zfs discuss - Apr 2010 - [basic hdw] sata devices and newer 3gb sata spec

Hoping to hear from someone who has similar equipment:

athlon64 3400+ - abit motherboard (unknown model)

The mobo has 2 built in sata controllers, probably the older 1.5 gb
kind.

And a pci adaptic 1205a (two sata ports [internal], also 1.5 gb)

I want to install a different pci sata controller with 4 or more ports
and 2 new 1tb WD hard drives.  They are rated with the newer 3.0 gb
transfer.

So, 2 things I''d like to hear about.

1) A pci sata adapter that will work on that hardware, with 4 or
   more ports. (I think I remember adaptec having 4 port models)

2) Is it plausible to move up to the newer 3gb transfer
    spec when installing new WD 1tb sata hddrives

A separate but related issue, may somewhat explain the lack of more
hardware info.

When I attempt to start the hardware device utility, it shows up an
icon in the taskbar that says its starting, but it never actually
appears and after 30 seconds or so, the taskbar icon disappears.

I''ve run that tool in the past to get hardware info, so not sure why
it fails to come up now.