CS or Master/Slave when installing dual dvd burners?

[godbeer]

One of the two dvd burners in my computer died recently - it was still under warranty and I just got the replacement. Before the drive died I had the jumpers on both drives set to CS.

I'm planning on using the still working dvd burner in my computer for ripping purposes only, and using the new drive as a burner. In this situation, should I still just set both drives to CS, or should I use a Master/Slave setup? Also, if Master/Slave is the way to go, should I set the new drive (which will be used for burning) to Master and the older drive (which will be used for ripping) to Slave, or vice/versa?

Thanks for any help,

Roy

[IKnowNothing]

If it all worked with CableSelect previously then it should work with your new drive provided it support Cable Select (and all should). Also it won'taffect drive letter assignment since the new drive will be in the same place on the cable at the old one.

If you want to use Master/Slave then it really doesn't matter whcih is which provided you have one of each. The only effect it will have is which gets the lower drive letter. From habit I always put the Master closest to the MB (ie first on the cable) mainly so when I come back to the machine I know which is which.

Although IDE supports 2 devices per channel (Master/Slave) it can only talk to one at a time and the switching time is near enough zero. Compared to the speed of any CD or DVD drive then position on the cable has no effect. (or at least it never has for me and I did at one point try to find the effect)

[ron spencer]

NEVER....EVER use CS....so much easier with master/slave....no problems can occur this way...none. With CS you always leave room open for error if your drives are on the same IDE channel.

[IKnowNothing]

Ron

The whole point of Cable Select is to have 2 devices on the same channel and let the cable decide which is Master and which is Slave. - It's almost as good as Plug and Pray.

I agree setting Mater and Slave is better but then I remember when Cable Select was anly support by a limited number of devices. Personally I always set Slave and Master butit does open the door on having 2 Masters or 2 Slaves on the channel and ll the problems that creates

[godbeer]

Thanks to everyone for the replies,

It's starting to look like Master/Slave is the way to go.

I'm thinking that I should put the new Burner on the connector closest to the motherboard and set it as Master, and put the older drive (Which will strictly be used for ripping) at the end of the chain and setting it as slave.

Does that sound like the best way to do it?

Thanks,

Roy

[budz]

Thanks to everyone for the replies,

It's starting to look like Master/Slave is the way to go.

I'm thinking that I should put the new Burner on the connector closest to the motherboard and set it as Master, and put the older drive (Which will strictly be used for ripping) at the end of the chain and setting it as slave.

Does that sound like the best way to do it?

Thanks,

Roy

Yup, set your new dvd burner to MASTER and the older drive to SLAVE. FYI most newer dvd burners require a 80 wire ide cable. If you've had the setting of CABLE SELECT you cannot use that ide cable to set to MASTER/SLAVE. The CABLE SELECT ide cable can only be used for CABLE SELECT setting. Buy a new flat ribbon 80 wire ide cable which are inexpensive. Any computer store will have them or you can buy them online.

http://www.centralcomputers.com/commerce/ccp28921--2320440-3-24-ide-uata-100-24--3-con...scabideu1s.htm

[nic2k4]

Some things need to be clarified about cable select. To be able to use a drive with the CS setting the cable you use has to be designed for cable select; it will have pin 28 grounded at the end connector (black) and open at the middle connector (grey), the blue connector always goes to the motherboard (colors apply to an 80 wire cable).

The 80 wire cable specification includes CS ability. The master/slave setting on a drive, overrides the cables CS assignment. It's possible to end up with two masters if the drive on the black connector is on CS and the middle drive is set to master.

Never mix M/S and CS settings. Setting the M/S assignment manually is not better than using CS, it's only more definitive and something you had to do with most 40 wire cables as they weren't CS enabled. There should always be a drive connected at the end of the cable and the ATA specification says it should be the master. Using CS means you always stay within specs. Another advantage is with Maxtor and WD drives that use quirky jumper settings.

[godbeer]

There should always be a drive connected at the end of the cable and the ATA specification says it should be the master.

So, unless I'm misunderstanding something, I should put the Master drive (The new burner) at the end of the cable, and hook up the slave drive to the connector closest to the Motherboard?

Thanks,

Roy

[hech54]

NEVER....EVER use CS.....

Unless of course you are using my computer where the only MASTER is my C drive. My D and E drives(both LG burners) are set at cable select...and so is my extra internal "F" HDD.
Never had a problem.

[nic2k4]

According to the specification, yes. Now, I meant to add things like round cables and cables other than 18" (45cm) long aren't within the spec, but they work many times. Following the spec ensures success, when your application doesn't allow it, it's a toss of the die.

[fritzi93]

Eh, there are 3 hard drives and 3 optical drives in this computer, all on CS. My other computer is set up the same. No problems. The other way is certainly more definitive, and I suppose less likely to lead to problems.

[EDIT] I do it that way so I don't f*ck up the jumpers when I swap drives.

[[_chef_]]

That CS crap is necessary with allo those crappy DELLs.