Dumb harddrive question

[yoda313]

Ok I finally got my new hdtv capture card last night and seems to be working great. Now I need more than my 80gb harddrive.

I'm looking at this one:

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?skuId=6942277&type=product&productCategoryId=p...=1099381238289

Its a hitachi desktar 7k250 160 gb for $40 after rebates on monday.

DUMB QUESTION:

How do I know what my harddrive interface type is?????????

Ok I tried searching the net - my emachine is the t2893 and it looks like its a ultra ata drive. So since this hitachi is a ultra ata I should be ok right?????

Is there a fool proof way to id the harddrive interface type?????

[redwudz]

Control Panel>System>Hardware>Device Manager>IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers

If you have SATA drives, it would have 'Serial ATA Controller'
For PATA, it would have 'Parallel ATA Controller'

At least that's the way mine is set up. I have both types of drives in that computer. If I click on the SATA controller, I see a Maxtor SATA drive and the model number. I also have two PATA drives on the computer.

Most likely you have a PATA drive. But many of the newest computers have went over to SATA drives.

[yoda313]

Thanks redwudz.

It is a ata drive but theres no info on serial or parallel:



????

[redwudz]

Yes, I checked the info on my laptop and it didn't really say anything, though I know it has a PATA drive. I guess the info there depends on the motherboard.

Probably the easy way to tell is to look at the IDE cable to the drive. A SATA cable is about a 1/4 inch wide by 1/8 inch thick while all the PATA IDE cables are flat and about 2 inches across. Even a round PATA cable is close to 1/2 inch diameter and round, not rectangular like a SATA cable. The ends of a SATA cable are also about a 1/2 inch wide by 1/8 inch thick, compared to a PATA that is about 2 inches wide by a 1/2 inch thick.

There's probably an easy way to tell through software on any computer, but I can't think of anything at the moment.

[yoda313]

Thanks redwudz. The ad says the hitachi drive is a parallel ata drive. So I just need to verify mine is a pata interface before buying.

Thanks.

[yoda313]

Ok So far so good. I found a program called everest:

http://www.lavalys.com/products/overview.php?pid=5&lang=en

It does a motherboard search too.

hds728080plat20


It gave me the model number of the harddrive too so I did a net search and found it is a PATA drive

So the hitachi will be a good fit.

Thanks all

hds728080plat20

http://www.hitachigst.com/hdd/support/7k80/7k80.htm

Deskstar 7K80 model summary Capacity (GB) RPM Interface

HDS728080PLAT20 80 7200 Parallel-ATA

And I found my motherboard info too


Intel Plumb Island d845EPI


Field Value
Motherboard Properties
Motherboard ID 63-0100-000001-00101111-081804-iBRKDL_G$SR84510A_BIOS DATE: 08/18/04 20:53:52 VER: 08.00.10
Motherboard Name Intel Plumb Island D845EPI / Sea Breeze D845GVSR / Villanova D845GLVA

Front Side Bus Properties
Bus Type Intel NetBurst
Bus Width 64-bit
Real Clock 133 MHz (QDR)
Effective Clock 533 MHz
Bandwidth 4266 MB/s

Memory Bus Properties
Bus Type DDR SDRAM
Bus Width 64-bit
DRAM:FSB Ratio 5:4
Real Clock 167 MHz (DDR)
Effective Clock 333 MHz
Bandwidth [ TRIAL VERSION ] MB/s

Chipset Bus Properties
Bus Type Intel Hub Interface
Bus Width 8-bit
Real Clock 67 MHz (QDR)
Effective Clock 267 MHz
Bandwidth 267 MB/s

Motherboard Manufacturer
Company Name Intel Corporation
Product Information http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/index.htm
BIOS Download http://www.intel.com/design/motherbd/genbios.htm


Thats a sweet program

[Headbanger's Ball]

That was formerly known as AIDA32. It is must-have software! and FREE.

[yoda313]

That was formerly known as AIDA32. It is must-have software! and FREE.

Yep glad I found it. Should be a sticky here somewhere on videohelp

[fritzi93]

Everest Home Edition (the freeware version) has been discontinued. But you can still get it at:

http://www.majorgeeks.com/download4181.html

[handyguy]

Yoda, if you look at that picture you posted, it states clearly: IDE ATA.....right above where you highlighted.

[redwudz]

My on board SATA controller is also listed under 'IDE ATA/ATAPI Controllers.'. But it is identified as a Serial ATA Controller under the individual controller listing. Depends on the MB.

[yoda313]

Yoda, if you look at that picture you posted, it states clearly: IDE ATA.....right above where you highlighted.

Yes but I needed to verify if it was parallel or serial. (its parallel)

[yoda313]

Hello,

Well I picked it up this morning. Installation was relatively easy but I had to go to radioshack to pick up a power cable extension (the extra plug was three inches short!!!!! ).

So now I've got hooked up and ready to go Thanks for the help.