Help with SATA mobo and IDE drives

Hi,

I have an old Asus TUSL-C mobo at the moment with 2 IDE HD in the box, 2
hanging off a pci controller and 3 externals. I use it for video and
audio editing.

I am upgrading looks like to the 2 Core Quad Asus P5Q3 (deluxe?) with a
Q8200 CPU.

I am not sure what lower priced graphics card yet (must have 2 VGA out).

I understand the mobo only has 2 PCI slots and is all SATA.

How do I arrange my HDrives here? Do I need to get at least 1 SATA
drive for my XP?

I also use 1 PCI for mu M-Audio 4 in/4 out box card and 1 for my
SB_live sound card.

I will use the mobo LAN and USB/Firewire and I guess anything else I can.

How do I get over my hard drive connections and possible PCI slot use?

Thanks


oz

 

Some ideas:

(1) Definitely get a new SATA/300 hard drive for XP and programs. This
should improve video editting, since eventually disk speed will become
limiting, no matter how fast the CPU and RAM. Consider partitioning to
separate XP+programs from data. It helps when (not if) you need to
reinstall XP, or better yet, recover via a user-made partition image.

(2) If only 2 PCI slots, I assume other slots are PCI-express? If so, get
PCI-X add-in cards, instead of PCI. They are very common. See any on-line
store that sells compuiter parts. Look under "add-in cards" or "adapter
cards" of simply "PCI-X".

(3) For video, use the one PCI-X slot rated at 16X that is usually
available on modern motherboards. It is a lot faster than PCI or AGP.

(4) Get one or more external USB 2 enclosures and place old hard IDE drives
in them. This will allow you to read old files, and could serve as a backup
medium.

(5) However, also get at least one eSATA hard drive (or eSATA enclosure
plus separate SATA hard drive). I am assuming that your new motherboard
will support it. eSATA is a lot faster than USB 2.

"rock" <1940@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:%23pRFQ$fyJHA.5684@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
> I have an old Asus TUSL-C mobo at the moment with 2 IDE HD in the box, 2
> hanging off a pci controller and 3 externals. I use it for video and
> audio editing.
>
> I am upgrading looks like to the 2 Core Quad Asus P5Q3 (deluxe?) with a
> Q8200 CPU.
>
> I am not sure what lower priced graphics card yet (must have 2 VGA out).
>
> I understand the mobo only has 2 PCI slots and is all SATA.
>
> How do I arrange my HDrives here? Do I need to get at least 1 SATA drive
> for my XP?
>
> I also use 1 PCI for mu M-Audio 4 in/4 out box card and 1 for my SB_live
> sound card.
>
> I will use the mobo LAN and USB/Firewire and I guess anything else I can.
>
> How do I get over my hard drive connections and possible PCI slot use?
>
> Thanks
>
>
> oz

 

Youre biggest concern will/would be case space & power supply.2 IDE hds
will work off 1 slot with a cable for 2 hds.As for SATA,if its mostly SATA
connections,then it's probably RAID capable,get 2 SATA hds & make a RAID
set,youre pc speed is dictated by hd read/write speed,IDE is only 100mb read
at v.best,RAID runs from 150mb to 300mb per second.Use the IDE hds for
storage & page-file,also,read the owners manual.Read:
http://www.intel.com/performance/desktop/platform_technologies/storage_performance.htm

"rock" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> I have an old Asus TUSL-C mobo at the moment with 2 IDE HD in the box, 2
> hanging off a pci controller and 3 externals. I use it for video and
> audio editing.
>
> I am upgrading looks like to the 2 Core Quad Asus P5Q3 (deluxe?) with a
> Q8200 CPU.
>
> I am not sure what lower priced graphics card yet (must have 2 VGA out).
>
> I understand the mobo only has 2 PCI slots and is all SATA.
>
> How do I arrange my HDrives here? Do I need to get at least 1 SATA
> drive for my XP?
>
> I also use 1 PCI for mu M-Audio 4 in/4 out box card and 1 for my
> SB_live sound card.
>
> I will use the mobo LAN and USB/Firewire and I guess anything else I can.
>
> How do I get over my hard drive connections and possible PCI slot use?
>
> Thanks
>
>
> oz
>

