Ok, I'm putting my gf's computer together and wanted to aask a quick question. 1 HD 1 DVD/CD-RW Combo 2 IDE Ports ? Is it worth getting an extra IDE cable and running each as a master on a separate port? Or if not, should the HD or the Combo drive be the master? I presume the HD should be master really. ALso note, the system is being built into one of Shuttle's tiny barebones kits, so two IDE cables may severely restrict airflow, and rounded cables are probably a little too stiff to use in the confined space. Any help would be much appreciated 8-Ball
If you put the CD/DVD drive on the same channel as the hard drive, the hard drive speed is brought down to ATA33 or ATA66 (same as the CD/DVD drives) ... So i think it is better to get another cable and put them on separate channels
It probably is worth putting the drives on seperate channels, especially if you have the channel unused. I've found my rounded cables to be surprisingly flexible, but the shortest I've been able to find is 40cm. Still, if carefully positioned I dont think two of these would restrict airflow too severely.
Is it possible to cut the unused connector from an IDE cable, cos if I got a new cable then I would only need one device oneach cable. Also as there are no further bays, I'm not exactly limiting upgrade possibilities. What do you think
I have read somewhere a while ago that you can cut off the unwanted connector on a IDE cable without any problems. Not 100% on this yet, trying to search for that article. Will post again if I find it.
Alos does it matter which bit you cut off. A------------------B---------C If the above diagram represents an IDE cable with the letters being connectors, and a long bit of cable and a short bit, can I cut off the long bit and just use the short bit, or do I have to use a particular connector for the motherboard port. Also, I presume that they would both be 'masters' if they were each on a separate channel. thanks for the help 8ball
You need the motherboard connector and the first connector on the cable (this would plug into the drive). The last connector on the cable for the second drive can be cut off. Not 100% yet. But then IDE cables are cheap and you could try it. If you do pls let me know about the result. I think the hard drive would be primary master and the cd/dvd the secondary master. Not sure whether that really matters on the latest boards.
Yup you can do it. I did that with my rounded cables on my shuttle, works perfectly. Just make sure to cut off C and use A for the mobo and B for the device. Hope this helps!
Cutting off c would make no difference as the cable doesn't 'know' if you're using the master or the slave plug. You can get short IDE cables, and they're not exactly expensive. Running the two devices on the same channel IS a bad idea, even without the technical details, you can just tell. Incidentally, how hot do you actually expect this little mean machine to get?
Make sure and cut the cord as close to B as pobbsible YES: A---------------B //----------c -or- A--------B NO: A-----------------B-------- //-c -or- A-------B------- This will stop interference from the rest of the cord being un-terminated. Which causes two things, it works as an antenna picking up RF noise, and also causes ring back, which is a mirrored image of your data bounced back from the end of the chord, which really is bad.
The Harddrive speed would NOT be broguth down to the speed of the CD/DVD drive. Each device operates independantly of the other. However, it would be a good idea to put each on its own channel if possible. This is because whenever you are using your CD/DVD drive and HDD at the same time you could experience some slowness.
Cheers for the help everyone!!!! It'll all have to wait though as something fried when I turned on the power. I think it was the power supply. CCL were really good about it though - sent a courier to pick it up today and should see it again next week. Very helpful on the phones aswell. I hate talking to people who automatically assume you don't know where the power switch is!! WhyPick1 and MrDT - yes you can get short IDE cables, and yes the shuttle does come with one, but they are ribbon cables and in such a small case tend to sit right in front of the fan! At least now I have time to order some rounded cables off the web. A lot cheaper that way. As menioned in my first post, it's my girlfriends computer, so no overclocking, and chances are it'll only get used for email and internet shopping. It'll be running a 1.7GHz Celeron and just the integrated graphics, so I don't think it'll get too warm. I have to say, they are quite remarkable for the amount of kit that can be fitted into such a small case, and still room for an agp graphics card (though I think that would make the case very cramped!) I will update on what ccl have to say about what went wrong and how the cable trimming goes. 8ball
As far as I could tell, there wasn't a switch on the motherboard. I assumed it was auto switching. If it wasn't, could the fact that it came with a european plug back up that argument?!? Oh well, It's in their hands now. 8-ball
Which model shuttle are you using?? My SS51 came with some rounded cables, and enough of them so everything is on it's own (floppy, HDD, DVD)...also the manual is very specific in how to route the cables so they do not restrict air flow.
