"jake" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> asked: >we've gotta g4 500mhz agp graphics here that we're planning on filling up >with hard drives. > >currently, we have the original 20gig and a new 120gig on the 1st ata >channel. there is a zip drive and a dvd-ram on the 2nd ata channel, neither >of which are in use. > >can i remove the dvd and the zip and plug two more internal drives in? i >know there is space for another two drives in the bottom of the case but >this would also involve getting an internal ata card. > >i'm pretty sure the internal ata buss's are restricted to two devices per >channel? All ATA busses are limited to at most 2 drives (AFAIK!)
In theory, you can put up to 6 HDs inside without doing any serious hardware hacking. Replace the optical and Zip with a pair of HDs run off the second ATA bus. Then add two more drives to the base brackets run off a PCI card (ATA _or_ scsi.) If only adding 2 more drives, I'd just put the second pair of drives into the bottom brackets and get a 2-drive ultra-ATA cable to plug into the EIDE port on the LB. Admittedly, the optical/Zip bus (DB-DMA EIDE) isn't as fast as the HD bus (Ultra DMA 66? 33? I forget which), but unless you _need_ transfer rates better than ~16 MB/s, I think you'll find the speed quite satisfactory. I did the same basic thing on a Quicksilver, installing an 80GB HD into the Zip bay. That drive isn't as fast as another identical mechanism on the HD bus, but in normal use you can't tell the difference. A very important thing to keep in mind is that HDs located in the optical/Zip bays may get too hot, which ain't good. In the example of the QS above, I thoroughly tested the setup to ensure the drive stays appropriately cool to the touch, even after hours of use. I'm pretty careful about drive cooling, past experience with blisteringly hot 10K rpm Cheetahs has made me perhaps even a little _overcautious_. hth, Dan K ................................. http://macdan.n3.net/ carracho://dankephoto.dhs.org:9700 hotline://dankephoto.dhs.org:9500 ................................. -- G-List is sponsored by <http://lowendmac.com/> and... Small Dog Electronics http://www.smalldog.com | Refurbished Drives | -- We have Apple Refurbished Monitors in stock! | & CDRWs on Sale! | Support Low End Mac <http://lowendmac.com/lists/support.html> G-List list info: <http://lowendmac.com/lists/g-list.shtml> --> AOL users, remove "mailto:"; Send list messages to: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To unsubscribe, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> For digest mode, email: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subscription questions: <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Archive: <http://www.mail-archive.com/g-list%40mail.maclaunch.com/> Using a Mac? Free email & more at Applelinks! http://www.applelinks.com
