IDE extension?

[Kaitlyn]

On my new motherboard, it only has one IDE connector. Problem is, my IDE cable does not reach to connect the hard drive and DVD drive on the same ribbon. is there some way to extend the cable or anything? A search didn't show any IDE extension cables...

[Menace]

There is no IDE extension cable, you need to buy a longer IDE cable. The rounded IDE cable are longer.

[Kaitlyn]

There is no IDE extension cable, you need to buy a longer IDE cable. The rounded IDE cable are longer.

I have the rounded cable... It's the same as the "standard ones"... the problem is the spacing between MASTER and SLAVE... not the total length of the cable...

[Menace]

Rounded cables come in 18 and 22. 22 is longer.

[apvm]

Can you rearrange the position of the DVD drive and hard drive so your IDE cable can fit? If you have an empty 5.25" bay below or above your DVD drive, you can get one of those brackets for your 3.5" hard drive to fit into that bay, the brackets is about $3 I think.

[Kaitlyn]

Can you rearrange the position of the DVD drive and hard drive so your IDE cable can fit? If you have an empty 5.25" bay below or above your DVD drive, you can get one of those brackets for your 3.5" hard drive to fit into that bay, the brackets is about $3 I think.

Nope. First thing I tried was to rearrange... it is just a tad too short....

[Gee]

You are better off switching hard drives. The reason why they only provide one IDE connector is because it is intended for optical drives.

You probably have 4 or more SATA connectors on that board. Does that send you a clear message?

If that doesn't maybe this will.

By having both the Hard Drive and Optical Drive on the same IDE channel, you are slowing down your hard drive. It can only run as fast as the slowest device on the chain.

It would be a shame to have this nice new computer with a fast CPU only to be slowed down by the hard drive.

[max88]

I have the rounded cable... It's the same as the "standard ones"... the problem is the spacing between MASTER and SLAVE... not the total length of the cable...

Few ide cables have the middle and end connectors more than 6" apart. Your best bet is to get an extra pata adepter for another ide port.

[Gee]

Few ide cables have the middle and end connectors more than 6" apart. Your best bet is to get an extra pata adepter for another ide port.

As I said before, you are better off buying a new SATA hard drive and then Ghosting the IDE drive to it. Then sell your old hard drive here. You will find that the investment will be well worth it.

[Kaitlyn]

As I said before, you are better off buying a new SATA hard drive and then Ghosting the IDE drive to it. Then sell your old hard drive here. You will find that the investment will be well worth it.

What do you mean ghosting the ide drive to it?

[smuncky]

What do you mean ghosting the ide drive to it?

copying the old drive to the new drive with a program like norton ghost

[max88]

As I said before, you are better off buying a new SATA hard drive and then Ghosting the IDE drive to it. Then sell your old hard drive here. You will find that the investment will be well worth it.

We submitted our own reply at the same time so I didn't see yours...

Way better off buying a new SATA and keep the old drive for backup.

[apvm]

As I said before, you are better off buying a new SATA hard drive and then Ghosting the IDE drive to it. Then sell your old hard drive here. You will find that the investment will be well worth it.

+1

I have already passed on the IDE drives to my kids' computers which have only a DVD-ROM on one channel and the hdd on the other, once those are gone, it'll be SATA for them too.

[Kaitlyn]

copying the old drive to the new drive with a program like norton ghost

I'd be keeping my IDE hard drive, and get a sata DVD writer....

[willy]

Or better yet ... Get yourself a SATA and 'Externalize' the IDE HD ...

[Kaitlyn]

Or better yet ... Get yourself a SATA and 'Externalize' the IDE HD ...

I already have a SATA 500 GB :)

P.S.... isn't there a problem having the boot partition on a sata drive? I remember reading something to that effect...

[max88]

Or better yet ... Get yourself a SATA and 'Externalize' the IDE HD ...

I already have a SATA 500 GB :)

P.S.... isn't there a problem having the boot partition on a sata drive? I remember reading something to that effect...

Why not 'Internalize' the sata drive for better performance?

Boot problem usually is due to incorrect settings in BIOS.

[Gee]

I'd be keeping my IDE hard drive, and get a sata DVD writer....

Wouldn't it be better to get a faster hard drive? There is no speed benefits from getting a SATA Optical Drive

[matkun]

I already have a SATA 500 GB :)

P.S.... isn't there a problem having the boot partition on a sata drive? I remember reading something to that effect...

Nope.. any remotely modern motherboard has no problems at all booting from a SATA drive.