Highest ATA

[Garfield]

Is it ATA100? I'm in the market for a new hard drive for my former comp. But, I'm building a comp in the summer and I'm going to put this hard drive in my new comp in the summer. So, I want to get the best. Is it ATA100? Thanks...

[RainMaQer]

I don't remember where I heard it but I think there's ATA133 now... It was in a thread somewhere around here:p

[Shadow ÒÓ]

133 is out....faster is comming.

remember you must have a drive AND mobo or controller card that run these speeds.

[Garfield]

But, I thought you said, even though an only support of ATA66 could still run higher (ATA100 and 133), but it just won't go that fast. But, I could put it in, right? Thanks.

--Garfield

[Wa11y]

ATA/100 is currently the fastes on-board transfer speed. No motherboards yet support ATA133. Maxtor does make a PCI controller card that supports ATA133.

I'm kinda confused about what you're asking about ATA66. ATA66 and ATA100 use the same 80-wire/40-pin cable, but if your board or drive will only support ATA66, then that's the fastest it'll run at. And ATA is backwards compatible. You can use an ATA33 drive on an ATA100 board, but it'll only run at the slowest speed available, in this case, ATA33.

[Garfield]

So it is backwards compatable? Well, this is my question:

I'm pretty sure my motherboard supports ATA66. But, can I still purchase a hard drive with ATA100? I just work work speed @ 100. Only 66, right?

[Wa11y]

the ATA rating of a drive is how fast it trasmits data: ATA100 is 100Mb/sec. ATA66 is 66Mb/sec.

Yes, it is backwards compatible. If you plug an ATA100 drive into an ATA66 motherboard, the drive will run at ATA66 speeds. I'd recommend getting the ATA100 drive, in the event you upgrade your mobo later, you'll have a faster hard drive.

Just be sure to use an ATA66/100 cable. They're darker grey than ATA33 cables, and have 80 wires instead of 40.

[Garfield]

Okay, so you can do both? They just will run at the lowest speed (in this case, 66meg/second)?

An ATA66 on an ATA100 mobo
An ATA100 on an ATA66 mobo

Thanks!!!

[Wa11y]

Originally posted by Garfield
Okay, so you can do both? They just will run at the lowest speed (in this case, 66meg/second)?

An ATA66 on an ATA100 mobo
An ATA100 on an ATA66 mobo

Thanks!!!

Yes. And they will run at the lowest speed capable.

By jove, I think he's got it!

We'll make a hardware monkey out of you yet, Garfield!

[Garfield]

>> We'll make a hardware monkey out of you yet, Garfield! <<

Alright!!! Thanks again!!!

[whooping_a_panda]

Originally posted by Wa11y
ATA/100 is currently the fastes on-board transfer speed. No motherboards yet support ATA133. Maxtor does make a PCI controller card that supports ATA133.


Actually The Iwill xp-333 supports ata133

Also ATA133 is backwards compatible with ATA100, ATA66