Multiple IDE devices. How should I arrange them?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Nathan
  • Start date Start date
N

Nathan

Hi,

I've just bought a couple of extra bits of hardware so I now have:
2 x 80Gb hard drives (a older one which currently has my OS and data
on it and a new one I've just bought, presumably slightly faster).
1 x DVD-Rom drive
1 X DVD+RW burning drive

How should I arrange them on my two IDE cables:
An HD and a DVD on each, or the HD's on one, DVD's on another.
Which should be master and which slave?

Any advice much appreciated.

n
 
Nathan said:
Hi,

I've just bought a couple of extra bits of hardware so I now have:
2 x 80Gb hard drives (a older one which currently has my OS and data
on it and a new one I've just bought, presumably slightly faster).
1 x DVD-Rom drive
1 X DVD+RW burning drive

How should I arrange them on my two IDE cables:
An HD and a DVD on each, or the HD's on one, DVD's on another.
Which should be master and which slave?
Click to expand...


I'd recommend one HD on each controller as master, and the DVD+RW on the
opposite controller from the HD that's storing your data to burn.


-WD
 
I've just bought a couple of extra bits of hardware so I now have:
2 x 80Gb hard drives (a older one which currently has my OS and
data on it and a new one I've just bought, presumably slightly faster).
Click to expand...

Worth checking that if the first one is getting a bit elderly now.
The new one could be significantly faster and better as the OS drive.
1 x DVD-Rom drive
1 X DVD+RW burning drive
Click to expand...
How should I arrange them on my two IDE cables:
An HD and a DVD on each, or the HD's on one, DVD's on another.
Which should be master and which slave?
Click to expand...

Its generally best to do what's most convenient mechanically
and thats usually with both hard drives on one ribbon cable
and both DVD drives on the other. Just because both hard
drives are usually in the 3.5" bay stack and both DVD drives
are usually in the 5" bay stack and most ribbon cables dont
have enough distance between the drive connectors to allow
the other config, one hard drive and one DVD drive on each cable.

The OS boot drive should normally be the master on that cable.

The DVD+RW drive would normally be best as
master on the cable with the DVD drives on it.

While some other configs can in theory be better, I bet
you wouldnt be able to pick the difference in a proper double
blind trial without being about to use a diagnostic or benchmark
so its generally best to go with whats easiest mechanically.
 
Rod said:
While some other configs can in theory be better, I bet
you wouldnt be able to pick the difference in a proper double
blind trial without being about to use a diagnostic or benchmark
so its generally best to go with whats easiest mechanically.
Click to expand...



Yeah, I guess I should further explain my previous suggestion. That
setup technically should work best, *but*, do not go out of your way to
set up your machine that way if it's not practical to cable. As Rod
says, you'll probably notice no difference whichever way you go.


-WD
 
When you mix a harddrive and CR-ROM, DVD or burner on the same IDE cable,
the harddrive will be slowed down.
So put both Hard drives on IDE 1(boot drive as master)
and the DVDs on IDE 2.
Put the DVD Burner as master and the DVD player as slave.
 
Tod said:
When you mix a harddrive and CR-ROM, DVD or burner on the same IDE cable,
the harddrive will be slowed down.
Click to expand...


Please don't spread mis-information. This hasn't been the case for years.


-WD
 
When you mix a harddrive and CR-ROM, DVD or burner
on the same IDE cable, the harddrive will be slowed down.
Wrong.

So put both Hard drives on IDE 1(boot drive as master)
and the DVDs on IDE 2.
Click to expand...
 
Rod said:
Wrong.
Click to expand...

Well, they're not both going to be able to access the bus at the same
time, although unless the bus saturates at some point that won't affect
throughput.
 
Well, they're not both going to be able
to access the bus at the same time,
Click to expand...

Just as true with two hard drives on the same IDE cable.
although unless the bus saturates at some point
Click to expand...

And thats much less likely to happen when its a
CD drive on the same IDE cable as the hard drive.
 
Put the most used drive (OS) on the same channel as the least used drive. Note
that if you put a unreadable CD in the drive it will hang that IDE channel for
a while, which may be an issue.

| Hi,
|
| I've just bought a couple of extra bits of hardware so I now have:
| 2 x 80Gb hard drives (a older one which currently has my OS and data
| on it and a new one I've just bought, presumably slightly faster).
| 1 x DVD-Rom drive
| 1 X DVD+RW burning drive
|
| How should I arrange them on my two IDE cables:
| An HD and a DVD on each, or the HD's on one, DVD's on another.
| Which should be master and which slave?
|
 
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