 

rock wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have an old Asus TUSL-C mobo at the moment with 2 IDE HD in the box, 2
> hanging off a pci controller and 3 externals. I use it for video and
> audio editing.
>
> I am upgrading looks like to the 2 Core Quad Asus P5Q3 (deluxe?) with a
> Q8200 CPU.
>
> I am not sure what lower priced graphics card yet (must have 2 VGA out).
>
> I understand the mobo only has 2 PCI slots and is all SATA.
>
> How do I arrange my HDrives here? Do I need to get at least 1 SATA
> drive for my XP?
>
> I also use 1 PCI for mu M-Audio 4 in/4 out box card and 1 for my
> SB_live sound card.
>
> I will use the mobo LAN and USB/Firewire and I guess anything else I can.
>
> How do I get over my hard drive connections and possible PCI slot use?
>
> Thanks
>
>
> oz

You can get IDE drive to SATA port adapters. (And also SATA drive
to IDE port adapters.)

The style which plugs into the drive, is easier to verify that
you're getting the right direction of transfer.

(This side plugs into the IDE drive. A power cable to provide power
to the adapter, is bundled with this unit. Other manufacturers neglect
to include a power cable.)

http://c1.neweggimages.com/NeweggImage/productimage/12-156-010-05.jpg

(This is the view from the other side. You plug your motherboard SATA
cable into this. The white four pin connector, is a floppy style power
header. That is where the power cable goes. Motherboard boxes don't
include a lot of SATA cables, so you may need to pick up a few
SATA cables as well.)

http://images.compusa.com/skuimages/large/M501-1088-main-mg.jpg

The tough part about these adapters, is the customer reviews.
For example, the physical appearance of that adapter looks
acceptable, but not everyone is thrilled with the product.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16812156010

You have to check the reviews, to see whether ATAPI (optical) drives
are supported. There can be all manner of compatibility problems.
If you go for the lowest priced unit, they give the appearance that
they've never been tested at the factory.

The record for adapter dongles, was a product which was available
for $0.99. Every unit was dead :-( Which made them into very nice
Christmas tree ornaments. So shop carefully, before trading off
price and function.

*******

You can also get a PCI Express x1 card, with a Jmicron JMB363
SATA/PATA chip on it.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815283005

You'd be getting that card, just for the PATA connector. Don't
waste your time on the SATA ports (you have enough already).

Since your motherboard already has one of those chips, I can't
really predict whether the two JMB363 chips and their respective
BIOS modules, will get along. Check the Newegg reviews, to
see if anyone with a JMB363 on their motherboard, had a problem
when that JMB363 card was plugged in.

*******

If the drives are mainly for data, you could consolidate several
of them, onto a new 1TB SATA drive. I used to have seven drives
in a previous computer. Now I have only two.

You can also get optical drives with a SATA connector. And pretty cheap.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16827136152

Paul

 

rock wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have an old Asus TUSL-C mobo at the moment with 2 IDE HD in the box, 2
> hanging off a pci controller and 3 externals. I use it for video and
> audio editing.
>
> I am upgrading looks like to the 2 Core Quad Asus P5Q3 (deluxe?) with a
> Q8200 CPU.
>
> I am not sure what lower priced graphics card yet (must have 2 VGA out).
>
> I understand the mobo only has 2 PCI slots and is all SATA.
>
> How do I arrange my HDrives here? Do I need to get at least 1 SATA
> drive for my XP?
>
> I also use 1 PCI for mu M-Audio 4 in/4 out box card and 1 for my
> SB_live sound card.
>
> I will use the mobo LAN and USB/Firewire and I guess anything else I can.
>
> How do I get over my hard drive connections and possible PCI slot use?
>
> Thanks
>
>
> oz


Hey guys,

I really do thank you for your time and helpful advice. I have printed
it off and will be guided by it.

Any help with a graphics card with 2 VGA out that may help me with my
video editing?

There are so many and some sooo exy however many are for gaming not
editing.

I need one that will give me the 2 VGA out and a good speed with the
editing side of it.

I'm in Sydney Oz and looks like we have some different model numbers here.

