Two IDE Ports/Want To Add 3rd Device HELP!!!

[jaygee61]

Greetings all!

Okay, here's my problem...

The mobo on my system has only two IDE ports. I'm using one for the hard drive (obviously!) and I have a DVD burner connected to the other. However, my DVD burner only reads CD-ROMs at 40X. I'd like to install a CD-ROM drive that reads at 52X.

Is there a way I can do this internally, or do I have to go with an external drive?

Thanks!

[doctorgonzo]

Does it have two IDE connectors or only one IDE connector with two devices on that channel? Each IDE channel can support two devices, so if you have two channels, you can have a total of four devices.

[jaygee61]

Does it have two IDE connectors or only one IDE connector with two devices on that channel? Each IDE channel can support two devices, so if you have two channels, you can have a total of four devices.


There are two connecters on the mobo... here are the specs...

http://www.foxconnchannel.com/products_motherboard_2.cfm?pName=648FX4MR-ES

How would I go about adding a third device?

[doctorgonzo]

Go out and buy one or two 80-wire IDE cables that have three connectors on them (like this (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812181085), but round or flat doesn't matter). Then, you plug the blue end into the motherboard, and the black and grey connectors are for the two devices on that IDE channel.

[Cricket]

Look at the IDE cable going to the DVD burner and see if there is a free connector available. If there is a free connector, check the jumper on the DVD burner to see if it's set to master or CS. If it's set to master, set the CD-ROM drive to slave. If the DVD burner is set to CS, set the CD-ROM drive to CS too. Connect the CD-ROM drive on the open connector (it should be the middle one if you have to use the CS jumper setting) and connect a free 4 pin power connector from the power supply to the CD-ROM drive.

:) Cricket

[jaygee61]

Thanks for all the info ya'll! The cable I need is on the way!

Got another question...

Which would run smoother... connecting the Primary to the DVD and the Slave to the CD-ROM, or connecting the Primary to the HD and the Slave to the CD-ROM?

Thanks again!

[Matt_Smi]

Thanks for all the info ya'll! The cable I need is on the way!

Got another question...

Which would run smoother... connecting the Primary to the DVD and the Slave to the CD-ROM, or connecting the Primary to the HD and the Slave to the CD-ROM?

Thanks again!

Technically it should not matter, but how I would do it is put the HD as a master on the primary IDE channel, and then setup the optical drives on the secondary IDE channel, putting whichever one you will use most as the master and the other as a slave.