How can I tell what type of Motherboard I have? I lost the box and dont really want to open up the tower. The reason I'm asking is I want to get a new hard drive and need to know if it'll be compatable. Another question is, whats the difference between ATA hard-drives and SATA hard-drives?

Try EVEREST. It'll tell you that & more.

I initially overlooked the other part of your thread. To answer the second part, Serial ATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment or SATA) is a new standard for connecting hard drives into computer systems. As its name implies, SATA is based on serial signaling technology, unlike current IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics) hard drives that use parallel signaling. SATA has several practical advantages over the parallel signaling (also called Parallel ATA or PATA) that has been used in hard drives since the 1980s. SATA cables are more flexible, thinner, and less massive than the ribbon cables required for conventional PATA hard drives. SATA cables can be considerably longer than PATA ribbon cables, allowing the designer more latitude in the physical layout of a system. Because there are fewer conductors (only 7 in SATA as compared with 40 in PATA), crosstalk and electromagnetic interference (EMI) are less likely to be troublesome. The signal voltage is much lower as well (250 mV for SATA as compared with 5 V for PATA).........Still craving more jargon, go ahead. In reality & these days, it's more about your preference and literarily, how you look at the glass, half full or half empty. Even though there seems to be no overwhelming performance advantage(s) with SATA over PATA HDDs, the general consensus considering; both type of drives are priced comparatively, is to go with the later SATA interface over PATA unless you have a convincing & equally justifying preference for not wanting that. http://www.computing.net/gaming/wwwboard/forum/6723.html

If those dont work you can always open up the tower (i know you dont want too) and check for the stamp in the middle with the part number. Then you can know the motherboard and what revision it is. I would think this would be the easiest way. DOnt be overwhelmed by opening up the tower. You can do anyharm by just opening and looking just like when you look at the engine in your car.

Try this it is ad and spy ware free and it is free!! http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html

Everest is generally the better bet (post #1) because that takes info straight from the hardware. Belarc reports some aspects from the software, even if the wrong software happens to be installed. That link looks like the last free version (2.2) but if not go to this link: EVEREST Everest has no adverts or spyware either. DerekW