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Geek Culture / SCSI or IDE

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Killswitch
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Posted: 7th Jun 2005 06:19 Edited at: 7th Jun 2005 06:21
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I've posted this before, but it seems to either have not posted correctly or was deleted, if it was deleted no problem just tell me so I don't post this again

Edit: Ahh, it didn't post before - I just got a 'HEY NOOB TURN OFF THE CAPS LOCK' message when I tried to put a / in the thread title.

I've aquired an oldish computer, which was 'broken'. All its got is a bummed out hd which isn't really a problem. I'm going to pick up a cheap (9-10GB) one so I can use it for word processing/coding but I'm not sure if I need an IDE drive or an SCSI drive.

I just want to replace the broken one, bearing in mind I've looked all over and theres no mention of IDE or SCSI. Its in a Compaq computer.

Any tips on how to tell them apart?

~It's a common mistake to make, the rules of the English langauge do not apply to insanity~
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IanM
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Posted: 7th Jun 2005 06:25
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Usually, if the cable connects directly to the motherboard, it's IDE.

The better way to tell though is that IDE uses 40 pin ribbon cable. Older SCSI used 50 pin ribbon, but that can vary depending on the type of SCSI.

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Raven
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Posted: 7th Jun 2005 06:40
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Technically speaking, there's no real difference between SCSI and ATA.. atleast not as far as connections go for the most part.

I mean ATA (EIDE) will use a 40pin Connector, while SCSI dependantly uses either 40, 50, or 70pin

Ian is pretty much right on the money though. If it connects directly to your Motherboard; then chances are it's ATA (EIDE), if it connects to a PCI-Card with the words 'Adaptec' on it then chances are it's a SCSI.

Another way to tell is it actually physically says on the Motherboard. SCSI have a single connector, per Device; and will have something like SCSI0-6 on your Motherboard. (some of the modern ones have multiple interfaces for up to 32 Connected Devices)

If it's ATA then it'll have IDE0-1 on your Motherboard.

Yet another way to tell is by going into your Bios. If you can only have 4 Devices (usually named IDE ) then it's IDE.. If on the other hand they're named Raid0-6 then it's SCSI or SATA. Though I doubt it's SATA.

The final test if your still clueless.. and this one is pretty damn simple. All Hard Disks have on thier label, SCSI/SATA/ATA/IDE So just look on the device itself and see what it says.

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Richard Davey
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Posted: 7th Jun 2005 07:06
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If it doesn't actually say on the hard drive then search for the hard drives serial number on google, it'll nearly always turn up a parts list telling you what it is. Failing that, read the tiny writing on the motherboard.

A great many people think they are thinking when they are really rearranging their prejudices.
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Killswitch
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Posted: 7th Jun 2005 07:13
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Thanks, its IDE.

~It's a common mistake to make, the rules of the English langauge do not apply to insanity~
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Raven
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Posted: 7th Jun 2005 07:25
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you know comming to think of it...
if you go to Start > My Computer [right-click] > Properties > Hardware > Device Manager > +Disk Drives - [double-click] Hard Disk (some display as names some as serial numbers) > Details

It'll say

IDE\ (IDE/ATA)
SATA\ (SATA)
SCSI\ (SCSI)

^_^ completely forgot about that one. Ridiculous how many ways there are to find out info about your computer.

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Killswitch
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Posted: 7th Jun 2005 07:28
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Oh, that was the problem this hard drive is completly knackered, it won't boot and I can't even format it thats why its gotta go.

~It's a common mistake to make, the rules of the English langauge do not apply to insanity~
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Phaelax
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Posted: 7th Jun 2005 14:00
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Can't you just look at the connection and tell if its scsi or not?

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Raven
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Posted: 7th Jun 2005 14:19
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Quote: "Can't you just look at the connection and tell if its scsi or not?"


It's not like the difference between SATA and ATA where it's painfully obvious. The difference is simply in the number of pins, and in some cases even that isn't true.

Always thought Hark Disks should use a system similar to SATA, rather than the annoying 'pin' thing. I mean it didn't seem like a sane upgrade from the Slot version.

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