Advice needed: Adding a Serial ATA PCI controller

[Dante]

Hi all

I have an IBM Netfinity 3000 server currently with a 10GB UW-SCSI
drive and a 40GB UDMA133 IDE drive. At the moment due to the age of
the system and the SCSI drive, the SCSI is performing a lot worse than
the modern IDE drive (which is stuck at UDMA Mode 2 because of the
onboard IDE's aging chipset). I am planning on removing the SCSI
adapter and drive and replacing it with a Serial ATA PCI controller
along with a Serial ATA HDD. Also I may purchase an Serial ATA to IDE
adapter, so I can connect the UDMA IDE drive I have already to the
Serial ATA card so I can take advantage of the full UDMA133.

I was wondering if anyone can tell me if there are any problems I
should be aware of with this config? I cant see there being a problem,
but I do want to be sure there arent known problems before I start
purchasing. I have looked at the possibility of simply getting a new
SCSI drive and using that with my current SCSI controller, but I have
worked out it would actually be cheaper to buy a technically superior
Serial ATA controller and drive.

Thanks for any advice, it is appreciated.

Rob C

 

[Mr. Grinch]

Just my opinion, the only reason to go with SATA right now is if you want
easier cabling or the drive you want only comes in SATA. If those are not
concerns for you, then regular ATA should be fine. You can get a Maxtor
160GB 7200rpm drive with a promise 133 ATA controller included for pretty
cheap.

Technically, I can't think of a reason why the ATA or SATA controllers
would not work. But, they have their own BIOS, and as long as it does not
conflict with the IBM bios, you should be OK.

The older IBM SCSI controllers in Netfinity's are junk. They take 8 hrs to
mirror a drive compared to 15-20 min in a comparable Compaq Smart 2A or DH
controller of similar age.

You could get faster SCSI controllers and drives but of course it will cost
you.

You might do a search on the IBM or MS tech sites to see if there are known
issues with Netfinity and the controller you intend to buy.

 

[Rod Speed]

Just my opinion, the only reason to go with SATA right now is if
you want easier cabling or the drive you want only comes in SATA.

Another reason is if you expect to use the drive
for years and may sometime be wanting to use
it on a motherboard that only supports SATA.

If those are not concerns for you, then regular ATA should
be fine. You can get a Maxtor 160GB 7200rpm drive with
a promise 133 ATA controller included for pretty cheap.

Technically, I can't think of a reason why the ATA or SATA controllers
would not work. But, they have their own BIOS, and as long as it
does not conflict with the IBM bios, you should be OK.

The older IBM SCSI controllers in Netfinity's are junk. They take
8 hrs to mirror a drive compared to 15-20 min in a comparable
Compaq Smart 2A or DH controller of similar age.