Thread: Adding a 2nd HD

yeah, no problem, you can add that HDD, assuming you have a IDE controller on your mobo, just connect it to the IDE connector & connect the 4 pin molex connector & assuming your using XP SP2, then, go though this to let XP know the extra HDD is there

Originally Posted by Ronje

Ok I'm not done

Opening the box I found the following:
My DVD and DVD writer are connected with one IDE controller.

you could disconnect your DVD-ROM drive & place the HDD on the IDE cable where the DVD was, but before you connect the HDD, check the DVD back to see if the jumper is setting the drive as master or slave

BTW: the controller is built onto the motherboard IDE cables are the items you refer to


if the disconnected DVD drive is set to master or slave, set the HDD to be the same as the DVD

Originally Posted by Ronje

my floppy drive (3 yo computer), connected to another controller with only one connector.

another alternative is to add another HDD controller into a PCI slot, like this and that card also support RAID 0/1

Originally Posted by Ronje

There was no place for another IDE cable.

so, your 2 options are

• buy a PCI controller
• permanently or temporarily disconnect 1 DVD (preferably not the burner)

Originally Posted by Ronje

Should I replace the controller of the floppy device to another with 2 connectors to which I'll be able to connect the HDD? though I'm not sure its even an IDE thingy.

you are correct, it isn't IDE. there are (i think) 4 speeds of IDE 33, 66, 100 & 133, 33 can transfer upto 33Mb per sec, & has 40 little wires / connectors, however, 66 can transfer upto 66Mb per sec & has 66, 100 & 133 all have 80 connectors

Originally Posted by Ronje

Thanks for the help.

np, it's something to do

Hey donkey.

Don't want to be a smart arse but there are actually quite a few more DMA speeds through the history of ATA.

THree for Single-word DMA, three for multi-word DMA and seven for ultra DMA.

The speeds you mentioned were all from ATA 4 onwards (Ultra DMA) and were the top speeds for those particular standards (ATA 4,5,6 and 7). If you're interested theres something to be reading about when boredom grips you, otherwise disregard this post

Originally Posted by Tech

DMA speeds

, all DMA & UDMA does is allow the HDD controller to access RAM (DMA = Direct Memory Access)

Originally Posted by Tech

Don't want to be a smart arse

no, please feel free, HWF is a forum, so, everyone learns

Originally Posted by Tech

there are actually quite a few more DMA speeds through the history of ATA.

i think you mean ATA speed, & yes there are more ATA speeds

Originally Posted by Tech

THree for Single-word DMA, three for multi-word DMA and seven for ultra DMA.

i think you are referring to ATA 1 & 2 there

Originally Posted by Tech

The speeds you mentioned were all from ATA 4 onwards (Ultra DMA) and were the top speeds for those particular standards (ATA 4,5,6 and 7).

ATA 7 maximum rate is SATA 150 and SATA1 operates at a burst rate, not a constant speed, so, the speed of SATA1 is comparable with PATA 133

Originally Posted by Tech

If you're interested theres something to be reading about when boredom grips you, otherwise disregard this post

no, it's fun trying to beat each other at research & it's something to do

Sources here, here & here

Single-word DMA was only used in the original ATA standard from the very late 80s. Multi word DMA came after with ATA 2. Both of these also used Programmed input output modes, which quite frankly I dont understand so if you know anything about those please share

I admit I forgot about serial regarding the ATA 7 standard so that'll be quicker. Is SATA II also included the ATA 7?

And just to mop up, I mentioned DMA speeds because as far as I'm aware that was how the informal naming came about. ATA 4's top DMA speed was 33.3MBps hence ATA33. Having said that I'm not even sure if it is an 'informal' naming scheme, maybe its an official name


oh and one last thing. Any ideas what the SATA burst rate actually refers to? What does it physically mean to the data transfer?

Originally Posted by Tech

Single-word DMA was only used in the original ATA standard from the very late 80s. Multi word DMA came after with ATA 2. Both of these also used Programmed input output modes, which quite frankly I dont understand so if you know anything about those please share

well, single & multi word DMA was only implemented in ATA 1 & 2

Originally Posted by Tech

I admit I forgot about serial regarding the ATA 7 standard so that'll be quicker. Is SATA II also included the ATA 7?

no, & SATA3 will be 6Gb/s but it will transfer data at a constant rate & not the theoretical maximum rate (unlike SATA1)

Originally Posted by Tech

And just to mop up, I mentioned DMA speeds because as far as I'm aware that was how the informal naming came about. ATA 4's top DMA speed was 33.3MBps hence ATA33. Having said that I'm not even sure if it is an 'informal' naming scheme, maybe its an official name

don't know & don't care, I just call them P / S ATA

Originally Posted by Tech

oh and one last thing. Any ideas what the SATA burst rate actually refers to?

it means the data transfer rate is the theoretical maximum that could be achieved in ideal circumstances (perfect world) & only SATA1 was restricted by the burst rate with SATA2 & 3 they are the actual transfer rates achieved (3Gb/s & 6Gb/s)

Edit: anything else, just ask