My IDE slots are filled, can I add a HD to the raid slot?

Methodx · 05-08-04, 08:38 AM

My current computer:
IDE1: HD1 and CDRW
IDE2: HD2 and DVD
Raid1: Nothing
Raid 2: Nothing
Serial1: Nothing
Serial2: Nothing

I need to add a third hard drive. I don't want them in a raid array because I don't want to double my chances of losing all of my data. I have 1 40 gb drive for running windows/programs and 1 120 gb drive for storage. I want to add a big 250 gb drive for more storage

but my IDE slots are full.

Can I just plug this third hard drive into the Raid slot and treat it as a normal IDE hard drive? My mobo users manual doesn't say how to do this.

diehrd · 05-08-04, 09:06 AM

Get those Opticle drives off the hard drive cables..Unless what I am reading is wrong it appears you have an IDE and a CD on the same cable as well as an IDE and DVD on the same.

Most times an onboard raid controller can be used as simple IDE connectors. There is usually a jumper and or options in the bios as well as drivers for eather option on the MainBoard disk..

I would run the O/S drive alone set 2 stoarge drives on Ide 2 and run the Cd and DVD on there own channels. That way there is no data transfres for burrning on the same line. And the storage drives if thats what you use them for will be as slow as the slowest ide drive on that cable..

Methodx · 05-08-04, 09:24 AM

OK, thanks for the help.

Yeah, I think you understand my configuration correctly. The reason I had the hard drives sharing cables with the optical drives was because I've read that is the best configuration and is better than haveing 2 HDs on one cable and 2 opticals on another. Is this incorrect?

Quick69GTO · 05-08-04, 09:38 AM

Separating the drives in the manner you have done aids in better file transfers between the drives………..at least that’s what a lot of folks believe.
I’ve never really seen a performance boost configuring the drives that way.
They will work both ways.
I have two hard drives connected to IDE-1, two optical drives connected to IDE-2, and two more hard drives connected to IDE-3 (one of two RAID ports).
I left IDE-4 open for the possibly of more drives in the future.
Bad thing is, you cannot connect any optical drives to the 3rd and 4th IDE ports.
You can, however, boot from them which enables you to fill IDE-1 and 2 with optical drives.
Have fun!

Cjwinnit · 05-14-04, 11:14 AM

What make and model is the RAID controller? if (it's a long shot) it's a Promise 20276 then you can change it to an ATA controller. I know 'cos I'm using one right now as one in this rig

Others will work too.

tgxiii · 05-14-04, 01:15 PM

Or, if that won't work and you desperately need to add another hard drive, buy a PCI IDE card.

Moto7451 · 05-15-04, 11:35 AM

You could also use the SATA conection for your PATA drives using an adapter.

Mr.Guvernment · 05-16-04, 12:40 AM

^^^^ but many mother boards you can not use the IDE and SATA connectors - it is either one or the other.

Methodx · 05-23-04, 07:45 PM

Thanks for the help guys. I plugged it into my raid slot and set it up as a dynamic disk, works great!

I now have 410 gb of storage space. MMMM.

05-08-04, 08:38 AM	Thread Starter #1
Methodx Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Austin, TX	My IDE slots are filled, can I add a HD to the raid slot? My current computer: IDE1: HD1 and CDRW IDE2: HD2 and DVD Raid1: Nothing Raid 2: Nothing Serial1: Nothing Serial2: Nothing I need to add a third hard drive. I don't want them in a raid array because I don't want to double my chances of losing all of my data. I have 1 40 gb drive for running windows/programs and 1 120 gb drive for storage. I want to add a big 250 gb drive for more storage but my IDE slots are full. Can I just plug this third hard drive into the Raid slot and treat it as a normal IDE hard drive? My mobo users manual doesn't say how to do this.
	QUOTE Thanks

