Using two devices one one IDE Channel.. Problems?

[DaNorthface]

Hey, i was wondering if it's normal to have transfer problems when using two deivces on one IDE channel. I'm using 80 pin round cables - are ribbon cables better?? I had two burners on the same ide cable, and i was trying to burn two cds at the same time. My hard drive was fast enough, the problem is at the middle of the burn, there's just too much data for the ide channel to keep up. This also happens when i'm ripping with cd cllone and nero image at the same time, same channel. It'll works fine at first, then when the transfer rates get high (4-5 mb/sec) then it'll back down a lot. (either one will slow down and one will still be relatively fast, or both slow down considerablely sometimes).. If i rip just one cd at once, it'll rip really fast (7 mb/sec+).. Is this normal? Or should i get better ide cables? Is there anything else i can do? thanks

 

[AristoV300]

I used to use 2 optical drives on the same channel as master slave, and I didn't notice any problems. It usually isn't recommended to run 2 burning programs at the same time. From what I have read it is claimed that rounded cables are actually worse, but again I have never noticed a difference. Try putting them on seperate individual channels or if you are using PATA hard drive make one of the optical a slave on the HD channel.

 

[DaNorthface]

can you rip using nero one both drives at the same time (one ide channel?.. you should test that). Well nero lets you open multiple instances of their program.. My HD is on SATA btw

 

[DaNorthface]

it's my round cables.. they suck.. thanks for the help.