New Controller with New Drive or Not?

[Bob Simon]

I want to replace the 20GB HD in my 4 year old computer with one
that's 80 - 120GB and faster. I need some information and advice on
whether to add a new controller or if it's reasonable to continue
using the on-board IDE controller. The MB manual says it supports
"ATA/33 or ATA/66 hard drives" and "PIO Mode 3 and Mode 4 Enhanced
IDE". I'm looking for both good value and good performance. Specific
recommendations are welcome.

 

[Arno Wagner]

I want to replace the 20GB HD in my 4 year old computer with one
that's 80 - 120GB and faster. I need some information and advice on
whether to add a new controller or if it's reasonable to continue
using the on-board IDE controller. The MB manual says it supports
"ATA/33 or ATA/66 hard drives" and "PIO Mode 3 and Mode 4 Enhanced
IDE". I'm looking for both good value and good performance. Specific
recommendations are welcome.

With a single HDD, ATA/66 is still adequate today. An extra controller
in a PCI-slot would not necessarily help much, since the PCI bus is a
bottleneck.

Arno

 

[Bob Simon]

With a single HDD, ATA/66 is still adequate today. An extra controller
in a PCI-slot would not necessarily help much, since the PCI bus is a
bottleneck.

Arno

Thanks, I'm glad to hear that. Would a 7200 rpm drive give noticably
better performance than a 5400 in my system?

 

[Rod Speed]

Thanks, I'm glad to hear that. Would a 7200 rpm drive give
noticably better performance than a 5400 in my system?

Yep, you'll notice the difference immediately.

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

With a single HDD, ATA/66 is still adequate today.
An extra controller in a PCI-slot would not necessarily help much,

since the PCI bus is a bottleneck.

Nonsense. Not for a single ATA133 harddrive.
Not even for two ATA100 harddrives.

 

[Arno Wagner]

With a single HDD, ATA/66 is still adequate today. An extra controller
in a PCI-slot would not necessarily help much, since the PCI bus is a
bottleneck.

Arno

[/QUOTE]

Thanks, I'm glad to hear that. Would a 7200 rpm drive give noticably
better performance than a 5400 in my system?

Not massively, but noticeable.

Arno

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

Yep, you'll notice the difference immediately.

" Dont believe it. Bet you wouldnt be able to pick it in a double
blind trial without being allowed to use a benchmark. "

 

[Rod Speed]

" Dont believe it. Bet you wouldnt be able to pick it in a double
blind trial without being allowed to use a benchmark. "

Never said that about the rotation speed of the drive, you stupid troll.