drive size for socket 7

[eboyjones]

is there a simple formula to determin how big a
ide drive a socket 7 board will recognize? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[Gameguru]

It really depends on the board and more specifically the BIOS. What kind of board is it...if you don't know, try posting any numbers that you may see on the board. Then we can give you a more accurate answer.

[NooNoo]

2 gigs would be "normal" limit, sometimes 8 and if you are really lucky a bios flash may be available for it to handle more... As gameguru says, its not about the board itself, but about the bios on the board and if there are updates available for it.

[Garak]

8.4 on most boards after '96 prior to that anything between 525meg and 4.3gig

most have BIOS upgrades that will accept drives upto 20gig (on socket7 boards)

good luck

EDIT:- This info is wrong
thanks for the correction Ruslan.

[Ruslan]

Sorry, have to correct You...

First BIOS limit was 504 Mb for CHS mode (some an old BIOSes dated before 1994year did not support LBA mode).
Second limit is 8,4Gb for LBA mode (an old Pentium BIOSes).
Third limit is 32Gb (for an old P2/socket7 motherboards).
And all modern motherboards are now supporting above 32Gig drives.

But anyways, it's BIOS issue mostly. If You're lucky and Your an old motherboard was made by one of well-known brands, You can expect Your motherboard will work with up to 32gig drives max without any overlays installed.
For example,my test motherboard ASUS VX97 (it's Intel430VX chipset!) works with drives up to 32Gig directly with latest BIOS update (beta-BIOS)from German ASUS FTP. I've seen also messages,stating what some of ASUS TX motherboards can work even 40 Gig drives (also with latest BIOS update).

It's also possible to correct BIOS for supporting any of modern drives. As You probably know, AWARD BIOS has modular structure. One of modules is responcible for work with harddrives and can be corrected for supporting any of modern drives.
<a href="http://groups.google.com/groups?hl=ru&threadm=1010855669%40p1.f1.n5046.z2.f tn&rnum=13&prev=/groups%3Fhl%3Dru%26selm%3D1010855669%2540p1.f1.n50 46.z2.ftn%26rnum%3D13" target="_blank">Here</a> is that topic, but - in Russian.

[eboyjones]

board is a pc chips 598lmr. the bios says amibios 1996
release 06/01/2000s. does that last date mean bios was flashed? <img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[Ahcoraj]

It's most likely th original bios, and yes that's the release date. Check the Manny's site for a newer one......

[Platypus]

Documentation doesn't seem too specific on this, but someone here has done some experimenting:

<a href="http://www.stud.fernuni-hagen.de/q3998142/ubb/Forum2/HTML/002034.html" target="_blank">http://www.stud.fernuni-hagen.de/q3998142/ubb/Forum2/HTML/002034.html</a>

He's using a Version 1.3 board, by the BIOS date yours is probably a Version 5, it should be printed adjacent to the keyboard connector.

The <a href="http://www.stud.fernuni-hagen.de/q3998142/pcchips" target="_blank">www.stud.fernuni-hagen.de/q3998142/pcchips</a> site (the "lottery") can be useful.

[confus-ed]

[quote]Originally posted by Ruslan:
<strong>...Second limit is 8,4Gb for LBA mode (an old Pentium BIOSes).
Third limit is 32Gb (for an old P2/socket7 motherboards).
And all modern motherboards are now supporting above 32Gig drives...</strong><hr></blockquote>

Now my 'russian'? (see I don't even know what language..)is a little rusty , do I need a translation?

So is there a theoretical limit or not (with any 586 )...? Or is it all down to bios..?

The reason I ask is that soon finding drives less than 40 gig is going to become a problem, so when people insist on 'resusertating' old machines, will it be 'flash it and see'??

<img src="confused.gif" border="0">

[Outcoded]

[quote]Originally posted by Ahcoraj:
<strong>It's most likely th original bios, and yes that's the release date. Check the Manny's site for a newer one......</strong><hr></blockquote>

Whoa! I've got two PC-Chips boards which have been flashed from their site, both now dead, don't do it unless its worth the chance of having to throww the board.

[AlleyCat]

There is a utility you can download that will tell you. It will also tell you the make of everything in you machine, without having to open the case. (for instance your MB)

<a href="http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10102-100-8596466.html?tag=st.dl.10001-103-1.lst-7-1.8596466" target="_blank">http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10102-100-8596466.html?tag=st.dl.10001-103-1.lst-7-1.8596466</a>

[freddy]

[quote]Originally posted by AlleyCat:
<strong>There is a utility you can download that will tell you. It will also tell you the make of everything in you machine, without having to open the case. (for instance your MB)

<a href="http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10102-100-8596466.html?tag=st.dl.10001-103-1.lst-7-1.8596466" target="_blank">http://download.cnet.com/downloads/0-10102-100-8596466.html?tag=st.dl.10001-1 03-1.lst-7-1.8596466</a></strong><hr></blockquote>


where does it say in sandra , the max permitted size for the h/drive?

I think that if the non computer literate person was to use sandra , they will be back on this forum asking a million more questions.

sandra is NOT very acurate. (as has been discussed before)

for a BASIC system checker , use <a href="http://www.hwinfo.com" target="_blank">www.hwinfo.com</a>

I ALWAYS use hwinfo , if i have to fdisk/format.

remember sandra will (in most cases) , tell you the make of (say) a vidio card IF the drivers are installed -

Hwinfo will from a dos prompt tell you , without drivers

[Ruslan]

[quote]Originally posted by confus-ed:
<strong>

Now my 'russian'? (see I don't even know what language..)is a little rusty , do I need a translation?

So is there a theoretical limit or not (with any 586 )...? Or is it all down to bios..?

The reason I ask is that soon finding drives less than 40 gig is going to become a problem, so when people insist on 'resusertating' old machines, will it be 'flash it and see'??
</strong><hr></blockquote>

Yes, it is all down to particular BIOS update.
And, of course, on manufacturer's support.

From my experience:

If Your motherboard have BIOS what dated by 1999 year and up, You can expect You motherboard will see harddrive up to 32 Gig.

It is 50/50 for BIOSes dated beetwen 1999-2001 years for supporting drives more than 32Gig.
All depends on how good the motherboard's manufacturer is.

If the motherboard has the BIOS,what dated by 2001 and up, You can expect Your system will see drives above 32Gig limit.

And You have almost no options for supporting drives even larger than 8,4Gig , if the BIOS is dated before 1998 year...

Mentioned in my post article intended to solve that problem, caused by AWARD BIOS programmer's bug. Author of that topic is Russian, what's why that topic also in Russian. But I'm going to translate that topic into English for my further own website (what now in process of building).
And, of course, I'm going to try it by myself for my motherboards,laying around me.(Because I can always reflash BIOS back ). I'll let You know about results.

[Ruslan]

[quote]Originally posted by eboyjones:
<strong>board is a pc chips 598lmr. the bios says amibios 1996
release 06/01/2000s. does that last date mean bios was flashed? </strong><hr></blockquote>

I'm pretty sure what yes,it flashed.
And thus, Your motherboard will see drives up to 32gig with no problem...

[confus-ed]

[quote]Originally posted by Ruslan:
<strong>Yes, it is all down to particular BIOS update..... Author of that topic is Russian, what's why that topic also in Russian. But I'm going to translate that topic into English for my further own website (what now in process of building). ...</strong><hr></blockquote>

You are the man!! I wait with baited breath! If the site even partially mirrors the excellent replies you post on WD, I for one will be a frequent visitor.