the great 137 gb barrier

[DarkAmeba]

I just purchased all the components for a new computer which I am putting together myself. Among these components are an Asus A7N8X Deluxe motherboard and a Western Digital 200gb Caviar SE hard drive. It came with an Ultra ATA PCI card. My question is do I need to use it or not. I'd rather not use a PCI slot. The A7N8X deluxe has 2 UltraDMA 133/100/66/33 IDE ports onboard. Will this support the 200gb HD? If it will do i need any special drivers? And.. if i don't need the PCI card.. there is no limitation to using the onboard IDE right? The PCI card won't perform better right? Thanks! BTW, I am doing a clean install using Win XP home edition sp1 (all components are brand new).

 

[elzt]

Since your motherboard has built-in ATA133 support, it will recognize the big drive. Just install the ATA133 driver at the very beginning of WinXP installation.

 

[LumberJack]

That should do it....



To err is human... to really screw things up you need a computer!

 

[DarkAmeba]

cool, thanks guys

 

[flowmaster]

You shouldnt need it. I have Gigabyte 7vaxp and a 160gig WD 8meg cache SE hard drive I didnt need to use the card but only the onboard IDE ports. I recommend formatting it then partition using data guard that comes with your Hard drive then install OS. I used winxp pro and when the window setup menu showed "Installing third party scsi or controller card press f8" I did that and put in my floppy disk that came with it. But you can go other routes but that seemed easiest without errors.
I didnt have a floppy drive because I dont use then and I need less cables in my case mod.. So I have to put a temporary one hanging out. I think ill grab a external floppy.

"I put a flowmaster on my Nvidia FX VIDEO CARD and reached a db score of 240db on Futuremark's DEAF METER 2003" Goto: <A HREF="http://www.Digitalstormonline.com" target="_new">http://www.Digitalstormonline.com</A>
<A HREF="http://www.jab-tech.com" target="_new">http://www.jab-tech.com</A>

 

[s1n9]

Sorry to ask these simple questions. :redface: I intend to do what DarkAmeba is doing & have the same question.

So, you use a DOS boot disk to boot-up. Then you format & partition the HDD using the included Data Guard software. By this stage, can I install the whole OS smoothly? And can the OS "see" the whole 200GB? I use W2K-Pro & I can't recall it prompting the user for installing 3rd-party drivers during installation. Can I install the OS safely, then install the drivers? Are the WD drivers absolutely necessary to enable the full 200GB?

Thank you!!!

 

[flowmaster]

IT prompts for install right when you enter the installtion after the first startup.. Look quick tho!


"I put a flowmaster on my Nvidia FX VIDEO CARD and reached a db score of 240db on Futuremark's DEAF METER 2003" Goto: <A HREF="http://www.Digitalstormonline.com" target="_new">http://www.Digitalstormonline.com</A>
<A HREF="http://www.jab-tech.com" target="_new">http://www.jab-tech.com</A>

 

[flowmaster]

oops.. I didnt realize you had win2k. I dont know about that =\. Try the western Digital websites.

"I put a flowmaster on my Nvidia FX VIDEO CARD and reached a db score of 240db on Futuremark's DEAF METER 2003" Goto: <A HREF="http://www.Digitalstormonline.com" target="_new">http://www.Digitalstormonline.com</A>
<A HREF="http://www.jab-tech.com" target="_new">http://www.jab-tech.com</A>