Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (
More info?)
"_R" <_R@nomail.org> wrote in message news:vf4sd1llce8lkt20ee8uq1i6dgb7ejb6cn@4ax.com
> On Sat, 16 Jul 2005 01:33:38 +0200, "Folkert Rienstra" <see_reply-to@myweb.nl> wrote:
>
> > "_R" <_R@nomail.org> wrote in message news:hitfd114jhh73123oqansroigu5flhpprt@4ax.com
>
> > > Here's a search for ("ata controller" -serial -promise -raid -sata)
> > >
http://tinyurl.com/88w39
> > >
> > > Still 13000 hits,
> >
> > So what, where does it say you have to read them all?
> >
> >
http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=GGLD,GGLD:2004-43,GGLD:en&q=%2Bwell+%2Bknown+%2BATA+%2Bcontrollers
> >
> > gives both HighPoint and 3ware already on the first page.
>
> 3Ware doesn't make a straight ATA controller. I wish they did. It's
> tempting to get a 7000-series board and use it in JBOD, but that's
> another $250 or so per box.
>
> Highpoint's rep for Raid is mixed, but they do seem to have an ATA controller.
> I've never seen one, so maybe it's more common on the West coast.
>
> > > Did you have something in mind regarding a mainstream alternative to
> > > Promise or Silicon Image?
> >
> > HighPoint obviously.
>
> Have you actually used a Highpoint ATA controller with no problems?
> Has anyone here used one? I'd like to continue buying one of
> everything just to try them out, but it's time-consuming.
> In Highpoint's case, their drivers and BIOS haven't been updated since 2002
Which may be a positive: no bugs to be taken care of.
> and it doesn't seem likely that they'll be writing Win2K3 drivers for anything.
And that's a problem how?
>
> Since my post I've had a chance to check the Adaptec Ash-1233
> controllers more thoroughly. They have problems--either BIOS or
> driver, and I doubt that they'll be fixed.
>
> I had to drop back to the Promise controllers. At least they're a
> known quantity. Drivers are a bit more up to date than most others.
Define 'up to date'.
> Hardware and BIOS, while buggy,
Sofar for being 'up to date'.
> are not as bad as Adaptec.
>
> So...If no one knows of more modern, solid alternatives I suppose I
> have to stay with Promise.
>
> I'm still tempted to snag a Highpoint just to see what it will do, but
> I have no idea what to expect from it.
HighPoint were the only one that offered Queueing support for IBM drives.
HighPoint bioses have a setup utility for bootorder.
In my book that earns them just that little bit more trust.
What I find disappointing though is that they apparently still do not support ATAPI.