Thanks again, you're troopers !!

rock

 

rock wrote:
> rock wrote:
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have an old Asus TUSL-C mobo at the moment with 2 IDE HD in the box,
>> 2 hanging off a pci controller and 3 externals. I use it for video
>> and audio editing.
>>
>> I am upgrading looks like to the 2 Core Quad Asus P5Q3 (deluxe?) with
>> a Q8200 CPU.
>>
>> I am not sure what lower priced graphics card yet (must have 2 VGA out).
>>
>> I understand the mobo only has 2 PCI slots and is all SATA.
>>
>> How do I arrange my HDrives here? Do I need to get at least 1 SATA
>> drive for my XP?
>>
>> I also use 1 PCI for mu M-Audio 4 in/4 out box card and 1 for my
>> SB_live sound card.
>>
>> I will use the mobo LAN and USB/Firewire and I guess anything else I can.
>>
>> How do I get over my hard drive connections and possible PCI slot use?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>>
>> oz
>
>
> Hey guys,
>
> I really do thank you for your time and helpful advice. I have printed
> it off and will be guided by it.
>
> Any help with a graphics card with 2 VGA out that may help me with my
> video editing?
>
> There are so many and some sooo exy however many are for gaming not
> editing.
>
> I need one that will give me the 2 VGA out and a good speed with the
> editing side of it.
>
> I'm in Sydney Oz and looks like we have some different model numbers here.
>
> Thanks again, you're troopers !!
>
> rock
>

Even if a card has one VGA connector and one DVI-I connector, all it takes
is an adapter dongle, to convert DVI-I to VGA.

DVI-I connectors have two interfaces. There are a set of pins with a digital
signal. The "cross shaped area" on the end of the connector, carries the
analog RGB signals, which would normally be part of a VGA connector. A
passive adapter, selects those analog signals, and puts them on the
familiar 15 pin VGA connector.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Visual_Interface

This card, has two DVI-I connectors, but there is one DVI to VGA dongle
in the box. You'd need a second dongle, to be able to drive a second
VGA monitor.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131084

The white thing in the middle of the picture, is the single included
dongle in the box.

http://images17.newegg.com/is/image ewegg/14-131-084-S05?$S640W$

This is an example of a separate dongle, you'd buy to complete your
"$50 video card".

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812226014

One issue with cheap adapters, is they don't mate very well with
the video card. I had a cheap FX5200 card, which bundled one dongle
with it, and the dongle was dreadful. I have many other dongles,
from more expensive cards, which were smooth to install. The customer
review section for that one, seems to indicate it is OK.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16812226014

There have been, in the past, a few of the really cheap video cards,
where in fact the DVI connector on the video card, was DVI-D, which
means only the digital signals are available. The little cross shaped
area, if visibly evident, is not proof there are electrical signals
present on the connector. And if the manufacturer does not admit
to the interface type (DVI-I = good, DVI-D = bad), then a customer
could get a surprise. In terms of the odds of that happening, out
of about 200 different video card models, maybe 2 have been crippled
like that.

This is an example of how cheap you could go. This card is $36 and
is passively cooled (power around 25W or less). You need to purchase one
dongle, to enable you to use two VGA monitors. Based on ATI HD 4350.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductReview.aspx?Item=N82E16814127411

The HD 4350 should have lower power dissipation, than this HD 4550
reviewed here. Such low power cards aren't preferred by gamers, but
are more for multimedia applications or home theater systems.

http://www.xbitlabs.com/articles/video/display/ati-radeon-hd4550_4.html#sect0

Paul

 

