Multiple Hard Drives

[scottypup]

I would like to add a second hard drive to my system. It will be used mainly for data files and things like MP3's and such. I would store all of my photos and that sort of stuff also on this drive.

My question is this: Do I need to set this up in a RAID or can it be hooked in as simply another IDE device. I currently have 4 IDE devices (Hard Drive and Zip on secondary and CD Burner and DVD on primary) so I understand that I will need to buy a controller to add a tertiary controller.

The system is a Pentium II 333 MHz.

Another question. Can this sytem be upgraded to a faster processor? And if so how much trouble is it.

Any help on this would be very welcome.

Scott

[Gallaeglagh]

I came acroos the same thing with my comp recently and just decided to leave off the zip drive. At first it bothered me but it's easier to back things up on the second hard drive than the zip anyway. And yes you will need to pci card to add a fifth drive - you might need a 350 watt power supply also. You can probably get a faster processor onto your mobo but might consider waitng to do a processor/mobo/video card upgrade.

Oh and welcome to the board and please just post the same question in one area.

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Sweet Intoxication

[scottypup]

Sorry. After I posted it on here I noticed that the upgrade forum would be better.


OK I understand the Mobo and the processor but why the video card?

On the HD are you are saying that I do not have to install a RAID just add it as another IDE? How do I know what size power supply I have now. Is it just common that a normal config OEM will not have one that big? Also if I do add this will I need to isntall a bigger fan?

Thanks for the help.

[Gallaeglagh]

There's probably better qualified people here to answer all your questions than me but if you upgrade to a 1 gig processor or so your present video card will probably be insufficient.

Your power supply should be labeled on the side.



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Sweet Intoxication

[hiredgoonz]

OEM systems usually have small power supplies, since they are designed to run what they brung, so to speak...

For example, if you buy a gateway with one cd drive, hd, no case fans, you can get about a 90W power supply...the more stuff it has, the bigger the supply...

You don't have to use RAID, just get an IDE controller card and hook it up (following the directions of course)

As far as a CPU uprade, I can't remember how fast the 66mhz bus P2 went to, 366 or 400, but if your mobo supports a 100mhz bus also, you could go up to 450mhz...check in your BIOS to see what settings are available to you and see if there is any documentation available for your mobo...

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When all else fails, read the instructions.

[This message has been edited by hiredgoonz (edited 08-10-2001).]

[scottypup]

Ok now I'll show my real ignorance.

What controller do I need to look for to add the 5th IDE circuit?

What about Gallaeglagh's suggestion of upgrading the processor/mobo/video card all at once? Would this eliminate any restrictions on the P2? If I do this is there any limitation on what I can upgrade to? P3 P4 Athlon?

How do I get to BIOS and check those settings?

[hiredgoonz]

A Promise ATA controller (Maxtor, Compusa and other companies make them also) is all you need, it will plug into a PCI slot and give you two additional IDE channels, each supporting up to 2 devices...

The settings for your CPU and Bus speed could be somewhere in you BIOS setup, depending on what system you have, pressing Delete (Award BIOS) or F1 (Gateway) or F2 (NEC) or F10 (Compaq) when the computer company logo appears on the screen should get you into the BIOS...DON'T change ANYTHING unless you know exactly what it does...also, you may have to move a jumper on the mobo itself to enter the appropriate setup screen for changing CPU speed...or it may be a board that you have to move jumpers on the board to set the bus speed, multiplier and voltage...you really need a manual to do this safely...

If you upgrade your cpu/mobo you are essentially building a new computer...

Some things you need to consider:

1) If you have an OEM system, the case may be proprietary and not work with the regular ATX mobos you're going to find now, so it may need to be replaced (if you build a P4 system you WILL need a new case)

2) Even if you can use your old case, you'll most likely need a new power supply at least in the 250-300W category to power a P3/P4/Athlon with the stuff you mention

3) You probably have PC66 SDRAM in your system, so you'll need new memory no matter what you go with (PC100 or 133 or DDR for an Athlon depending on what kind you get, RDRAM for the P4, and PC133 for a P3)

4) A video card upgrade is not necessary as long as your old one is a separate card and not built into your old board (but if you do gaming, you'll eventually want a new vidcard) I think that was what Gallaeglagh was getting at, depending on why you want to upgrade your system, a new video card might be more helpful than a new cpu...

5) Speaking of built in vid cards, if any other components are built into your old mobo, you'll need to buy new ones for the new mobo...

6) If you have an OEM system, make sure you have an actual Windows CD that you can use to install your OS on the new system and not a Restoration CD, these only work with the original computer...

So, no, there is no limitation on what you can upgrade to if you're willing to take on building a system from scratch...your old hard drives, cd drives, floppy and other components should all work in the new system, the only things you will need are the cpu/mobo, probably a new case, and maybe a new OS...

I'm certainly not trying to discourage you, but there are some things you should know before you go buy a new cpu/mobo and just try to slap everything together...

More than enough help and info is available on this site to get you through it if you decide to build one, so good luck...

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When all else fails, read the instructions.

[This message has been edited by hiredgoonz (edited 08-10-2001).]

[scottypup]

You have been very helpful and I really appreciate it.

This is my last qustion.

Am I doing this the hard way? What I want to do is totally upgrade a three year old system. But I see no need to buy a new monitor, zip drive, dvd drive, floppy drice, cd burner. My thinking was that I could replace all of the system stuff and keep those items and do it a lot cheaper. Am I correct in this or not. Should I instead buy a new case and move the components that I'm keeping and then treat it like a new build?

Thanks

Scott

[hiredgoonz]

That's what I would do...and it is actually a pretty common practice...

The best place to start in your situation is probably with a new case, CPU, and mobo...

If you can afford a new vid card, go for it...

And since you're getting a new hard drive...I would go for a fast 7200 rpm, ata 100 drive and use it for your boot drive in the new system, a new mobo will probably support ata100, so you'll be using it in the best way possible and your older drives can be used for storage (which is good since they presumably already have your files on them)


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When all else fails, read the instructions.

[Dinosaur]

ASUShhas a motherboard with 4 IDE ports, allowing up to 8 IDE devices. I would go for that motherboard and a new processor.

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Gouverneur
Eschew Obfuscation!
If one hundred million people believe a foolish idea, it is still a foolish idea.

[Dinosaur]

BTW: Except for special situations, RAID is not as good an idea as it seems. It can be less efficient due to increased latency time (assuming you do not have spindle synchronous disks). If something goes wrong, with one disk you are in deep doggie doo. If something goes wrong with your motherbaord, you might have a lot of trouble recovering your data (you cannot install RAID disks on another system and bring the system up without a lot of work).

RIAD is best suited to applications which read & write huge files, requiring lots of data transfers for each I/O. It is not good for dealing with lots of small files.

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Gouverneur
Eschew Obfuscation!
If one hundred million people believe a foolish idea, it is still a foolish idea.

[Paleo Pete]

Only thing I see that's not already pointed out is concerning video cards. Most newer systems and motherboards use AGP video cards. If your current system uses a PCI card (or built in) a new video card will be needed, if you go the full upgrade route.



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