Adding DVD -/+ RW - Need help on computer config

[sublimelax]

Right now I have:
1.7 Ghz P4
256 mb pc800 rdram
60 gig 7200 rpm HD
Win XP Pro
Primary IDE Master: HD
Primary IDE Slave: open
Secondary IDE Master: DVD-Rom
Secondary IDE Slave: CD-RW

I'm going to be putting in a Pioneer 106 tomorrow, but I have a bit of a problem. Even though I know the DVD burner will burn CD's as well, I would kinda like to keep my CD-RW in there (c'mon 3 CD/DVD drives just looks cool ). I would put the DVD burner on the secondary master and the dvd-rom on the secondary slave. I would then have to put the CD-RW on the primary slave, but have heard that this causes performance loss.

Here is the dilemma. I really, really want to keep the CD-RW in there, but if it is going to cause me substantial performance loss, I might just have to bite the bullet and take it out.

Is it true that hooking up a CD/DVD drive to the same IDE channel as a HD will cause performance issues?

Is there any way of keeping all three drives in there without causing performance issues?

Thanks for any help guys. This site is great.

[indolikaa]

This is the current configuration for my computer, subject to change of course.

Primary IDE Master: Maxtor 30GB
Primary IDE Slave: Maxtor 30GB
Secondary IDE Master: Optorite DD0203
Secondary IDE Slave: Optorite CW5201

Burning is not a problem. Direct disc-to-disc copying would be, but that's not an issue for me. I don't burn at higher speeds but I do other things while burning and don't have problems with coasters and such.

[Tool Man]

It is NOT reccomended to put a hard drive and optical drive on the same IDE connector. CD-ROM/DVD whatever connect at ATA33, and most modern hard drives run ATA100 or even ATA133. If they share a cable, they will both run at the speed of the slowest drive. Which would severly limit your HD's performance.
An option would be to buy an extra IDE controller, assuming you have a spare PCI slot.

[maestro5050]

Agreed. The only thing you would want to share on the primary IDE cable is another hard drive. I would never advise putting an optical drive on the same channel as a hard drive.

[indolikaa]

Correct. Do not place optical drives on the same channel as a hard drive. Hard drives do not play well with others. I knew that; my configuration demonstrates the understanding of this principle.

You could also move the CD-RW to an external USB2 or FireWire enclosure...

[sublimelax]

Thanks for the help everyone.

Haha, not exactly what I wanted to hear, but it makes sense. I'll either have to just scrap the CD-RW or go buy an extra IDE controller.

Thanks again.

[mujahid7ia]

Burning is not a problem. Direct disc-to-disc copying would be, but that's not an issue for me.

So having 2 drives on the same IDE (ie one CDROM, one DVDROM.CDRW combo) would have trouble with disc2disc copying? damn, that's why i'm getting the CDROM...