On May 1, 3:34 am, "Bob Harris" <rharris270[SPAM]@hotmail.com> wrote:
> Some ideas:
>
> (1) Definitely get a new SATA/300 hard drive for XP and programs.  This
> should improve video editting, since eventually disk speed will become
> limiting, no matter how fast the CPU and RAM.  Consider partitioning to
> separate XP+programs from data.  It helps when (not if) you need to
> reinstall XP, or better yet, recover via a user-made partition image.
>
> (2)  If only 2 PCI slots, I assume other slots are PCI-express?  If so, get
> PCI-X add-in cards, instead of PCI.  They are very common.  See any on-line
> store that sells compuiter parts.  Look under "add-in cards" or "adapter
> cards" of simply "PCI-X".
>
> (3)  For video, use the one PCI-X slot rated at 16X that is usually
> available on modern motherboards.  It is a lot faster than PCI or AGP.
>
> (4)  Get one or more external USB 2 enclosures and place old hard IDE drives
> in them.  This will allow you to read old files, and could serve as a backup
> medium.
>
> (5)  However, also get at least one eSATA hard drive (or eSATA enclosure
> plus separate SATA hard drive).  I am assuming that your new motherboard
> will support it.  eSATA is a lot faster than USB 2.
>
> "rock" <1...@pobox.com> wrote in message
>
> news:%23pRFQ$fyJHA.5684@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>
> > Hi,
>
> > I have an old Asus TUSL-C mobo at the moment with 2 IDE HD in the box, 2
> > hanging off a pci controller and 3 externals.  I use it for video and
> > audio editing.
>
> > I am upgrading looks like to the 2 Core Quad Asus P5Q3 (deluxe?) with a
> > Q8200 CPU.
>
> > I am not sure what lower priced graphics card yet (must have 2 VGA out)..
>
> > I understand the mobo only has 2 PCI slots and is all SATA.
>
> > How do I arrange my HDrives here?  Do I need to get at least 1 SATA drive
> > for my XP?
>
> > I also use 1 PCI for mu M-Audio 4 in/4 out box card  and 1 for my SB_live
> > sound card.
>
> > I will use the mobo LAN and USB/Firewire and I guess anything else I can.
>
> > How do I get over my hard drive connections and possible PCI slot use?
>
> > Thanks
>
> > oz

PCI-X cards would normally require a PCI-X slot. Since the
motherboard has PCI-Express slots (on x16 and a few PCI-e x1) and PCI
slots, look for PCI or PCIExpress cards.

PCI-X are not interchangeable with PCIExpress. Also PCI-X cards tend
to be for high-end "servers" and my be quite expensive. PCI slot
serial adapter are about $30.00 dollars. The PCI-X equivalent: $200.00

 

On May 1, 2:54 am, rock <1...@pobox.com> wrote:
> Hi,
>
> I have an old Asus TUSL-C mobo at the moment with 2 IDE HD in the box, 2
> hanging off a pci controller and 3 externals.  I use it for video and
> audio editing.
>
> I am upgrading looks like to the 2 Core Quad Asus P5Q3 (deluxe?) with a
> Q8200 CPU.
>
> I am not sure what lower priced graphics card yet (must have 2 VGA out).
>
> I understand the mobo only has 2 PCI slots and is all SATA.
>
> How do I arrange my HDrives here?  Do I need to get at least 1 SATA
> drive for my XP?
>
> I also use 1 PCI for mu M-Audio 4 in/4 out box card  and 1 for my
> SB_live sound card.
>
> I will use the mobo LAN and USB/Firewire and I guess anything else I can.
>
> How do I get over my hard drive connections and possible PCI slot use?
>
> Thanks
>
> oz

Most PCI Express x16 adapters come with DVI to VGA adapters. If not,
you can buy these adapter separately.

 

On Fri, 01 May 2009 11:54:58 +1000, rock <1940@pobox.com> wrote:

>Hi,
>
>I have an old Asus TUSL-C mobo at the moment with 2 IDE HD in the box, 2
>hanging off a pci controller and 3 externals. I use it for video and
>audio editing.
>
>I am upgrading looks like to the 2 Core Quad Asus P5Q3 (deluxe?) with a
>Q8200 CPU.
>
>I am not sure what lower priced graphics card yet (must have 2 VGA out).
>
>I understand the mobo only has 2 PCI slots and is all SATA.
>
>How do I arrange my HDrives here? Do I need to get at least 1 SATA
>drive for my XP?
>
>I also use 1 PCI for mu M-Audio 4 in/4 out box card and 1 for my
>SB_live sound card.
>
>I will use the mobo LAN and USB/Firewire and I guess anything else I can.
>
>How do I get over my hard drive connections and possible PCI slot use?
>
>Thanks
>
>
>oz
None of this has anything to do with the OS. Why are you asking here?

