Serial ATA & existing drives question...

[F/A-18 MechDood]

If I were to add a Serial ATA PCI card to the system running a WD raptor drive, does the Serial ATA take over as the Primary IDE channel meaning you can still only run a total of four drives?

Or by adding a Serial ATA card are youa ble to run more drives?

[stroyal]

Haven't tried a serial but it must be the same as an IDE.
You can use up to 8 drives if you get a dual channel and boot from either controller as long as the add on card has a BIOS. (some don't)

[Martoch]

You can run 4 drives from your motherboard...that PCI card is an extension of your motherboard, but is not counted when adding up the drives. You can have more than 4 total when you plug that SATA card in.

[F/A-18 MechDood]

Ok...

So I could add the card with the Raptor, and still run my other HD, DVD-Burner, CD-Burner, and DVD-Rom?

[stroyal]

Yes, I also use them to solve the problem of having your burner on different channels than both your HD and your CD ROM/DVD ROM.

Then you don't have to choose between being able to rip CDs and DVDs or having your CD ROM load your HD at MAX speed

[Martoch]

Originally posted by stroyal
Yes, I also use them to solve the problem of having your burner on different channels than both your HD and your CD ROM/DVD ROM.

Ditto!

Yep, you'll be fine...totally separate controller from your mobo.

[F/A-18 MechDood]

Cool thanks all. I know what the in-laws can get me for Chistmas now.

[Gait_Keeper]

so the SATA add on will be slave?

oh let me not break California law

so the SATA add on will be secondary or thirdary?