Hardware question: are modern ATA 100/133 HDDs downward compatible ?

Ramon de Ramon y Ramon · 09-14-2001, 06:36 PM

Hello everyone !

I am once again abusing this board to pick the brains of the computer wizzes among you: I am planning on buying a new 40-GB HDD on one of the next days. My motherboard (a MS 5169 V.2.1 by MSI) is fairly ancient - by computer standards at least - and supports only DMA 33, so will I be able to use it with a new ATA 100/133 HDD (I will probably get a MB as well, in a year or so from now ) ?

Thank you in advance for your input !

------------------
So long !

R³ - proud to be the official spokesman for the most noble Lady Bilqis, Desert Rose of Ironworks

Btw, the cow is queuing in the slaughterhouse right now !

[This message has been edited by Ramon de Ramon y Ramon (edited 09-14-2001).]

bilqis · 09-14-2001, 06:40 PM

HI Ramon.

Sorry.. can't help you. I can pester you tho!

------------------

Having abandoned my
search for truth, I am
now looking for a good
fantasy.

For R³ in thanks:
Sometimes I think I
understand everything,
then I regain consciousness.

09-14-2001, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ramon de Ramon y Ramon:
Hello everyone !

I am once again abusing this board to pick the brains of the computer wizzes among you: I am planning on buying a new 40-GB HDD on one of the next days. My motherboard (a MS 5169 V.2.1 by MSI) is fairly ancient - by computer standards at least - and supports only DMA 33, so will I be able to use it with a new ATA 100/133 HDD (I will probably get a MB as well, in a year or so from now ) ?

Thank you advance for your input !

Definitely 66/33 can be connected on the same MBs, the HDD runs at the speed of the bus 9ie connect a 66HDD to a 33 Mb and it will run at the lower speed) However with 100/133 I'm not as sure. My friend who whos more about hardware than me (I'm just a software engineer

) is coming over tomorrow - I'll ask him for you.

BTW Get on MSN

------------------

Holy Avenger of the OHF and part time Pinguindiebjäger

[This message has been edited by Sir_Tainly (edited 09-14-2001).]

Ramon de Ramon y Ramon · 09-14-2001, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by bilqis:
HI Ramon.

Sorry.. can't help you. I can pester you tho!

Hello Bilibabe !

You are constantly helping me in many ways, so, the statement above is incorrect, and, well, while you are a "diligent" pesterer, you are also a gentle one.

Got your letter yesterday, thank you very much !

And rest assured, I'll soon return to MSN - but not tonight !

Take care !

------------------
So long !

R³ - proud to be the official spokesman for the most noble Lady Bilqis, Desert Rose of Ironworks

Btw, the cow is queuing in the slaughterhouse right now !

09-14-2001, 06:59 PM

no idea.

------------------

All your base are belong to us! How Are you gentlemen?

Co-owner of The Abyssal Pit
The Spaminyte Emperor
Official Demon/Villain of IW!
***********************
Fish? Welcome to your Doom!
**********************

Ramon de Ramon y Ramon · 09-14-2001, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Sir_Tainly:

Definitely 66/33 can be connected on the same MBs, the HDD runs at the speed of the bus 9ie connect a 66HDD to a 33 Mb and it will run at the lower speed) However with 100/133 I'm not as sure. My friend who whos more about hardware than me (I'm just a software engineer ) is coming over tomorrow - I'll ask him for you.

BTW Get on MSN

Thank you very much for that info, Milord !

------------------
So long !

R³ - proud to be the official spokesman for the most noble Lady Bilqis, Desert Rose of Ironworks

Btw, the cow is queuing in the slaughterhouse right now !

bilqis · 09-14-2001, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ramon de Ramon y Ramon:
Hello Bilibabe !

And rest assured, I'll soon return to MSN - but not tonight !

Take care !

awwwww Ok.

See you when I see you then my friend. Take care of yourself too.

------------------

Having abandoned my
search for truth, I am
now looking for a good
fantasy.

For R³ in thanks:
Sometimes I think I
understand everything,
then I regain consciousness.

MILAMBER · 09-14-2001, 08:00 PM

Actually, the system bus has absolutely nothing to do with the IDE hard drives data transfer rate, even though with the IDE format, hard disk preformance is somewhat related to processor power. That's what's cool about SCSI, because the SCSI technology processes all the data transfer by itself without having to bleed off the system processor.

In answer to your question, yes, you can use any ATA 66/100 hd on a DMA 33 board. If you can though, I would strongly recomend going up to an ATA 100 compatable board. It dramatically boosts preformance. For some DMA 33 boards, you can get bios updates which will bump it to ATA 66. Be warned that if that is possible though, you have to use a special IDE cable to get ATA preformance out of your drive.

