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How does an optical drive connection cable look like....haha

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computernewbie   10-21-2009 at 06:11:37 AM

I dunno how the connection cable looks like, not the power cable, the other one that connects to the MB, pictures from google would be awesome, does the cable come with the optical drive? Or MB, cant find it...

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hunter315   10-21-2009 at 06:18:30 AM
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Generally it comes with the motherboard. Did you plug in a 4 pin molex power connector, if so you need to use an IDE cable
http://images.google.com/imgres?im [...] illa:en-US:official&ei=Z4veSqaJN5TJlQf_m8Q3
If you plugged in a small black sata power connector you need to use a sata cable
http://www.pcstats.com/articleimag [...] _sata2.jpg

 

sorry the IDE cable link broke, stupid BB codes


Message edited by hunter315 on 10-21-2009 at 06:20:17 AM
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gkay09   10-21-2009 at 06:20:08 AM
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^ There are 2 types of cables that are used to connect to the optical drive.
1. IDE - Which is a thick one -
http://lagwar.com/home/wp-content/ [...] cable2.jpg
But you get rounded ones too...
http://www.personal.psu.edu/jea169 [...] le%202.jpg

2. SATA - Thinner cables
http://www.atechfabrication.com/im [...] e_data.jpg

So first you have to check the socket type of the optical drive to know which cables can be used.
If it looks like this, it would be a SATA drive -
http://www.pcstats.com/articleimag [...] _sata2.jpg

This is an IDE drive...
http://www.rhyshaden.com/images/dvd_ide.jpg

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gkay09   10-21-2009 at 06:21:51 AM
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EDIT :P Dint refresh before posting...

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computernewbie   10-21-2009 at 06:37:10 AM
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o sata works for both optical drive and hard drive? haha :P. My MB came with an IDE and a couple SATA cables

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hunter315   10-21-2009 at 06:40:37 AM
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Both hard drives and optical drives use to be IDE, they are now switching over to SATA as its easier to fit onto the board and manage in the case.

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computernewbie   10-21-2009 at 06:45:22 AM
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thanks, i though they used different cables, makes my life easier.

Off-topic, what does the USB 2.0 connect to, MB im guessing, (never openedup mine yet lol)

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hunter315   10-21-2009 at 06:51:54 AM
- 0 +

Are you talking about the ones from the front panel of the case? Your motherboard manual will have a picture showing where to plug it in.

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