So, after some digging around, I found that I did indeed have a Promise ATA 100TX2 laying around (that’s what hoarding is for girlfriend!). I popped it in the box and redhat sees the drives like a champ. w00t! Cancelled the new egg order, placed a new one for just one card, and then ordered some rounded ata cables from some el-cheapo place for $1.75 a piece. Come friday, I should have a pretty decent thing going.
I’m thinking that perhaps I should write zeros to the drives just to ensure that none of them are bad out of the box. Hrmm.