Omega Owners Forum

Chat Area => General Discussion Area => Topic started by: Terbs on 01 February 2011, 21:40:23

Title: PCI card...IDE/SATA
Post by: Terbs on 01 February 2011, 21:40:23
Hi all....

I have just purchased a PCI card to enable me to add extra drives.....can anyone tell me whether the new drive should be set as master or slave. The other drives (IDE) installed on the MB are set on each ribbon as one master, one slave (DVD RW is slave on one ribbon). :y
I think the card IDE Drive should probably be set to master, but advice would be appreciated. The card can also have three SATA drives installed. If I add further SATA drives, would the IDE drive then have to be set to master or slave.. :o :o :o :o :o :o
Hope this is clear....my mind is boggled ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D

Reason for loads of additional drives is that C drive is kept just for windows, so if I get virused, etc, I can wipe C drive and reload in about an hour and do not lose anything. :y
Title: Re: PCI card...IDE/SATA
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 01 February 2011, 21:45:45
if its single no setting required (on the cable).. but check the bios for irq sharing of the pci slot.. if it shares move to another slot etc..

ps: those pci cards are not that fast, and will slow down if you use multiple discs..
Title: Re: PCI card...IDE/SATA
Post by: Broomies Mate on 01 February 2011, 22:02:14
The IDE and SATA controllers will be completely separate, even if they are on the same card, so the setting on the IDE drive shouldn't matter if using a combination of IDE and SATA drives.

Just makes sure you have plenty of cooling as Hard Disks can output plenty of heat.  Also ensure your PSU is up to scratch!  :y
Title: Re: PCI card...IDE/SATA
Post by: Terbs on 01 February 2011, 22:32:28
Thanks for quick responses, fellas. :y

Yes..psu is 700 watt, dual core 6000 cpu, 4 gb ram loaded but xp only recognises 3.25. 9400GT card.
Got plenty of fans, tower weighs a ton ;D ;D ;D
The new drive is for Rfactor racing only. Other drives are Flight Sim (various versions) and they ping along at a fair lick. For those that are in the 'know', my FSX fps average about 50, occasionally going up to over a 100 if in a bleak area.
Thanks for advice :y
Title: Re: PCI card...IDE/SATA
Post by: Broomies Mate on 01 February 2011, 22:33:46
Quote
Thanks for quick responses, fellas. :y

Yes..psu is 700 watt, dual core 6000 cpu, 4 gb ram loaded but xp only recognises 3.25. 9400GT card.
Got plenty of fans, tower weighs a ton ;D ;D ;D
The new drive is for Rfactor racing only. Other drives are Flight Sim (various versions) and they ping along at a fair lick. For those that are in the 'know', my FSX fps average about 50, occasionally going up to over a 100 if in a bleak area.
Thanks for advice :y

That'll be the 9400GT  :y
Title: Re: PCI card...IDE/SATA
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 01 February 2011, 22:35:32
8500 or something similiar is rusting aside.. its been long time I give up gaming.. :-/
Title: Re: PCI card...IDE/SATA
Post by: Terbs on 01 February 2011, 23:17:08
Cem....in our house, gaming is better than Eastenders, Corrie, Holby city, etc, etc, ;D ;D ;D ;D ;D
Just bought swmbo a set of cordless headphones so I don't have to listen while I am flying (Flight Sim) :y
Title: Re: PCI card...IDE/SATA
Post by: Chris_H on 02 February 2011, 07:59:56
Quote
8500 or something similiar is rusting aside.. its been long time I give up gaming.. :-/
You have your life back Cem! :y

Whatever you do don't fall for watching soaps on tv. ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: PCI card...IDE/SATA
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 02 February 2011, 09:49:51
soaps , mostly I watch with one eye  ;D, as I'm reading oof usually .. (or rarely facebook)

but other than that 8 small monsters jumping everywhere and sometimes on me, give me enough trouble ;D
Title: Re: PCI card...IDE/SATA
Post by: mathewst on 02 February 2011, 09:57:53
If  you want to  use all 4 gigs of RAM put XP 64bit version.
I'm guessing your current video card has 768MB of memory.
Title: Re: PCI card...IDE/SATA
Post by: TheBoy on 02 February 2011, 18:14:34
Quote
If  you want to  use all 4 gigs of RAM put XP 64bit version.
I'm guessing your current video card has 768MB of memory.
4Gb is a horrid amount. 32bit can only use a shade over 3Gb, and the inefficiencies of 64bit Windows makes 4G not worthwhile (over 3G 32bit).

