PCI IDE controller for 7200 rpm drive?

[cdb]

I was wondering...I have a system with a single 20GB 5400 rpm hard drive. If I got a PCI card IDE controller could I put a separate 7200 rpm drive on it to get better mpeg captures? I have an AVer TV capture card, and it works great for mpeg1 but craps out when I attempt to capture in mpeg2.

Thanks!

[Vejita-sama]

Most computers build in the last 8yrs+ support up to 4 IDE devices, so you shouldn't need an IDE control card. As for capturing in MPEG2 vs. MPEG1, I suspect that the bottom neck is your CPU, not your HD speed/size.

[pharlap]

you can boost your performance by updating chipset drivers especially if there intel chipsets on board

[cdb]

Granted cpu speed may be a factor. I have access to a 1.8GHz XP machine, but I tried installing the AverTV Stereo card on it (with new XP drivers downladed from Aver's website), and XP said the drivers were not for WinXP and could cause seriour trouble.

I need a larger hard drive anyway for editing what I already can capture in mpeg1.

I already have a 5400 rpm drive as the master on one cable, and the CD-ROM and CD-RW drives on the other cable. If I put a 7200 rpm drive as a slave on the same cable as the 5400 rpm drive, won't I actually get decreased performance from the new drive ?

[Coop]

CDB -

Depending on your system configuration and how your drives are configured, adding the second drive may help your captures. Your configuration lists a P III processor does your motherboard support Ultra 100 bus?

Newer drives will support Ultra 133, and you would need an controller that supports Ultra 133 as well to use it at that speed. If your motherboard doesn't support at least Ultra 100, I would get the faster controller and install your new drive on it.