Upgrade Question

[bonoz]

I have a 3-4 year old PC.

Specs:
ASUS SK8N Motherboard
AMD FX51 64-bit 2.2Ghz
512mbx2 Corsair
80GB Primary Hard Drive - EIDE
200GB Secondary hard drive - SATA I <--failing
ATI 9800xt 256mb vcard
Creative Audigy 7.1

My second hard drive is failing and I'm thinking about getting a new one, I don't know though if I should stick with SATA, since I will be using it as my second hard drive. I think EIDE would be cheaper? but would that make any difference running games, etc.?

Also, what other upgrades could I think about? or should I forget the upgrades and start saving up for a new computer?

Thanks!

 

[Law]

Right now, you won't notice anything between SATA150 and ATA100-IDE, what matters is the cache size and RPM. Just go with an IDE and you should be fine. Pick a nice 7200RPM, 16Mb cache size.

 

[b1gapl]

I would say, start saving up for a new computer. Theres going to be a lot of new processors soon.

SATA is not that much more than IDE. Maybe $5-10...but I'd say stick with SATA. It's the current tech for hard drives.

edit: Or what Law said. IDE is fine still. I just like SATAs better because the wires are less of a clutter.

 

[Law]

Only time you would pick a SATA150 over IDE is ease of installation, better air flow and no Master/Slave setting. Remember SATA300 still have jumper setting but these are use for backward compatibility with SATA150 MB.

 

[bonoz]

But because I have one IDE, I should just stick with IDE?

 

[bonoz]

and, really there's only a $5 difference between the two?

 

[b1gapl]

IDE:
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JB 80GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache IDE Ultra ATA100 Hard Drive - OEM

SATA:
Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar SE WD800JD 80GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM

Both are at $41.99

 

[bonoz]

And should I go for ATA100 or 133? not quite sure if my mobo supports 133.

AND, I want a higher capacity hard drive but they are all mostly seagate! I've had a terrible experience with a seagate external hard drive... I'm kind of reluctant to give them more money.

 

[bonoz]

Also, with my current hard drive, the BIOS wouldn't detect the hard drive, I would always have to instal windows, then use mobo drivers to get it detected. I'm not sure if I like that too much.

 

[Law]

Seems like you should just go with SATA300 if you don't like Seagate, since they are mainly the ATA100 on newegg.com with 16mb cache. Not really any 16mb cache SATA150 beside the Raptors on newegg. I doubt your MB supports ATA133 but I may be wrong.

This is good, it has a jumper setting to be used with SATA150 MB Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar SE16 WD2500KS 250GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM