(2 optical + 1 HDD) on 2 IDE = ???

[MadMan007]

This is a really simple question and I am looking for some advice. What is the best way to hook up a HDD, a DVD/CD reader, and a CD-RW on two IDE channels?

I would like to be able to burn CD's direct from the DVD reader as well as make data backups of the HDD. Problem is, I know that hooking up two devices on the same channel makes them slower when going directly to each other. Another IDE controller is not an option right now, so, what do you all think?

[Crash893]

well im not sure if its the best but i have mine set up

cd-r on /dvd on 1
hdd on 0

i dont think you can do directly from drive to drive i think it goes on to the hdd in some sort of temp file so it shoudnt matter

[scoobydoo]

Well if it were me I would:

1. Put the HD as the master on the first channel
2. Set the CD/RW as the master and the DVD as the slave on the second channel

Actually now that I think about it that is exactly what I do:)

[MadMan007]

Originally posted by crash893
well im not sure if its the best but i have mine set up

cd-r on /dvd on 1
hdd on 0

i dont think you can do directly from drive to drive i think it goes on to the hdd in some sort of temp file so it shoudnt matter

Oh! So, I should not be concerned about straight disk copying even if both the opticals are on the same channel?

[JaY_III]

I would set it up like this
Primary IDE: HDD Master, DVD Slave
Secondary IDE : CD-R Master

You want your CD-R to be a master, and your other ROMS to be on another CABLE (or you can have CD to CD copy problems). So unless you plan on making your CD-R your Primary Master....

[MadMan007]

Yeah, I thought having the CRW on its own channel might be best. If I set it up like you say, jay, I would still like to use the DVD drive to install software. I know this would still work on the same channel. But will it be slower than installing software from the other IDE channel?

[JaY_III]

it should really affect speed much, if anythign at all...
More depends on what ROM can read CD's faster.....
odds are that your CD-R reads CD-ROMS faster than your DVD though....
but as i dont know your ROM specs, that just a guess.

Needless to say, it wont be any slower Installing Software from your DVD, on the same chanel as your HDD, then a DVD on a different channel than the HDD.

[MadMan007]

Originally posted by jay
Needless to say, it wont be any slower Installing Software from your DVD, on the same chanel as your HDD, then a DVD on a different channel than the HDD.


Drives are:
Seagate Barracuda IV 40GB
Lite-On LTD-163 DVD (48x CD reading)
Yamaha CRW-2200 (20x P-CAV burning)

I was always under the impression that two devices on the same IDE channel are able to "saturate" the channel more easily since both reading and writing are occuring on the same channel. Maybe this is not the case anymore?? Guess you learn something every day.

Sounds like the best bet is to have the CD-RW on its own channel, that way whether the DVD or the HDD is the source it will be from the other channel. Thanks.

[diehrd]

You have a unique problem.

One if you combine the opticle drives with the hard drive cable you now will run h/d at the ata of the slowest device on that cable.

I have read and NERO has suggested not to have the cdrom and cdrw on the same cable for disk to disk copy.

If I had that set up I would run H/D on its own and put the 2 opticle drives on a cable.And not do any on the fly disk to disk copys but write files to H/D prior to burning.

This will give you max H/D speed which is something more important than a disk to disk copy,which I am sure you dont do every day.