what type h/d can replace my ide generic?

I'd like to replace my old "generic ide type 46" (according to device manager)with something larger. My knowlege about computers is pretty well limited to playing around and web surfing. I'm trying to gather the info i need to make an intelligent decision , but the questions unanswered are mounting. I grok seek time, buffer cache, transfer speed and capacity, but things like compatability are making this difficult. So my questions are these:

1) Are ide and eide compatable? If I'm limited to ide, I'm pretty well effed I think.
2) How do I determine if I'm wasting money buying ata 133? Is this related in any way to mobo bus speed, which mine is listed as 100 Mhtz?
3) Where can I find info on reliabilty?

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

Eide is just a newer/faster IDE protocol; all the newer drives are backward compatible, they'll just transfer data slower.

Determining factor is what motherboard do you have? or at least what year was your system made if you're not sure about the motherboard? There have been several size limits over the years that newer motherboards (IDE controllers, specifically) have overcome, and your old system may not recognize a huge new drive, or may recognize it, but not show its full capacity.

Currently, ATA133 drives have no advantage over ATA100, as the current drives aren't maxing out the ATA100 protocol. Plus, the data transfer will be limited to whatever protocol your motherboard will support, so ATA100 may not even work. Seek times are internal, and will remain fast, but seek time is minor compared to data transfer speed.

 

ATA hdd are backwards compatible and IDE compatible.

Any manufactures web site should have some basic info.
You wont see any boost in speed going to ata 133

The speed of your PC is limited by your CPU, Memory, and FSB of 100mhz

Your only Gain would be capacity

I have an 40gb ata 133 hdd running in old IBM aptivia 333mhz athlon K6
not any faster than original 6gb Quantum 5.25 ultra33

 

G.T. thanks for the info. As for mobo, the computer was purchased used and likely isn't configured as it was OEM. The part number for the mobo is VP3-586B-W877.

I'm only expecting to buy 40gig. Could there still be a problem with the mobo recognizing it?