Duplicate IDE Controllers shown in Device Manager

[Lizzie]

After assembling my new computer and installing XP Pro on
it, I've found that the device manager and system
information windows both show duplicate "Intel 82801eb
Ultra ATA Storage Controllers" as well as duplicate
Primary and Secondary IDE Channels. I have a P4 (2.4C
Ghz w/ Hyperthreading) and an Intel D865PERL
motherboard. I've tried installing the system both with
and without hyperthreading and come up with the same
result. (FYI: When HT is enabled, the "secondary"
processor shows up normally.) Any ideas as to what's
causing the extra IDE controllers? I'm at a loss.

Thanks,
Liz

 

[David Hollway]

After assembling my new computer and installing XP Pro on
it, I've found that the device manager and system
information windows both show duplicate "Intel 82801eb
Ultra ATA Storage Controllers" as well as duplicate
Primary and Secondary IDE Channels. I have a P4 (2.4C
Ghz w/ Hyperthreading) and an Intel D865PERL
motherboard. I've tried installing the system both with
and without hyperthreading and come up with the same
result. (FYI: When HT is enabled, the "secondary"
processor shows up normally.) Any ideas as to what's
causing the extra IDE controllers? I'm at a loss.

Lizzie,

This is completely normal. You have two separate IDE controllers on the
board (both integrated into the ICH5 I/O Controller Hub chip): one is a
traditional, two-channel two-device ATA/100 controller, and the other is the
new two-channel, one-device-per-channel Serial ATA/150 controller.
Unless your Device Manager is showing any kind of conflicts on the entries
(i.e yellow (!) symbols) then don't worry about it.

As an aside, if you set the ATA controller mode to "Legacy" in the BIOS,
then only 4 out of the 6 total ATA ports are available; this is for older
operating systems like 95/98/DOS that only support IDE controllers on
IRQ14/15. If you're using a newer OS like 2000/XP then you can set the ATA
controller mode to "Enhanced" and get all 6 ports, as you have.