Quick question on setting up drives

[Xee]

Sorry if this question has been asked already but I couldn't find anything through search and since this is my first build, I want to get it right.

I want to install two HD's (ATA) and one optical drive. What would be the best way to go about doing this? I know "channels" have something to do with getting optimum performance but am not sure how to set it up. Thanks.

 

[LED]

Just set em up and go...make sure the jumpers are set correctly and then configure in the BIOS what order you want them to Boot

 

[Xee]

So should I set up the two hard drives on one channel (master/slave) and the optical drive on the other channel? Or a HD and optical on one channel and the other HD on the second channel?

 

[Matthias99]

You normally want to have your hard drives on separate channels, and as the "master" devices (set the jumpers to "master" or "cable select", and hook them up at the end of the cable). The optical drive would be a "slave" device (set the jumpers to "slave" or "cable select", and hook it up in the middle of one of the cables).

If 'cable select' doesn't work, set the drives explicitly as master and slave.

 

[Xee]

Originally posted by: Matthias99
You normally want to have your hard drives on separate channels, and as the "master" devices (set the jumpers to "master" or "cable select", and hook them up at the end of the cable). The optical drive would be a "slave" device (set the jumpers to "slave" or "cable select", and hook it up in the middle of one of the cables).

If 'cable select' doesn't work, set the drives explicitly as master and slave.

Makes sense. I'll give it a try.

 

[Xee]

Got a slight problem. There's only four inches or so between the master and and slave connectors, not enough to reach from one HD to the optical bay. Do I need to get a longer cable?

http://inat.org/Images/CableProblem.jpg

 

[LED]

You could go/try another cable or flip things around... You won't see 1 performance hit but try and keep the Master HD and Burner separate

 

[Xee]

Originally posted by: LED
You could go/try another cable or flip things around... You won't see 1 performance hit but try and keep the Master HD and Burner separate

I guess I'll just go with the two HD's on the primary connector and the optical on the secondary.