3 HDs?

[Reiten]

I need to get a new desktop to replace my ancient one. However, I want to keep my two existing HDs as they're both relatively new. I'm looking at a Dell 9100 and need to ask a question. If I only have one DVD-r/w drive, can I hook up my existing 2 drives (non-SATA) w/ the included SATA drive? So a total of 3HD with one DVD drive. I know I'll need to figure out a way to secure the 3rd HD, but otherwise will this work? Anything special I need to know or do?

The HD faq seemed to indicate that this should work, but I wanted to make sure as it will affect the size of drive I buy with the Dell. Thanks!

 

[_WW_]

It will work as long as the Dell mobo has two IDE channels which it should. Another option would be to add a PCI HDD controller card to add even more devices.

....WW (5.1)

 

[Crashman]

Dell 9100? Standard Intel chipset? Nope, you'll only get one ATA100 connector, supporting at most two 40-pin drives. That is, unless Dell is being generous and adding an onboard PCI controller chip.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[Crashman]

Er, Intel's PCI-Express chipsets only support one ATA100 channel plus SATA. His board would need an onboard PCI IDE controller chip to support more.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[Reiten]

Thanks for the help! Based on your feedback, I checked and the Dell 9100 (a high-end model) uses the Intel 945P chipset, if that helps. I don't know enough to say anything for certain, but this document:
http://www.intel.com/products/chipsets/945p/prodbrief.pdf

has a diagram saying it has "4 Serial ATA Ports". Does that mean I can connect up to 4 HD? Thanks for helping me!

 

[Crashman]

That means you can connect up to 4 SATA hard drives. But you specifically asked about non-SATA IDE drives (parallel ATA, ie, 40-pin), and your chipset only supports one header for up to two drives. And those positions are likely taken already by optical drives (DVD, CD drives).

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[Reiten]

Ah, now I get it. Thanks for the help!

 

[Reiten]

Just one quick follow-up question. (if I need to take this to a different part of the forums, just tell me)

A PCI IDE controller card was mentioned as a possible solution. I'd never even heard of them before, but will that work with this chipset?

Thanks for putting up with my questions!

 

[Crashman]

Yes, an IDE controller card would work fine. In the U.S., 99% of them are bootable. While non-bootable cards are cheaper, you might have a hard time finding one.

Because card BIOS can override motherboard BIOS for boot order in some systems, if you're stuck with a bootable card, you might try to find one where boot BIOS can be disabled.

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>

 

[Crashman]

Back in the days when a cheap bootable card was $25, you could find a non-bootable card for $18. Non-bootable would be better for adding drives that you don't want to boot from. But non-bootable cards are getting rare, he might have to step up to a $50 card just to get the option to disable the boot feature!

<font color=blue>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to a hero as big as Crashman!</font color=blue>
<font color=red>Only a place as big as the internet could be home to an ego as large as Crashman's!</font color=red>