SATA question

[AcetheGamer]

im planning to buy a sata hardisk and here are my list of questions i need to clarify before i buy...
1.) are there any drivers needed to install sata hardisk? except raid drivers of course,...as i know raid configuration is for multiple sata drives only---correct me if im wrong---i only buying a single hdd
2.) can sata hardisk be partitioned to multiple drives easily just like in e-ide drives?
3.) what are the pros and cons of choosing a sata drive over an e-ide? except <on the speed of course>,,..

 

[StrangleHold]

1. Some do need sata drivers but most chipsets dont, there already included in XP
2. Yes
3. Smaller cables- Mostly faster- Newer Technology

 

[Vampiric Rouge]

1. He is right you will almost never have to go looking for drivers, unless your installing an older OS
2. You can do any thing to it you can with an PATA drive the only big difference is the interface.
3. The main thing is the speed but also looking to the future new mother boards have less and less PATA connections so by getting a SATA you will more likely be able to use it on your next computer.

 

[Geoff]

1.) are there any drivers needed to install sata hardisk? except raid drivers of course,...as i know raid configuration is for multiple sata drives only---correct me if im wrong---i only buying a single hdd

You dont need any Windows drivers for SATA drives, but i've heard that some people need them when installing Windows because it doesnt detect it (although it's never happened to me). FYI you can RAID IDE drives as well, not just SATA.

2.) can sata hardisk be partitioned to multiple drives easily just like in e-ide drives?

SATA and IDE drives are practically identical, except you dont need to set jumpers and it's a different interface. So yes, you can partition it just as easy as an IDE drive.

3.) what are the pros and cons of choosing a sata drive over an e-ide? except <on the speed of course>,,..

SATA drives are faster, obviously, but besides that the only con I would say is that on some budget motherboards for older platforms dont have SATA locks, so if you overclock and have a SATA drive, you will receive errors. But any new motherboard on an AM2 or LGA775 platform shouldnt give you that problem.

 

[StrangleHold]

You dont need any Windows drivers for SATA drives, but i've heard that some people need them when installing Windows because it doesnt detect it (although it's never happened to me). FYI you can RAID IDE drives as well, not just SATA.

I try to stay away from them the most i can! But theres some odd ball VIA and SIS chipsets sata drivers that 2000-XP doesnt include that you have to do the F6. Not for sure about if Vista has them though.