IDE Configuration - Need Help

[Sammy5000]

Hey Guys...

Dumb question here. I have the following devices that I will be hooking up via IDE cables/channels on my mobo:

120GB HDD - Primary Master (UATA 100 compatible)
20GB HDD (UDMA 66 compatible)
CDRW

Now, I believe I have read somewhere that based on how I configure the second HDD and CDRW, it could effect my system performance. Therefore, how should the 20GB HDD and the CDRW be setup as? Primary Slave, Secondary Master, Secondary Slave?

 

[Eliteboy]

120 HDD is primary master .. therefore the 20G HD should be set to secondary slave ... the CDRW should be left alone ... there is no need to change it ... i don't see how the CDRW will affect any performances on your hard drives ...

 

[kayaksurfer]

(Hope this is correct

On each IDE channel, only one device can be accessed at a time, so it makes sense to split your CDRW and your primary drive apart on IDE1 and IDE2.

I also read that an IDE channel, when accessing both primary and master simultaneously on the channel, will operate at the slower speed of the two. Not really sure about that though, so I'd go with my first explanation.

Hopefully someone will clarify further!

 

[tcsenter]

Try to arrange it so that no two highly utilized/accessed drives are on the same channel. Your two most utilized/accessed drives should be on separate channels. Everything else is pretty much irrelevant.