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3790
December 31st, 2002 04:00
Controller Card
Hello,
On a performance desktop computer do you need to have a controller card?
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Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
20 Posts
0
3790
December 31st, 2002 04:00
Hello,
On a performance desktop computer do you need to have a controller card?
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John Redcorn
410 Posts
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December 31st, 2002 05:00
G__Man
32 Posts
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December 31st, 2002 09:00
If a PCI IDE ATA Controller Card is indeed what you are referring to as John suggested, then the "need" for one depends on exactly what hardware you would like to configure inside your PC. The Controller Card would be beneficial for doing the following:
1. Simply allowing the addition of up to 4 more IDE driven devices to your system. The motherboard can manage only up to 4 devices. Using a board makes the total possible IDE devices 8 (4 on the mobo & 4 on the card) if your case has room to mount them.
2. Adding one or more new hard disk drives to the system that are either too large in size or too fast in speed for the motherboard's IDE controller to handle at their maximum specs. The controller card has its own BIOS for managing devices connected to it, and thus is not dependent on the PC's original BIOS which may present certain limitations to the latest hardware designed with newer technology.
3. Increasing the performance of hard disk data transfer. A common use for these cards is to mount the system's main "boot to C:" hard disk (& possibly a 2nd bootable or data only) hard disk to the board. This moves all hard disk activity away from the mobo letting it concentrate on other devices such as your CDROM, CDRW, DVD or ZIP drives. Also, separating the CDROM / DVD from your burner on the mobo channels helps to prevent buffer underuns when burning.
There are of course other uses and benefits for the ATA cards, but these I think you'll find are the most common. The cards are inexpensive (< $30.00) and easy to install for anyone not afraid to open the case on their beloved PC. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions for your particular card/devices and practice safe ESD when inside your machine. Should you decide to install an ATA card and need some help, post a message in the "Hard Drive" forum where there are many knowlegdable folks who can help you.
GMan