------------------
"The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his."
-General George Patton (1885-1945)

Member of CLAN HADB

Ramon de Ramon y Ramon · 09-14-2001, 08:32 PM

Thank you very much, Milamber !

I'll will most likely also get a new MB in the not so distant future, but what I really need right now is a new larger HDD as my current one has only got 3.2 GB and I am constantly running out of disk space, while I am still fairly satisfied with my system speedwise. And as I suppose that a new ATA 100 HDD won't be slower than my current one even when operating on a DMA 33 mode I think I'll will still be able to live with the rest of my system for a little longer.

------------------
So long !

R³ - proud to be the official spokesman for the most noble Lady Bilqis, Desert Rose of Ironworks

Btw, the cow is queuing in the slaughterhouse right now !

nick1979 · 09-14-2001, 11:20 PM

If you don't have the money for a new motherboard. You can get a ata100 controller card cheap.

------------------

TD..TD...

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09-14-2001, 06:36 PM	#1
Ramon de Ramon y Ramon Red Dragon Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Age: 52 Posts: 1,517	Hello everyone ! I am once again abusing this board to pick the brains of the computer wizzes among you: I am planning on buying a new 40-GB HDD on one of the next days. My motherboard (a MS 5169 V.2.1 by MSI) is fairly ancient - by computer standards at least - and supports only DMA 33, so will I be able to use it with a new ATA 100/133 HDD (I will probably get a MB as well, in a year or so from now ) ? Thank you in advance for your input ! ------------------ So long ! R³ - proud to be the official spokesman for the most noble Lady Bilqis, Desert Rose of Ironworks Btw, the cow is queuing in the slaughterhouse right now ! [This message has been edited by Ramon de Ramon y Ramon (edited 09-14-2001).]

09-14-2001, 06:40 PM	#2
bilqis Symbol of Cyric Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: WA, USA Age: 67 Posts: 1,328	HI Ramon. Sorry.. can't help you. I can pester you tho! ------------------ Having abandoned my search for truth, I am now looking for a good fantasy. For R³ in thanks: Sometimes I think I understand everything, then I regain consciousness.

09-14-2001, 06:59 PM	#5
Gwhanos, Lord Of Evil Guest Posts: n/a	no idea. ------------------ All your base are belong to us! How Are you gentlemen? Co-owner of The Abyssal Pit The Spaminyte Emperor Official Demon/Villain of IW! ********************* Fish? Welcome to your Doom! ********************

09-14-2001, 08:00 PM	#8
MILAMBER Lord Soth Join Date: March 5, 2001 Location: Southern California Posts: 1,948	Actually, the system bus has absolutely nothing to do with the IDE hard drives data transfer rate, even though with the IDE format, hard disk preformance is somewhat related to processor power. That's what's cool about SCSI, because the SCSI technology processes all the data transfer by itself without having to bleed off the system processor. In answer to your question, yes, you can use any ATA 66/100 hd on a DMA 33 board. If you can though, I would strongly recomend going up to an ATA 100 compatable board. It dramatically boosts preformance. For some DMA 33 boards, you can get bios updates which will bump it to ATA 66. Be warned that if that is possible though, you have to use a special IDE cable to get ATA preformance out of your drive. ------------------ "The object of war is not to die for your country but to make the other bastard die for his." -General George Patton (1885-1945) Member of CLAN HADB

09-14-2001, 08:32 PM	#9
Ramon de Ramon y Ramon Red Dragon Join Date: March 1, 2001 Location: Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany Age: 52 Posts: 1,517	Thank you very much, Milamber ! I'll will most likely also get a new MB in the not so distant future, but what I really need right now is a new larger HDD as my current one has only got 3.2 GB and I am constantly running out of disk space, while I am still fairly satisfied with my system speedwise. And as I suppose that a new ATA 100 HDD won't be slower than my current one even when operating on a DMA 33 mode I think I'll will still be able to live with the rest of my system for a little longer. ------------------ So long ! R³ - proud to be the official spokesman for the most noble Lady Bilqis, Desert Rose of Ironworks Btw, the cow is queuing in the slaughterhouse right now !

09-14-2001, 11:20 PM	#10
nick1979 Zhentarim Guard Join Date: April 11, 2001 Location: Murfreesboro, TN, USA Age: 45 Posts: 333	If you don't have the money for a new motherboard. You can get a ata100 controller card cheap. ------------------ TD..TD...

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