 

On May 4, 12:52 am, Mr. Smith <nowh...@atall.net> wrote:
> On Fri, 01 May 2009 11:54:58 +1000, rock <1...@pobox.com> wrote:
> >Hi,
>
> >I have an old Asus TUSL-C mobo at the moment with 2 IDE HD in the box, 2
> >hanging off a pci controller and 3 externals.  I use it for video and
> >audio editing.
>
> >I am upgrading looks like to the 2 Core Quad Asus P5Q3 (deluxe?) with a
> >Q8200 CPU.
>
> >I am not sure what lower priced graphics card yet (must have 2 VGA out).
>
> >I understand the mobo only has 2 PCI slots and is all SATA.
>
> >How do I arrange my HDrives here?  Do I need to get at least 1 SATA
> >drive for my XP?
>
> >I also use 1 PCI for mu M-Audio 4 in/4 out box card  and 1 for my
> >SB_live sound card.
>
> >I will use the mobo LAN and USB/Firewire and I guess anything else I can..
>
> >How do I get over my hard drive connections and possible PCI slot use?
>
> >Thanks
>
> >oz
>
> None of this has anything to do with the OS.  Why are you asking here?

Th OP has a problem with using "hardware" with his XP. Since this
group is geared toward questions on hardware in XP, their original
question is "valid" here.

 

On Mon, 4 May 2009 05:53:44 -0700 (PDT), smlunatick
<yveslec@gmail.com> wrote:

>On May 4, 12:52 am, Mr. Smith <nowh...@atall.net> wrote:
>> On Fri, 01 May 2009 11:54:58 +1000, rock <1...@pobox.com> wrote:
>> >Hi,
>>
>> >I have an old Asus TUSL-C mobo at the moment with 2 IDE HD in the box, 2
>> >hanging off a pci controller and 3 externals.  I use it for video and
>> >audio editing.
>>
>> >I am upgrading looks like to the 2 Core Quad Asus P5Q3 (deluxe?) with a
>> >Q8200 CPU.
>>
>> >I am not sure what lower priced graphics card yet (must have 2 VGA out).
>>
>> >I understand the mobo only has 2 PCI slots and is all SATA.
>>
>> >How do I arrange my HDrives here?  Do I need to get at least 1 SATA
>> >drive for my XP?
>>
>> >I also use 1 PCI for mu M-Audio 4 in/4 out box card  and 1 for my
>> >SB_live sound card.
>>
>> >I will use the mobo LAN and USB/Firewire and I guess anything else I can.
>>
>> >How do I get over my hard drive connections and possible PCI slot use?
>>
>> >Thanks
>>
>> >oz
>>
>> None of this has anything to do with the OS.  Why are you asking here?
>
>Th OP has a problem with using "hardware" with his XP. Since this
>group is geared toward questions on hardware in XP, their original
>question is "valid" here.

Their "hardware" question is totally unrelated to the OS. So it is
"not valid" here. Or did you miss the WindowsXP in the group title
before the word "hardware?"

 

"rock" <1940@pobox.com> wrote in message
news:%23pRFQ$fyJHA.5684@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
> I have an old Asus TUSL-C mobo at the moment with 2 IDE HD in the box, 2
> hanging off a pci controller and 3 externals. I use it for video and
> audio editing.
>
> I am upgrading looks like to the 2 Core Quad Asus P5Q3 (deluxe?) with a
> Q8200 CPU.
>
> I am not sure what lower priced graphics card yet (must have 2 VGA out).
>
> I understand the mobo only has 2 PCI slots and is all SATA.
>
> How do I arrange my HDrives here? Do I need to get at least 1 SATA drive
> for my XP?
>
> I also use 1 PCI for mu M-Audio 4 in/4 out box card and 1 for my SB_live
> sound card.
>
> I will use the mobo LAN and USB/Firewire and I guess anything else I can.
>
> How do I get over my hard drive connections and possible PCI slot use?
>
> Thanks
>
>
> oz


rock (or oz?)...
I think you've already gotten some good info from a number of responders to
your query but let me add a few comments...

1. I take it you're aware that motherboard accepts only DDR3 memory, yes?
Not that this is a problem, but I mention it only because DDR3 memory is
still a bit pricey (at least here in the U.S. as compared with DDR2) and
frankly we've not (yet) experienced any significant "real-life" performance
with DDR3 memory as compared with DDR2. On the other hand DDR3 memory cost
has significantly decreased over the past couple of months or so and should
continue to do so and surely will become the memory of choice in the
not-too-distant future.

