Adding a DVD writer

[toolman59]

Having bought a new DVD writer, any suggestions for the best layout of hardware on the following system.

Hardware:

200GB Maxtor DMA 6
40GB Maxtor DMA 5
CD/DVD ROM
CD writer
Zip internal 250MB
DVD 16x writer

Available connections:

IDE, usual Master and Secondary with slaves

Promise Ultra ATA/133 TX2 contoller with 2 cables and 4 connections which are not shown as master or slaves, but the BIOS refers to this controller as a SCSI device.

Current configuration:

Both Maxtor drives are connected to the Promise controller, one on each of the cables. The 200GB drive is on the first cable.

The IDE controller contains the CD/DVD ROM (secondary master), CD writer (primary master)and Zip internal 250MB (prmary slave).

So where is the best place for the DVD writer? and what needs to swapped around for best

results?

Thanks


Toolman59

 

[ski]

Connect it as secondary slave.
If no luck, then reposition its jumper as CS(cable select).

 

[Sival]

Do you really need 3 optical drives? The DVDRW will do the same and more as the CD/DVDROM or CDRW.

 

[toolman59]

Thank you ski

Sival, I agree it seems like overkill, but they may as well be in some kind of use rather than stored in drawer doing nothing.

Toolman59

 

[cdogg]

If it was me, I would remove the CD/DVD-ROM and replace it with the new DVD Writer giving it an entire controller to itself for best performance.

However, it would also work fine as secondary slave if you don't want to remove that.


~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[Optek]

I highly suggest you replace the CD writer with the new DVD burner that you bought, and make sure that you have BOTH DVD/CDROM set as Master of 2nd IDE channel, and your new DVD burner as Slave on 2nd IDE channel.
You do NOT want to place and sort of CDROM or burner drives on same IDE channel as the harddrives, otherwise the data transfer of that channel will slow down to the same speed of the CDROM/DVD burner or and optical related drive, thus lowering the data tranfer speed of the harddrive.
Keep your harddrive on the primary IDE channel.
I can't think of a reason why you want to keep the CD burner in your computer considering your DVD burner can already burn CDR/CDRW disk as well.
With CD/DVD ROM drive setup as master, and your new DVD burner as your SLAVE, then you have an easy way to burn DVD from Master drive to Slave, to copy , lets say DVD type disk to DVD burner, or CDROM to CDR/CDRW disk.

Hope this helps.

Opt

 

[paparazi]

Your favourate subject cdogg, and I cannot remember the countless times I've seen you writing about it!
IDT, I believe "independant device timing" where on all newer motherboards (cica 2001 onwards?) have the ability to run a slower ATA33 device, say a CDrom, along side a faster ATA133 HDD for instance, without the faster device being effected in any way by the slower one.
Thats right isn't it cdogg?
So those rules of don't put a slow device on the same IDE channel as a fast one just don't apply any more and havn't for some time.

I too would remove the CDRW (not the DVDrom) leaving the DVDrom will allow for "on the fly burning" from DVD to DVDRW.
Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[cdogg]

Yep, thanks Martin! I'm sure most of us have it all memorized by now with as many times as it's been addressed.

Optek,
Do a search on this site or on the web for IDT. You should find an explanation as to why a slower device doesn't necessarily slow down a faster one on the same IDE channel.


~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[toolman59]

Thank you all for your suggestions.
I removed the CD writer, this left one MoBO channel completely free for the DVD writer. The Promise controller makes life easier by having the HDs attached to it and out of the way of the all the other non HD drives.

Toolman59

 

[cdogg]

Just out of curiosity, how many devices do you have attached to your Promise controller? Is it a PCI card? If so, how many other PCI devices do you have in your system?

The reason why I ask is because you might be taking a huge performance hit by having more than one hard drive on the controller. The entire PCI bus is limited to 133MB/s, which is barely fast enough for two hard drives assuming that you don't have other PCI devices sharing the bandwidth.


~cdogg
[tab]"All paid jobs absorb and degrade the mind";
[tab][tab]- Aristotle
[tab][navy]For general rules and guidelines to get better answers, click here:[/navy] faq219-2884

 

[toolman59]

cdogg

I have a 200GB and a 40GB HD on the PCI Promise controller, also the other PCI item I have is a dial up modem.

This is the last upgrade on this machine which is now three years old. In another twelve to eighteen months I will look at replacing it with higher end spec machine, hopefully with PCI Express, 64bit processor, BTX form factor case and a TFT monitor. Specs change so rapidly these days, it is just as well to note all the changes, and when funds allow to buy a good spec machine with established technology rather than chasing the cutting edge specs which can absorb a lot of cash for not much gain.

Toolman59