Mixing IDE and SATA hard drives on EP-4PCA3+

[b.whizz]

I'm running Rev 1.2 of the EP-4PCA3+ and have it set up as follows:

Epox EP-4PCA3+ Rev 1.2 (Bios Date )
Intel P4 2.4 (800FSB)
1024MB PC3200 (Kingston)
Antec SX-1030 (550w Antec TruePower PSU)
Lite-On LTR-52327S [Firmware QS57] (IDE1 Master)
Pioneer DVR-106D [Firmware 107] (IDE2 Master)
Samsung SP1203N 120GB/8MB Cache (IDE3 Master)
Samsung SP1203N 120GB/8MB Cache (IDE4 Master)
Seagate ST380021A 80GB/2MB Cache (IDE5 Master)
Western Digital WD800JB 80GB/8MB Cache (IDE6 Master)
Windows 98SE
AGP Slot = ATI 9600Pro All-In-Wonder (128MB)
PCI 1 = Free
PCI 2 = Pace Hardware Modem
PCI 3 = Free
PCI 4 = Free
PCI 5 = Alcatel Speedtouch PCI ADSL Modem
LG. 77i 17" Monitor

I'm having problems with my Seagate drive when ever i try to update the bios (but that's another issue) so i was going to dump that drive and get another Samsung or WD (min 120GB) but given IDE seems to be on it's way out i was considering getting the SATA versions of one of these drives, but was wondering if i could run all my IDE devices (less the Seagate of course) plus a new SATA drive ?

My OS will be going on the old 80GB WD, I would just use the new SATA drive to store my PowerQuest DriveImages, so this SATA drive will need to work in DOS, are there any problems that you guys can see i may run into? or any advise for me on this issue?

Thanks

[Lazgoat]

How many IDE controllers does that board support?

Laz.

[Gizmo]

Laz - It has two regular IDE channels, four Highpoint 374 RAID channels, and two SATA RAID channels from the 875 chip.

b.whizz - I would expect that you can do what you propose. I seem to recall that someone else around here has a similar configuration and it is working just fine for them.

Edit: Maybe someone who has a clue will answer this.

[b.whizz]

Thanks gizmo, i did do a quick search but found nothing but this time i'll take my time see if i can find anything

[Gizmo]

BTW Laz - I just realized that my edit might have suggested that you don't have a clue. That wasn't what I meant, and I appologize if I might have offended. I meant that I am sometimes clueless.

b.whizz - it might not have been the 4pca3+, but I'm pretty sure someone on here is running a mobo with the 875 chipset and highpoint controller, and is using both RAID controllers.

[ckngai]

Originally Posted by gizmo

b.whizz - it might not have been the 4pca3+, but I'm pretty sure someone on here is running a mobo with the 875 chipset and highpoint controller, and is using both RAID controllers.

hi gizmo,

I am the one who asked about this problem.
I found that there is no way in booting from the highpoint IDE with serial RAID being enable. That means the highpoint is completely "disable" before boot into windows.
However, once you get into windows, those devices being connected to highpoint IDE can still be detected and function properly.
Although I am not using highpoint raid at this moment, I think that if I somehow pre-configure a raid for harddisks connected to IDE3-6, they still can be used under windows environment.

[Gizmo]

Cool ckngai. Thanks for the feed back.

b.whizz - I think this is the answer you were seeking....

[b.whizz]

Sorry for not getting back sooner but been busy, yep sure does answer my question, not the way i wanted it at but at least i have the right info now so can make right buying decision, many thanks gizmo and ckngai