I built my computer a few years ago and it has a 2.5GB Seagate hard drive, set up as LBA Mode-4 in the Bios. I've fitted a 400MHz Evergreen processor to boost performance, but now I need a bigger hard disk. Most of the drives sold nowadays have UATA66 or UATA100 interfaces. Can these be used on my current system or do I need an ATA interface card or even a new motherboard? Also, what's the difference between UATA and UDMA?
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There is no difference between UATA and UDMA, they are just different terms for the same thing - UDMA is the more common expression. As for the numbers, 66 and 100 are transfer rates between the hard disk and memory (which is measured in megabytes per second).
The latest drives will work as replacements for your existing one, as the new ATA interfaces are backwards compatible. However, data transfer rates will be limited to the maximum supported by your old interface. You could buy a UDMA66 interface and cable, which would enable you to get the full performance of the new drive. But if you're happy with the performance of your PC at the moment and just need more space, it probably isn't worth it.
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