With what generation did hard drive size limit become a non-issue?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Doc
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D

Doc

Is there a definitive break point where one can be sure that hard drive size
limit (137 gig from what I gather) isn't a consideration?

Thanks.
 
In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.misc Doc said:
Is there a definitive break point where one can be sure that hard drive size
limit (137 gig from what I gather) isn't a consideration?
Click to expand...

Nothing definitive. However I would say that you are pretty safe
with Opteron and Athon 64 boards. They just cannot be old
enough. On the Intel side the newest socket models (Pentium D?)
should also be safe.

If you are building a new system, any mainboard from this year
should be fine. Most you can buy new should also be fine.

On the OS side, XP needs SP2. On Linux/BSD it has not ben a concern
for quite some time now.

Arno
 
Doc said:
Is there a definitive break point where one can be sure that hard drive size
limit (137 gig from what I gather) isn't a consideration?
Click to expand...

It's safest to just go to www.48bitlba.com and download HDINFO, which
can test the BIOS for 48-bit LBA support. I think that most BIOSes
issued since about 2003 have 48-bit LBA support.
 
larry moe 'n curly said:
Doc wrote
Click to expand...
It's safest to just go to www.48bitlba.com and download
HDINFO, which can test the BIOS for 48-bit LBA support.
Click to expand...

That doesnt help if you are considering what to buy.
I think that most BIOSes issued since
about 2003 have 48-bit LBA support.
Click to expand...

That doesnt help much either when you are considering what to buy.

Certainly most non obsolete new systems should be fine.
 
Is there a definitive break point where one can be sure that hard drive size
limit (137 gig from what I gather) isn't a consideration?

Thanks.
Click to expand...
With all the BIOS extenders and such I don't see this ever being a
problem. I have a P166 machine that is swapping spit with a 250g
network drive. As long as the host can see it everyone can.
 
ToolPackinMama said:
Q. How big a hard drive is big enough?

A. 3.5 inches
Click to expand...

My hard drive used to be 5.25 inches; now that I am older it is only 3.5".
;->

Jon
 
Wow, that whole 5.25 to 3.5 sounds like a personal issue. Not a hard
drive issue.

Look for dates when the 160GB drives hit the market. If memory serves
me correctly 160GB drives were the first to break the 137GB mark....

-Randy
 
Doc said:
Is there a definitive break point where one can be sure that hard drive size
limit (137 gig from what I gather) isn't a consideration?

Thanks.
Click to expand...


Nope. As a suprising number of older motherboards can, with a bios
upgrade, handle 48it LBA. If it was made after 2000, there's a good
chance that a Bios upgrade will make it work. Also, there are always
controller cards that can overcome the limit.
 

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