Question about adding extra hard drives

[stipalgl]

Hey guys,

So I've currently got 6 internal SATA2 ports on my Gigabyte P55A-UD3P motherboard and all 6 are used up with 4 spindle drives, 1 DVD-RW and 1 connector to the case.

Now I'm looking at purchasing an SSD and keeping everything else, which would move me up to 7 SATA2 connections.

So my question is, if I'm intending to keep all my connections internal (this is a must), what are my options here since I'm already using up all 6 ports at the moment?

I've heard about a PCI to SATA connector card but I'm worried about possible PCI bandwidth consumption affecting my video card performance.

What are my options?

Thanks.

 

[Blain]

If you want all your connections kept "internal", then I would sacrifice the external case sata port and use it for the SSD.

 

[stipalgl]

Would that mean that I would just have to deal with the SSD being externally located then? Is that my only option?

Thanks.

 

[KeithP]

Is your IDE connector on the motherboard being used? You could get a IDE DVD burner and free up 1 SATA port.

-KeithP

 

[stipalgl]

Unfortunately, I don't believe my motherboard has an IDE slot.

So judging by what I'm hearing, am I correct to assume that I'm simply out of standard options and am relegated to to simply having to deal with it?

 

[Arik5405]

unplug your "1 connector to the case" and plug in SSD. You don't need this anymore if you want to keep everything internal.