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CD-RW as primary optical drive?
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HyperSplatt
Jun 7, 1999, 3:00:00 AM6/7/99
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I've noticed that when most people describe the systems they have or plan
to get, if they have a CD-RW, they also have a DVD drive.
So I was wondering if there is a disadvantage to using a CD-RW as your
primary drive for reading cd's in addition to creating them. Or does
everyone just also want to have the ability to read DVDs?
to get, if they have a CD-RW, they also have a DVD drive.
So I was wondering if there is a disadvantage to using a CD-RW as your
primary drive for reading cd's in addition to creating them. Or does
everyone just also want to have the ability to read DVDs?
Also, with this setup, is it recommended that you get an ide controller
card (if the system is all ide) so that you can allow your dvd, your cd-
rw, and your hard drive to each have their own channel, or what?
Sorry if these are stupid (or poorly worded) questions....
Please reply to the NG....
--HyperSplatt
Arnab Chowdry
Jun 7, 1999, 3:00:00 AM6/7/99
to
1) Generally CD-RW's and CD-R's have very poor read speeds (8x or 12x).
DVD drives these days can go up to 32x as far as I've seen. The performance
for most applications today is very obvious. I prefer 50x CD-ROM drives to
DVD drives myself, as right now I believe DVD will still take a while to
catch on and when it does, the prices will drop significantly. Right now its
a useless technology for computers (except in the fact that it forces CD-ROM
prices down to a wonderfully low price)
2) I would recommend at least giving the CD-RW and the DVD/CD-ROM drive
their own ports, and perhaps hook up the HD with the DVD/CD-ROM. Because of
the way IDE works, you'll want your CD-RW freed from having to share
resources with another drive. Basically no two IDE devices can send a signal
to the motherboard at the same time, they have to take turns. Generally
you're going to be copying data from either the HD or the DVD -to- the
CD-RW, so you want the devices transferring information to be on seperate
channels. Its not often that you'll have to share information between HD and
the DVD-drive, and generally those two can handle sharing, while CD-RW's are
finicky little things that don't like performance interruptions.
Most motherboards should have two IDE connectors so you won't have to buy a
controller card. Having them all on separate cables will give you a minimal
performance boost in my opinion, though that's how I have it (but I have a
controller card so...do what you wish :)
DVD drives these days can go up to 32x as far as I've seen. The performance
for most applications today is very obvious. I prefer 50x CD-ROM drives to
DVD drives myself, as right now I believe DVD will still take a while to
catch on and when it does, the prices will drop significantly. Right now its
a useless technology for computers (except in the fact that it forces CD-ROM
prices down to a wonderfully low price)
2) I would recommend at least giving the CD-RW and the DVD/CD-ROM drive
their own ports, and perhaps hook up the HD with the DVD/CD-ROM. Because of
the way IDE works, you'll want your CD-RW freed from having to share
resources with another drive. Basically no two IDE devices can send a signal
to the motherboard at the same time, they have to take turns. Generally
you're going to be copying data from either the HD or the DVD -to- the
CD-RW, so you want the devices transferring information to be on seperate
channels. Its not often that you'll have to share information between HD and
the DVD-drive, and generally those two can handle sharing, while CD-RW's are
finicky little things that don't like performance interruptions.
Most motherboards should have two IDE connectors so you won't have to buy a
controller card. Having them all on separate cables will give you a minimal
performance boost in my opinion, though that's how I have it (but I have a
controller card so...do what you wish :)
-Arnab
HyperSplatt <hyper...@REMOVETHISsplatton.com> wrote in message
news:MPG.11c620702...@news.lcc.net...
Bill Austin
Jun 8, 1999, 3:00:00 AM6/8/99
to
The disadvantage to using a CD-RW drive as your primary CD-ROM is the heavier
head assembly. It can't achieve access speeds anywhere near as fast as a
regular CD-ROM. However, if all you use it for is audio playing or software
installs, you won't notice it much.
head assembly. It can't achieve access speeds anywhere near as fast as a
regular CD-ROM. However, if all you use it for is audio playing or software
installs, you won't notice it much.
It is usually advised, when using IDE, to keep CD's and HD's on separate
channels. However, I use and recommend SCSI, where this is rarely an issue.
bill
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