The last 2 will be Master and Slave on the first card installed and so on.
Good luck

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Please let us know if what we suggest helps. This helps us help you better.

[leichaolan]

Thanks a lot bassman, I'll probably do that, once I get the cash of course...

[kenja]

I've got the earlier versions from Promise, the Ultra33 and Ultra66. The Ultra66 can still be found at discount vendors. Works great, but my Plextor 8/4/32 insists on being connected to the motherboard.

If no hard drive is connected to the motherboard controller, no change to the BIOS settings is needed.

No problem with resources unless you try installing multiple PCI-to-IDE controllers.

[diurnal]

kenya you have excellent taste , plextors rule http://www.PCGuide.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Sledgehammer will save the day!

[kenja]

Yeah, I'd have to say there's none better. I've also got the 8/4/32 SCSI Plextor, great combo with a 40x SCSI Plextor.

If I were to buy today, though, I'd get a 24/10/40 Lite-On (http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduct.asp?submit=manufactory&catalog=5&manufactory=1336). The Plextors are just too expensive.

[andyswork@beci.net]

I go into bios to boot to promice card because I have DOS 6.22 on small hard drive just to play with and learn. I have Plextor 12x10x32a and bought it before prices came down, does that put me in the uper class?

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One day I will be a pro, Thanks Andy