IDE sharing problems

[WaiWai]

I got 2 hard disk drives(HDD), ie:
160GB Western Digital 7200rpm 8MB Cache
- clean new disk (it is empty now)
- I am going to install Wins XP in the future
20GB Maxtor 5400rpm 2MB Cache
- old disk (some data are inside)
- the operating system is Wins 98 now
And one CD-RW:
- Ricoh CD-RW


I don't know much about computer.
Questions:
1. For the UltraDMA cable containing 3 plugs. A simple graph to show the outlook of the cable:
A+ ------------------- B+ -------- C+

Where:
+ = plug
A+,B+,C+ = plug A, B, C
--- = cable (more "-" means longer)

I would like to ask what the plug A, B, C are for?
Where should I plug?

2. I wonder how to share the UltraDMA cable. I have to set primary IDE and secondary IDE. In each IDE, I have to set master and slave. Both master and slave will affect the performance mutually. How to optimize the allocation of IDE, and *why*?

Primary IDE:
Master:
Slave:

Secondary IDE:
Master:
Slave:

3. How do I know if a cable supports UDMA 33/66/100/133?

 

[So]

Just jumper the new drive as master (instructions should be on the drive itself) and put it at the far end of the cable (C, I guess from your drawing) then jumper the old as slave and put it into B. A goes into motherboard.

Just for the record, if there is a blue plug, then that one needs to go into the motherboard, even if you have to reverse my recommendations.

 

[WaiWai]

Hi. I got 2 cables indeed.
The first one is blue on plug A.
The second, red.

Another thing I wish to ask is:
- how do I know if a cable support UDMA 33/66/99/100/133?

 

[So]

All IDE cables are good for ATA33

If you want to do 66/11/133, you need one with 80 conductors. If it has the blue plug I am 99.9% sure it'll support them all.

 

[WaiWai]

Originally posted by: So
All IDE cables are good for ATA33

If you want to do 66/11/133, you need one with 80 conductors. If it has the blue plug I am 99.9% sure it'll support them all.

So the rest is left to the support-ability of HDD. If they support, ATA 66/100/133 will be available.
Finally what suggestion you have on the IDE allocation of 160GB HDD, 20GB HDD, CDRW. Please say your reasons too. Thanks.