IDE Controllers

[Plotloss]

Right then, scenario thus:

2 DVDRW's 3 IDE HDD's

Bought a DabsValue () IDE controller to add another 4 IDE devices on top of the 4 on the Mobo

PCI IDE Controller has died.

So I have one HDD that I cant get to obviously.

Can anyone recommend a GOOD PCI IDE Controller capable of accessing 250Gb+ disks that doesnt cost a fortune?

[neil.b]

Plotloss said:

Right then, scenario thus: 2 DVDRW's 3 IDE HDD's Bought a DabsValue () IDE controller to add another 4 IDE devices on top of the 4 on the Mobo PCI IDE Controller has died. So I have one HDD that I cant get to obviously. Can anyone recommend a GOOD PCI IDE Controller capable of accessing 250Gb+ disks that doesnt cost a fortune?

When you say "access", is that temporary so you can get to the files, or a permanent fix?

If temporary, I bought a IDE->USB adaptor a while back that is awesome for getting stuff from an IDE drive. Plug it in, connect to a USB port and voila - instant external drive.

[ErnestM]

Best bang for the buck unless you need RAID:


promise Ultra 133 TX2

They also do an ATA-100 version if that is what you need...

ErnestM

>> Edited by ErnestM on Monday 28th February 14:21

[JonRB]

I bunged a SiL / Medley Ultra-133 PCI RAID controller in my machine. Cost £22 + VAT from Novatech in 2003 and I've just checked their website and they're still selling it and at the same price!

[Plotloss]

Nice one, thanks chaps!

It appears that this DabsValue effort can be flashed back to defaults which I am going to try first to see if I can get it to redetect the drives and allow boot (its stopping the machine booting when attached).

This has prompted somewhat of a rethink all round though and I am now looking for a server case that can house up to 10 3.5" HDD's for futureproofing requirements.

Any recommendations on that front? Other than the Yeong Yang Black Server Cube which is currently the front runner...

[ErnestM]

I don't know about 10 hard drives, but if you use a hard drive "cage" in the 5.25 drive bays, you can stretch this one to eight hard drives, a floppy and a DVD/CD. I like these cases because of the ease of entry and the cooling options:

www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=90510#



ErnestM

[JonRB]

My server case is similar to the one in Ernest's photo but lacks the lowest drive cage. So I made one out of 4 strips of mechano which adds an extra 3 internal drives.

[mcflurry]

Can you not plug the dvd drives onto the "cheapy IDE controller" and let the mobo handle the 250gb drives?