Floppy Drives? :)

stickroad · 18 Jan 2007 at 22:12

Ok when i build my new pc, ill probably going to get a SATA DVD rewriter so i cancel the IDE controller out completely think its called the Jmicron (not sure) on the ASUS P5B-Deluxe.

Anyway im debating if i need a floppy drive? what do you think are they still worthwhile?

If i do get one and connect it up will that enable the IDE controller back on, think the floppy drive connection is called the FDC but not sure if that is linked to the IDE controller?

Thanks

Reality|Bites · 18 Jan 2007 at 22:17

Just buy a USB floppy drive

stickroad · 18 Jan 2007 at 22:19

Reality|Bites said:
Just buy a USB floppy drive

Very Very good idea

What about my other question about the floppy being linked to the IDE controller?

Dazzy_G · 18 Jan 2007 at 22:21

wont you need the floppy drive for when you have to put the drivers in when booting the os? i remember my mate had to borrow mine because he didnt buy one and had to put drivers in when installing xp. and i think IDE and floppy are separate.

stickroad · 18 Jan 2007 at 22:26

All depends i believe.

If the Floppy isnt connected to the IDE controller then ill go with a Internal drive.

Otherwise

And how much power does the floppy zap from the USB ports because its using the motherboards power not its own source?

Silly questions but i want to make sure

HangTime · 18 Jan 2007 at 23:04

Personally I think floppy drives are worth it still given how cheap they are. Just makes things simpler than having to faff around trying to setup bootable cd/dvds, slipstreaming SATA drivers etc and oftentimes you download images (bootdisks etc) which want to extract to a:

Snapshot · 19 Jan 2007 at 08:49

The FDC and IDE interfaces are separate even if they're on the same controller. A floppy drive is only a fiver - fit one.

Dazzy_G · 19 Jan 2007 at 09:05

they wont zap the usb power as a floppy drive gets its power from the psu.

jbloggs · 19 Jan 2007 at 10:10

What you could do is, buy the floppy drive, fit the floppy cable onto motherboard and leave there, and then only attach the floppy drive when you need to use it, this works well for me, it means I have an extra 3 1/2" bay available.

I think you will find that on a number of occassions you will require to use a floppy drive.

Tombo · 19 Jan 2007 at 10:15

I havn't used a floppy drive in over 2 years.

HeX · 19 Jan 2007 at 10:20

Havn't had a floppy in my PC since 2000... totally 100% not needed in this day and age.

elite · 19 Jan 2007 at 10:33

i ordered one a few days ago bcoz i also got my self a new mobo which i no needs flashing so i made sure i have a floppy drive.

HeX · 19 Jan 2007 at 10:44

elite said:
i ordered one a few days ago bcoz i also got my self a new mobo which i no needs flashing so i made sure i have a floppy drive.

Do/Did you need to flash it before you can install windows? if not then you really didn't need a floppy drive, as i'm yet to find a recent mobo that can't update bios via windows these days...