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From: scott@blueeyes.kines.uiuc.edu (scott)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: Help me select my next harddrive
Message-ID: <1991Feb27.162435.3293@ux1.cso.uiuc.edu>
Date: 27 Feb 91 16:24:35 GMT
References: <26FEB91191243@misvax.mis.arizona.edu>
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In article <26FEB91191243@misvax.mis.arizona.edu> anlee@misvax.mis.arizona.edu writes:
>
>
>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.  

I have almost exactly the same upgrade situation as you. I have a CompuAdd
'386  with Seagate ST251-1 drive and IDE connector on the motherboard. I,
too, wanted at least 80Mb of total space. I opted for a second ST251-1. Not
only is it the cheapest solution BY FAR, but it's also the simplest 
(essentially you just plug in and go, no need to back up and transfer 40Mb
worth of data onto floppies, etc. (although you SHOULD back up anyway ;-))

>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.

Problems with the IDE approach:

1. You (usually) can't safely low-level format an IDE drive. As far as I
know, this leave you with no way to correct for the alignment drift as the 
drive ages. (You IDE experts, please correct this if it is wrong!)

2. What will you use to control your floppies? My understanding of the
CompuAdd motherboard's IDE connector is that it works fine with an IDE
hard drive, but there's no floppy controller on the motherboard. This means
you'll need to buy a floppy-only controller to control your floppy drives.
(Note: you can't use your old Hard+Floppy controller, because the IDE
controller cannot coexist with another hard drive controller in the same
system). So you'd have to sell your Seagate and the WD controller and buy
a new controller anyway. 

3. What happens when you want an even bigger hard drive? Can you add a second
IDE drive to your system, or will you have to chuck the whole thing and 
buy a bigger IDE drive? 

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

Too bad I didn't see this yesterday - I would have bought it from you! I 
ordered a new one instead ($239 from ComputAbility, same price as Hard
Drives International but they're closer to me so I'll get it faster ;-)