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From: anlee@misvax.mis.arizona.edu (Andrew Lee)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Help me select my next harddrive
Message-ID: <26FEB91191243@misvax.mis.arizona.edu>
Date: 27 Feb 91 00:12:43 GMT
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My Seagate ST251-1 (40 MB) drive is just about full so I need
more space.  I would like to have at least 80 MB of total disk
space.  Speed and cost are my main objectives.

System Configuration:

CompuAdd 286/16 MHz
Award BIOS
IDE connector on motherboard
WD1003 controller (supports 2 floppies, 2 hard drives)
Seagate ST251-1 hard drive
5.25 and 3.5 high density floppies

My options are:

1.  Add another ST251-1 (~$239)

If I add another 40 megs, my total disk space would be
sufficient.  It is the cheapest option and would also represent
the least amount of change to my system.  All I have to do is
plug it in and configure it.  I don't have to change my
controller card or trash my existing drive.  The only concern
that I have is speed.  Coretest reports a data transfer rate of
about 400 KB/sec.  I think that this is the weakest part of my
system.

2.  Replace the Seagate with an IDE

Hard Drives International has a Conner CP3104 for $529.  This
seems like a pretty good deal.  It costs more than a ST251-1 but
hopefully I could sell my Seagate.


Questions:

1.  What should I do?
2.  If I get an IDE, should I use the connector on the
    motherboard?
3.  If I do use the connector on the motherboard, can I still
    use my WD controller for my floppies or will I have to get a new
    controller card just for the floppies?
4.  Should I get an IDE adapter and put it in a slot?  With this
    option, I will just ignore my motherboard connecter.  All
    adapters that I have seen support floppies so this would allow me
    to trash my WD controller.
5.  The Conner comes with an adapter.  Does the type or brand of
    the adapter matter?
6.  Will the IDE have a faster transfer rate than my ST251-1?
7.  Is there any way to get an IDE to work with my ST251-1?  I
    have heard that this is next to impossible.
8.  Any comments on Conner drives?  Should I consider any other
    drives?
9.  Any comments on Hard Drives international?


Thanks,
Andrew Lee
anlee@mis.arizona.edu


p.s. anyone want to buy an ST251-1?