05-08-04, 09:06 AM	#2
diehrd Senior SMP Gawd Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: NY	Get those Opticle drives off the hard drive cables..Unless what I am reading is wrong it appears you have an IDE and a CD on the same cable as well as an IDE and DVD on the same. Most times an onboard raid controller can be used as simple IDE connectors. There is usually a jumper and or options in the bios as well as drivers for eather option on the MainBoard disk.. I would run the O/S drive alone set 2 stoarge drives on Ide 2 and run the Cd and DVD on there own channels. That way there is no data transfres for burrning on the same line. And the storage drives if thats what you use them for will be as slow as the slowest ide drive on that cable.. __________________ .
	QUOTE Thanks

05-08-04, 09:24 AM	Thread Starter #3
Methodx Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Austin, TX	OK, thanks for the help. Yeah, I think you understand my configuration correctly. The reason I had the hard drives sharing cables with the optical drives was because I've read that is the best configuration and is better than haveing 2 HDs on one cable and 2 opticals on another. Is this incorrect?
	QUOTE Thanks

05-08-04, 09:38 AM	#4
Quick69GTO Member Join Date: May 2003 Location: Colorado	Separating the drives in the manner you have done aids in better file transfers between the drives………..at least that’s what a lot of folks believe. I’ve never really seen a performance boost configuring the drives that way. They will work both ways. I have two hard drives connected to IDE-1, two optical drives connected to IDE-2, and two more hard drives connected to IDE-3 (one of two RAID ports). I left IDE-4 open for the possibly of more drives in the future. Bad thing is, you cannot connect any optical drives to the 3rd and 4th IDE ports. You can, however, boot from them which enables you to fill IDE-1 and 2 with optical drives. Have fun!
	QUOTE Thanks

05-14-04, 11:14 AM	#5
Cjwinnit B& Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: France	What make and model is the RAID controller? if (it's a long shot) it's a Promise 20276 then you can change it to an ATA controller. I know 'cos I'm using one right now as one in this rig Others will work too. __________________ -= Maths Ninja =- Official Modding Xaser III thread resurrecter. "LIES! THE ONLY THING MORE AWESOME sounding THEN SEVERAL DELTAS AT 60+DB IS THE SCREAMING OF MERE MORTALS AS THEY GET TOO CLOSE!" -freakdiablo
	QUOTE Thanks

My IDE slots are filled, can I add a HD to the raid slot?

Internet Services

Website Development

Tech Hardware

05-14-04, 01:15 PM	#6
tgxiii Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Folding @ Eagle Rock, CA	Or, if that won't work and you desperately need to add another hard drive, buy a PCI IDE card.
	QUOTE Thanks

05-15-04, 11:35 AM	#7
Moto7451 Senior Something Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: LA, CA	You could also use the SATA conection for your PATA drives using an adapter. __________________ Intel C2D e6400 @ 375MHz x8 = 3Ghz 1.328v, Gigabyte EP43-UD3L, 3GB DDR2, GeForce 9600GT, 73GB 15K SCSI HD/Adaptec 29160 SCSI Card, 750GB SATA Drive, 320GB ATA Drive, HDTV Tuner D5 Pump • Bonneville w/ AC Heater Core • Gemeni Cooling Maze 4 Style Water Block Sager 8690: Core i7 940XM Exreme 2.13GHz (3.2GHz Turbo), 4GB DDR3, GeForce GTX 285M 1GB, 15.6" 1080 LCD, 320GB 7200RPM HD Difference Between D5 Revisions + flow mod Difference between NPSM & G1/4
	QUOTE Thanks

05-16-04, 12:40 AM	#8
Mr.Guvernment Join Date: Feb 2003 Location: Costa Rica - and toronto sometimes	^^^^ but many mother boards you can not use the IDE and SATA connectors - it is either one or the other. __________________ ¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸© Poor Planning On Your Part Does Not Constitute An Emergency On My Part ©¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸ ¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸© The trouble with life is there’s no background music ©¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸ ¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸© Life isnt short, you're just dead for too long©¸,ø¤°`°¤ø,¸ ADD YOUR STEAM ID TO THE LIST FOR HOURS OF FUN!
	QUOTE Thanks

05-23-04, 07:45 PM	Thread Starter #9
Methodx Member Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Austin, TX	Thanks for the help guys. I plugged it into my raid slot and set it up as a dynamic disk, works great! I now have 410 gb of storage space. MMMM.
	QUOTE Thanks

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search