Recommended IDE Configuration

[ViRaL1]

My system has a DVD-ROM and a DVD Burner as well as a CD-RW. I was wondering what IDE drive order would be best for on-the-fly DVD copying.

[redwudz]

With 4 choices; Primary IDE, Boot-master, CD-RW-slave. Secondary IDE, DVD burner-master, DVD ROM-slave. With most newer MB's it doesn't really make much difference. If you are really concerned, get a seperate PCI IDE controller and put them all as master.

[johns0]

If your doing on the fly dvd to dvd copying then its best to put the dvd-rom as slave on the primary and the dvd writer as master on the secondary and cdrw as slave on the secondary,you dont want the secondary ide being used by both dvd devices at the same time while writing and copying.Pci ide controllers are not very good with cd/dvd.

[MysticE]

I've got my burner as master and reader as slave on IDE 2. Nearly always burn direct (on the fly) and have never had a problem. It might depend on your config (memory, cpu). Try a couple of burns and see.

XP pro, sp1
512 ram AMD 2600.

[ChrO]

If your doing on the fly dvd to dvd copying then its best to put the dvd-rom as slave on the primary and the dvd writer as master on the secondary and cdrw as slave on the secondary,you dont want the secondary ide being used by both dvd devices at the same time while writing and copying.Pci ide controllers are not very good with cd/dvd.

Your are absolutely right, but i dont think it matters much anymore.
Regards!

[wulf109]

IDE data transfer speed is controlled by the slowest device on that channel(primary or secondary). You should never put a CD/DVD drive on the same channel as a HD. Most CD/DVD are ATA33 and most HD's are ATA100 or 133. placeing your DVD on the same channel as your HD will slow down the HD.