2. There's little question that unless you're financially strapped at the
moment you should go the SATA HDD route with that motherboard. Actually
you're practically forced to with that board. While the board is not "all
SATA" in that it is equipped with a single IDE channel, you could
theoretically install two PATA HDDs via that channel. Obviously your optical
drive would need to be a SATA device.

But as a practical matter it would be close to a sin not equipping your
system with at least a SATA boot drive. If you can possibly swing it
financially do consider one or more of the Western Digital VelociRaptor
models. See, for example...
http://www.westerndigital.com/en/products/products.asp?DriveID=459
I can practically guarantee that you won't regret that purchase. We've been
most impressed with these WD VelociRaptor models.

Hopefully, as has been suggested, you can at least install one of your PATA
HDDs on the IDE channel or possibly two if you install an optical drive with
a SATA interface and/or use some external enclosures to house the remaining
PATA HDD(s).

I suppose you could install a PATA HDD controller card in one of the PCI
slots, but that arrangement doesn't exactly thrill me given the quality of
that ASUS board.

3. I believe you mentioned in another post suggestions for a graphic card to
drive multiple monitors. Take a look at Tom's Hardware site for their latest
(April) graphics card recommendations and other background info...
http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-geforce-gtx,2270.html
Anna

 

Anna wrote:
> "rock" <1940@pobox.com> wrote in message
> news:%23pRFQ$fyJHA.5684@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have an old Asus TUSL-C mobo at the moment with 2 IDE HD in the box, 2
>> hanging off a pci controller and 3 externals. I use it for video and
>> audio editing.
>>
>> I am upgrading looks like to the 2 Core Quad Asus P5Q3 (deluxe?) with a
>> Q8200 CPU.
>>
>> I am not sure what lower priced graphics card yet (must have 2 VGA out).
>>
>> I understand the mobo only has 2 PCI slots and is all SATA.
>>
>> How do I arrange my HDrives here? Do I need to get at least 1 SATA drive
>> for my XP?
>>
>> I also use 1 PCI for mu M-Audio 4 in/4 out box card and 1 for my SB_live
>> sound card.
>>
>> I will use the mobo LAN and USB/Firewire and I guess anything else I can.
>>
>> How do I get over my hard drive connections and possible PCI slot use?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>>
>> oz
>
>
> rock (or oz?)...
> I think you've already gotten some good info from a number of responders to
> your query but let me add a few comments...
>
> 1. I take it you're aware that motherboard accepts only DDR3 memory, yes?
> Not that this is a problem, but I mention it only because DDR3 memory is
> still a bit pricey (at least here in the U.S. as compared with DDR2) and
> frankly we've not (yet) experienced any significant "real-life" performance
> with DDR3 memory as compared with DDR2. On the other hand DDR3 memory cost
> has significantly decreased over the past couple of months or so and should
> continue to do so and surely will become the memory of choice in the
> not-too-distant future.
>
> 2. There's little question that unless you're financially strapped at the
> moment you should go the SATA HDD route with that motherboard. Actually
> you're practically forced to with that board. While the board is not "all
> SATA" in that it is equipped with a single IDE channel, you could
> theoretically install two PATA HDDs via that channel. Obviously your optical
> drive would need to be a SATA device.
>
> But as a practical matter it would be close to a sin not equipping your
> system with at least a SATA boot drive. If you can possibly swing it
> financially do consider one or more of the Western Digital VelociRaptor
> models. See, for example...
> http://www.westerndigital.com/en/products/products.asp?DriveID=459
> I can practically guarantee that you won't regret that purchase. We've been
> most impressed with these WD VelociRaptor models.
>
> Hopefully, as has been suggested, you can at least install one of your PATA
> HDDs on the IDE channel or possibly two if you install an optical drive with
> a SATA interface and/or use some external enclosures to house the remaining
> PATA HDD(s).
>
> I suppose you could install a PATA HDD controller card in one of the PCI
> slots, but that arrangement doesn't exactly thrill me given the quality of
> that ASUS board.
>
> 3. I believe you mentioned in another post suggestions for a graphic card to
> drive multiple monitors. Take a look at Tom's Hardware site for their latest
> (April) graphics card recommendations and other background info...
> http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/radeon-geforce-gtx,2270.html
> Anna
>
>
Many thanks for your input and help. It is greatly appreciated.

oz (rock is on hols)