I need to add a bigger HDD, the bigger the better. Will the motherboard accept a 500 GB drive?
I'm pretty sure I can't install a SATA drive as I see only IDE sockets on the motherboard. Is there an adaptor that would allow a SATA HDD to work with this motherboard? Or am I stuck with a PATA drive?

I'm currently looking at the Seagate Barracuda ST3500630A which is a 500 GB PATA drive.

Any recommendations or suggestions are welcome.

Here are the specs acquired with the scan software from this website:
(Another website reported my motherboard as a Packard Bell Columbia 4 (GA-8SIML)) if that helps
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OS Information:
PropertyValue
OS Name Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition|C:\WINDOWS|\Device\Harddisk0\Partition1
Service Pack 2.0
OS Manufacturer Microsoft Corporation
Windows Directory C:\WINDOWS


Processor:
PropertyValue
Current Clock Speed 2655
Description x86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 7
Manufacturer GenuineIntel
Name Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 2.66GHz


Memory (RAM):
PropertyValue
Bank Label FLASH ROM
Capacity 268435456

Bank Label BANK0
Capacity 536870912

Bank Label BANK2
Capacity 536870912

Total Memory Deteced in Hardware: ~1280 MB
Memory Reported to Operating System: 1023MB

Disk Drives:
PropertyValue
Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model Maxtor 4R060J0
Media Type Fixed hard disk media
Size 61492193280 (~57 GB)
Number of Partitions 1

Description Disk drive
Manufacturer (Standard disk drives)
Model Maxtor 6Y080L0
Media Type Fixed hard disk media
Size 81956689920 (~76 GB)
Number of Partitions 1


Installed Printers:
PropertyValue
Name ScanSoft PDF Create!
Port Name DocuCom PDF Port:
Default False
Driver Name ScanSoft PDF Create!

Name Microsoft Office Document Image Writer
Port Name Microsoft Document Imaging Writer Port:
Default False
Driver Name Microsoft Office Document Image Writer Driver

Name HP DeskJet 540
Port Name LPT1:
Default False
Driver Name HP DeskJet 540

Name EPSON Stylus Photo R300 Series
Port Name USB001
Default True
Driver Name EPSON Stylus Photo R300 Series


Motherboard:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer NEC COMPUTERS INTERNATIONAL
Model
Name Base Board
Part Number
Product SiS651
Serial Number
Version 1.0


BIOS:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer American Megatrends Inc.
Name Default System BIOS
Release Date 20030221000000.000000+000
Version AMIINT - 10


Monitor:
PropertyValue
Description Plug and Play Monitor
Name Plug and Play Monitor
Screen Height 900
Screen Width 1440


Keyboard:
PropertyValue
Description Standard 101/102-Key or Microsoft Natural PS/2 Keyboard


Pointing Device:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer Microsoft
Name Microsoft PS/2 Mouse


Sound Card:
PropertyValue
Manufacturer Microsoft
Description Unimodem Half-Duplex Audio Device
Device ID MODEMWAVE\0\{C2A55EB5-A8E6-4FDA-B551-D4060E21E852}

Manufacturer SigmaTel
Description SigmaTel C-Major Audio
Device ID PCI\VEN_1039&DEV_7012&SUBSYS_200B1631&REV_A0\3&61A AA01&0&17

Manufacturer C-Media
Description CMI8738/C3DX PCI Audio Device
Device ID PCI\VEN_13F6&DEV_0111&SUBSYS_011113F6&REV_10\3&61A AA01&0&58


Video Card:
PropertyValue
Adapter Compatibility NVIDIA
Adapter RAM 134217728
Description NVIDIA GeForce FX 5200 (Microsoft Corporation)
Installed Display Drivers nv4_disp.dll
Driver Version 6.14.10.5673
Driver Date 08/03/2004 22:29:56
Video Mode Description 1440 x 900 x 4294967296 colors


DirectX Installation:
PropertyValue


Modem:
PropertyValue
Model Smart Link 56K Voice Modem
Name Smart Link 56K Voice Modem

Model Motorola USB Modem
Name Motorola USB Modem


Network Adapters:
PropertyValue
Description Realtek RTL8139 Family PCI Fast Ethernet NIC - Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description SiS 900 PCI Fast Ethernet Adapter
Description 1394 Net Adapter
Description RAS Async Adapter
Description Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description WAN Miniport (L2TP)
Description WAN Miniport (PPTP)
Description WAN Miniport (PPPOE)
Description Direct Parallel
Description WAN Miniport (IP)
Description Packet Scheduler Miniport
Description Freedom Miniport
Description Freedom Miniport
Description Freedom Miniport
Description Scientific Atlanta WebSTAR 100 & 200 series Cable Modem
Description Packet Scheduler Miniport

External Ports:
PropertyValue
External Reference Designator Serial Port A
External Reference Designator Serial Port B
External Reference Designator Parallel Port
External Reference Designator Keyboard
External Reference Designator PS/2 Mouse
External Reference Designator Floppy
External Reference Designator IDE-1
External Reference Designator IDE-2
External Reference Designator USB
External Reference Designator USB

Expansion Slots:
PropertyValue
Slot Designation PCI1
Slot Designation PCI2
Slot Designation PCI3
Slot Designation AGP
Slot Designation CNR
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Hi

Yes the MB will take a 500GB or higher drive, however you only have IDE HDD support.

Yep, you can get IDE to SATA adapters like this: http://www.usb-ware.com/ide-sata-har...ter-bridge.htm

These "bridges" plug straight into an IDE port on your motherboard. Then you can connect the SATA leads from the drive to these.

Thanks for that, Kazna3. I priced a unit like that here, in Scotland and it would cost £30 ($60). Think I'll just go with the Baraccuda PATA drive. After all, I'll probably upgrade the motherboard, if not the entire PC, in a year or so. Then I'd have a SATA MB, a PATA 500 GB HDD and a redundant EDI to SATA bridge adapter.
Your advice was very much appreciated.