DRU-500AX & Dell Optiplex

[Maynard123]

I am new to adding drives in a PC. I have a Dell Optiplex, and wanted to add a DRU-500AX in addition to my current DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive. The instructions with the DRU-500AX says to plug in various cords into the drive, but I don't see cords in addition to the ones already plugged into the current DVD-ROM drive.

If I make the DRU-500AX a "slave" to the current DVD-ROM drive, do I do something different with the 3-4 cords that go into the back of a master drive?

Sorry for being such a newbie. Thanks for any advice.

[rkr1958]

1.) Does the IDE cable (i.e., ribbon) that currently attaches your DVD-ROM/CD-RW drive to your computer have a master and slave connection? The master connection is black (I believe) and is currently connected to your DVD-ROM/CD-RW. The slave connection is grey (I believe ... I may have the colors reversed) and would be just below your master connection and not plugged into anything. If so, you can use that cable, if not then you need to use the IDE cable that came with your drive or buy one that support connection of two IDE devices.

2.) I recommend that you configure your DRU-500ax drive as master and your DVD-ROM/CD-RW as slave unless your computer supports cable select in which case the jumpers on both drives need to be set to cable select.

3). Once you properly set the jumpers on both drives, install your DRU-500ax. Connect both drives to the IDE cable. If you have a master/slave configuration, connect the end of the cable (again, the black end I believe) to the master drive and the one just below (the grey I believe) to the slave. If both drives are cable select (and your computer supports it) then it shouldn't matter.

[Maynard123]

Thanks! Does this mean that on the "slave" drive, you don't need to plug in all the various cords (such as power, sound) as long as you have it attached to the slave portion of the IDE (ribbon) cable?

Thanks again.

[rkr1958]

You will definetly need power to the drive. (So you'll have to plug in power to it.) You'll only need to plug in the sound if you want to use headphones with the drive. Otherwise, the sound from DVDs and CDs will play through your sound card (or on-board audio if you have integrated audio).

[Maynard123]

Thanks, RKR. I didn't see an extra power cord or sound cord in the Dell Optiplex. Do computers usually have extra power cords and sound cords for any additional drives you might install, or do you need to purchase them?

Thanks again for the help.

[mkelley]

Usually you don't have *extra* cords but you do have spare plugs on the cords themselves -- most computers nowadays allow for expansion by having multiple power connectors (little white plugs covered with a black cover) that sit unused until you need them (same for the IDE cables -- they usually have at least one additional connector hanging there for expansion).

The cheaper computers don't do this, though (my top of the line Dell has some very nice expansion capabilities, including additional rails for drives that fit in the case itself until needed). If you need such cables you can go to your local CompUSA or whatever store and tell them what you're doing and they can point you towards what you'll need to buy (and even show you how it fits in the case). They are not expensive.

[Maynard123]

Great! Thanks for the terrific help!