Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.gigabyte (
More info?)
"Jack Snow" <mrbrew5510@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:tsnSc.8038$js3.1248387@news4.srv.hcvlny.cv.net...
> Looking at acquiing a new mainboard and have been looking at the
Gigabyte
> offerings for the 754 socket 64 bit AMD processor but see that the disk
> drive interfaces are noted as sata and pata.
>
> Will my older Western Digital EIDE based drives work here and what
would be
> any limitations? Not really looking to set up RAID as it's a home
> environment.
>
> Also what are the difference between SATA and PATA vs EIDE?
>
> thks
EIDE, is PATA.
The IDE interface, has undergone a number of transformations over the
years. First the moves through various 'speeds' of PIO control, then the
development of the 'enhanced' interface, with DMA control, and ever faster
rates. All the versions though were 'parallel' interfaces, with multiple
parallel data lines. As the speeds got faster, the quality requirements on
the cables rose (hence the introduction of the 80pin cable with grounds
between the lines). The interface has now got so fast, that the signalling
requirements again needed to shift up a gear. Technically, it does not
cost much more to build a driver/cable to handle data at GHz rates (with
modern semiconductors), than a similar interface at 100MHz rates. Hence
the decision was made to reduce costs (by reducing the number of drivers
needed), and reduce the size of the cables, that the 'next' interface,
instead of just being another yet faster version of the parallel EIDE/ATA
interface (PATA), a serial version with far less wires would be used
(SATA).
So EIDE drives will attach to the PATA ports on the machine. These will
probably support faster rates than your older drives, but the interface is
intelligent in this regard, and will happily switch down to the older
slower rates.
If however you are buying new drives in the future, you should consider
getting the SATA versions, which have much smaller cables (improving
airflow). The fastest IDE drives currently available, are only supplied
using this interface.
You can get SATA-PATA adapter boards that plug into the existing EIDE
drives. In general though there is little point in these (except to tidy
the cabling).
Best Wishes
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