New build - question about SATA connections

[RocckLobster]

Never had SATA before. New system has an ASUS AN8 SLI Premium mobo; WD Raptor 10,000 rpm HD (boot disk for OS); two WD 320GB SATA hard drives for data. I also have two DVD-RW drives on IDE cables. My question is this:

Since the SATA hard drives are connected to the SATA1, 2, and 3 connectors on the mobo, there is no apparent reason to have an IDE cable connected to the Primary IDE connector, correct? So, should I be leaving that connector unused and use the Secondary connector for the two DVD-RW drives?

Thanks!

 

[fishmahn]

If you're not using the channel, don't connect a cable. Use channel 1 first however. Just a rule of thumb, so it might not be a problem any more or in your case, but - and I know it sounds wierd - sometimes if it doesn't detect anything in channel 1 it won't look in channel 2.

Mike.

 

[RocckLobster]

Thanks for the response. Is it ok to hook up one DVD drive to channel 1 and the other to channel 2?

 

[fishmahn]

If you have the extra channels, its better to do it that way if you can.

Mike.