Tech Support Forum - View Single Post - Can I install 4 old ATA HD's on Asus P4P800 SE?

Targa · 10-28-2005, 08:03 PM

Thanks for the quick reply. :)

Luckily I haven't yet placed the order, since I need a new case and there's about 400 of them on Newegg's site, lol.

You're correct about the model of the Asus mobo. Apparently I was reading about one version while planning on purchasing a different one. That being said, the deluxe is only about $15 more, so no problem getting that one instead.

This brings up another question. The advertisement for the deluxe goes like this:

PATA 2 x ATA 100 up to 4 Devices
Additional PATA 1 x ATA 133 up to 2 Devices
SATA 2 x SATA 150
SATA RAID RAID 0/1
Additional SATA 2 x SATA 150
Additional SATA RAID RAID 0/1/0+1
Additional RAID Controller Promise PDC20378

This is a bit confusing with regard to the first two lines. It reads to me like your primary drives on the intel controller are only ATA100, while the "additional PATA" is ATA133? Why wouldn't your main HDD's be ATA133? This caught my attention because when I was reading reviews for this MB a user said "I love Asus and always use their MB's, I just wish they would finally start using ATA133 support for the hard drives".

I'm guessing that the first line "2 x ATA 100 up to 4 devices" means your two primary HDD's and your 2 CD/DVD drives? Then why is the second line saying "1 ATA 133 connector that takes 2 devices"? I thought it was simply the 2 main ATA connectors and the PRI_RAID connectors in there?

And yes, other than the advertisement confusing the issue, you answered my question perfectly. I really appreciate the quick response, as it prevented me from purchasing the wrong mobo. I think I'll just go ahead and order the Deluxe and follow yours and Clintfan's instructions with regard to the DATA setup. Also I'll heed your advice about installing my OS'es first with just the 2 main HDD's installed, then afterwards add the others on the RAID/Promise connection.

Regards,
Targa

Oh, just thought of something else. In Clintfan's post, he describes installing the Promise IDE drivers in WinXP. Think I can use the same method for Win98SE? (that of Control Panel > Hardware Manager > Drivers)

10-28-2005, 08:03 PM	#3 (permalink)
Targa Registered User Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 4 OS: Win98SE/WinXP	Thanks for the quick reply. :) Luckily I haven't yet placed the order, since I need a new case and there's about 400 of them on Newegg's site, lol. You're correct about the model of the Asus mobo. Apparently I was reading about one version while planning on purchasing a different one. That being said, the deluxe is only about $15 more, so no problem getting that one instead. This brings up another question. The advertisement for the deluxe goes like this: PATA 2 x ATA 100 up to 4 Devices Additional PATA 1 x ATA 133 up to 2 Devices SATA 2 x SATA 150 SATA RAID RAID 0/1 Additional SATA 2 x SATA 150 Additional SATA RAID RAID 0/1/0+1 Additional RAID Controller Promise PDC20378 This is a bit confusing with regard to the first two lines. It reads to me like your primary drives on the intel controller are only ATA100, while the "additional PATA" is ATA133? Why wouldn't your main HDD's be ATA133? This caught my attention because when I was reading reviews for this MB a user said "I love Asus and always use their MB's, I just wish they would finally start using ATA133 support for the hard drives". I'm guessing that the first line "2 x ATA 100 up to 4 devices" means your two primary HDD's and your 2 CD/DVD drives? Then why is the second line saying "1 ATA 133 connector that takes 2 devices"? I thought it was simply the 2 main ATA connectors and the PRI_RAID connectors in there? And yes, other than the advertisement confusing the issue, you answered my question perfectly. I really appreciate the quick response, as it prevented me from purchasing the wrong mobo. I think I'll just go ahead and order the Deluxe and follow yours and Clintfan's instructions with regard to the DATA setup. Also I'll heed your advice about installing my OS'es first with just the 2 main HDD's installed, then afterwards add the others on the RAID/Promise connection. Regards, Targa Oh, just thought of something else. In Clintfan's post, he describes installing the Promise IDE drivers in WinXP. Think I can use the same method for Win98SE? (that of Control Panel > Hardware Manager > Drivers)