If you wan't to go 64bit, XP really isn't the way anyway, due to immature architecture and poor driver support. Vista or later is a much better bet for 64bit :y
Title: Re: PCI card...IDE/SATA
Post by: Terbs on 02 February 2011, 18:50:23
Quote
If  you want to  use all 4 gigs of RAM put XP 64bit version.
I'm guessing your current video card has 768MB of memory.

Graphics card is 1024mb memory. ;)

You are right, TB....I have got my spare comp back now so will load windows 7 in and see what thats all about. Then I'll see about loading it on here. :y
I then have the capacity to put in more ram....I think this MB will suport either 8 or 16 gig.

One tech point....if I put Windows 7 on this comp, can I just put in the disk and it automatically updates....or is it a wipe and format and raw load :)
Title: Re: PCI card...IDE/SATA
Post by: TheBoy on 02 February 2011, 19:25:56
Quote
Quote
If  you want to  use all 4 gigs of RAM put XP 64bit version.
I'm guessing your current video card has 768MB of memory.

Graphics card is 1024mb memory. ;)

You are right, TB....I have got my spare comp back now so will load windows 7 in and see what thats all about. Then I'll see about loading it on here. :y
I then have the capacity to put in more ram....I think this MB will suport either 8 or 16 gig.

One tech point....if I put Windows 7 on this comp, can I just put in the disk and it automatically updates....or is it a wipe and format and raw load :)
Win7 does have a upgrade options (though its quite fussy), but I would 100% fully recommend rebuild from scratch. Sorry.
Title: Re: PCI card...IDE/SATA
Post by: cem_devecioglu on 02 February 2011, 19:34:40
Quote
Quote
Quote
If  you want to  use all 4 gigs of RAM put XP 64bit version.
I'm guessing your current video card has 768MB of memory.

Graphics card is 1024mb memory. ;)

You are right, TB....I have got my spare comp back now so will load windows 7 in and see what thats all about. Then I'll see about loading it on here. :y
I then have the capacity to put in more ram....I think this MB will suport either 8 or 16 gig.

One tech point....if I put Windows 7 on this comp, can I just put in the disk and it automatically updates....or is it a wipe and format and raw load :)
Win7 does have a upgrade options (though its quite fussy), but I would 100% fully recommend rebuild from scratch. Sorry.

agreed..
Title: Re: PCI card...IDE/SATA
Post by: Terbs on 02 February 2011, 19:57:48
Quote
Quote
Quote
Quote
If  you want to  use all 4 gigs of RAM put XP 64bit version.
I'm guessing your current video card has 768MB of memory.

Graphics card is 1024mb memory. ;)

You are right, TB....I have got my spare comp back now so will load windows 7 in and see what thats all about. Then I'll see about loading it on here. :y
I then have the capacity to put in more ram....I think this MB will suport either 8 or 16 gig.

One tech point....if I put Windows 7 on this comp, can I just put in the disk and it automatically updates....or is it a wipe and format and raw load :)
Win7 does have a upgrade options (though its quite fussy), but I would 100% fully recommend rebuild from scratch. Sorry.

agreed..

Thanks chaps :y  Its not a major problem as I only use C drive for the very basics....most of my stuff is on other drives. Makes it easy to wipe if I get corruptions or viruses. :y does not take long to sort out any programmes that may need a 'backward tweak' ;)
Title: Re: PCI card...IDE/SATA
Post by: mathewst on 03 February 2011, 10:54:28
Hmm general opinion along my colleagues is to avoid Vista at all cost, windows 7 seems ok.
As for xp 64bit, it lack drivers etc but everything works if you use Vista drivers.
Know a couple of guys who have been using it for couple of years and never had any problems with it
I would recommend either xp64 or Win7 but everyone has the right to choose for himself.
By the way why do you need so much RAM?
You have a powerful PC and a crappy video card so don't see the point in adding more RAM (unless you want to play all newest games)
Title: Re: PCI card...IDE/SATA
Post by: Terbs on 03 February 2011, 12:20:10
Why is the video card crappy, Matt....
Its never been a problem........ :y

Main use is Flight Sim FSX....using addon sceneries, aircraft etc.....I fly online using various networks. :y
Obviously the more ram etc the better. My sim has most sliders up full, but I still get slight stutters, whereas my friend with Windows 7,  and more ram runs his sim much better. :y
Title: Re: PCI card...IDE/SATA
Post by: mathewst on 03 February 2011, 13:52:04
Card is crap for newest video games.
For older ones it should suffice.
If you have for instance 4GB RAM and if the game stutters it is 99% due to video card not being able to cope with the graphics and not RAM or main CPU.
Issues like this can be reduced by installing the most recent drivers, reducing resolution and details in game, but it usually means that you need better video card.
If it works better on his Windows7 and you have the same PC check for most recent drivers for your card.