Gen 3 Drive Bays

[hawkman]

Hello everyone!

I was looking inside my XPS Gen 3 case the other day and I noticed that not only is there three 3.5-inch bays for hard drive but also three 5.250-inch drive bays. I have CD-RW drive in the top and DVD-RW in the middle and at a later date I might would add another optical drive of some type. Since there is only one primary IDE channel on the motherboard how would I add another optical drive? I have some experience working inside the PC case but surely not a pro at any means. I was just thinking is there a PCI card that I should use or maybe someone has more knowledge on how to tackle this task. If anyone has ideas please send me some information and the parts and supplies that I would need to complete this task.

Thanks,

Hawkman

[devnull]

I dont think I understand what you are asking. You want to put another CD drive in your computer?

[TurboShane]

I'm thinking of doing this too since I got another cd drive. Less swapping of cd's. I think you just need a ribbon with three conectors.

[hawkman]

Hello Everyone!

What I am trying to say is that I would like to put another DVD-RW drive in the third bay. Maybe one that will support the new tech by HP that will support lightscribe. I have been searching on the net and without any luck find a four connector IDE cable (3 connectors and one to plug in the IDE channel on the motherboard. If I decide to purchase this drive I would be in fact adding dvd to dvd copying. Just a thought here and keep in mind that Blue-Ray just might be available later this year.

Thanks for all of your input!

Hawkman

[crusier]

That reduces the speed of your hdd to whatever the cd supports!!!!
There's no such cable. To try to run more than two cds requires using both ide channels for the cds and sata for hdds. You can expect sata cdroms sometime, which would get you around the issue. Adding another ide card would give you issues with interrupts.

[devnull]

Good call cruiser, by having a CDROM hooked into youHDD cable, you will in effect aun at ATA100. I dont understand, though, how you have an IDE hard drive with a gen3. I thought that the gen3's all had SATA hard drives.

I hardly think that adding a CDROM and changing CDs less is worth the performance you will lose on your hard drive, though. Anyhow....its your decision

[hawkman]

Whasssuppp everyone?

I must thank everyone for there input on this issue and your thoughts really help me out a lot. I have 74GB @ 10,000RPM drive which is my boot drive and a second HD which is a 400GB @ 7200RPM. Both drives are SATA drives. I am in the process of adding another 400GB hard drive in the up coming weeks.

I think my best bet is to wait on a SATA DVD-RW drive when they come available. Heck I might not even add another optical drive anyway. I kind of wanting to wait on the Blu-Ray technology when that becomes available within the next year or so. I just have a little money to burn and wanted to fill all open 5.250" drive bays.

My CD-RW and DVD-RW drives are connected with a Ribbon IDE cable with the jumper settings at Cable Select. My Gen 3 has only one primary IDE connection on the motherboard so my guess is a SATA optical drive is the best option for me. If anyone has an idea where I can get some info on these types of optical drive I am all ears.

Thanks a Million!

Hawkman