IDE Device Configuration Suggestions Please...

[adbower]

I've been running a mix of IDE and SCSI devices for a while now and until recently I've had no problems. Now my old 4x CD-R has finally died, so I picked up a new one today.

My question is, what is the best configuration (performance wise) for the following devices... all IDE.

2x 40GB ATA-100 Hard Drives
Plextor CD-RW
Iomega Zip Drive

One HD is for OS/Applications, while the other is for file storage

What would be best? Both HDs on one channel? Split the HDs and put the zip on one, the CD-RW on the other?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Syran]

I'd do this:

Primary Master: OS Drive
Primary Slave: Zip Drive
Secondary Master: File Drive
Secondary Slave: CD-RW

 

[thorin]

Try this thread from earlier today.

Thorin

 

[MarkHark]

Hummmm, I don't think I'd put the CDRW in the same interface as the drive it will read from. So, two possibilities apply.

1- If you intend to record from both Hard drives, put them both on the primary IDE and the CDRW + Zip on the secondary. The downside is that transfer between the hard drives will be a bit slowed, specially if you happen to have two REAL fast drives.

2- If you only intend to record from the secondary drive, put the CD in the primary IDE together with the master drive. Opposite apply if you wanna record from the master drive. Any of these ways, transfer between HDs will be optimized, but if you ever decide to record from the same IDE interface as the CDRW, you'll have a speed penalty.