Massive HD compatibility w/older MOBO

[jimmj43]

I've been engaged in doing some semi-n00b-grade upgrades to my machine. Got some bigger RAM sticks (wrong kind), got a replacement 7200RPM HD (wrong connectors). I'm learning as I'm going here. As an old fossil on a fixed income, by budget is limited, so I have to shop around. I'm looking for another, bigger HD and I may have found one, but there's a compatibility question. My machine's an older Compaq Presario, 5WV280, with an 06E4h MOBO, 900MHz CPU and 512M of RAM. I've been eyeing a 7200RPM 500G HD. Am I thinking in terms of a viable HD or a funny-looking, oversize paperweight?

 

[jitpublisher]

It has to be an IDE drive, you probably knew that.
Your boards controller is an ATA66 Ultra DMA.
The standard drive for you PC when it was new was a 20 gig 4400/5400rpm drive.

I think the largest drive your board could possibly support is going to be 120gig. It may go more, but at the time your PC was made, 80 gig drives were the big boys on the block.

Also, you will need to running XP SP1 or newer or your Operating System cannot use or detect drives over 128gig either.

 

[jimmj43]

Thanks, jit. You cut to the bone quickly & cleanly with really good info. I DID learn about IDE -vs- SATA connectors and found a nifty solution:
http://www.cooldrives.com/satoidecofor.html

 

[jitpublisher]

You would probably be better off by finding a PCI version of an SATA controller card, as long as you have an OS that supports the large drive as well.
You would also be able to get more benefit from the faster drive by not limiting it to your onboard ATA66 controller. Here is an example.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816124008