I recently received a question by mail:

Hello Maxim. Your subscriber writes to you with a proposal - a request. Tell me how to properly connect the 2nd HDD and 2 DVD writers. I think this is of interest to many ordinary users PC.

The fact is that it is impossible to describe all connection methods and options in one note, due to the variety of connection interfaces and their combinations on motherboards from different manufacturers.

On the one hand, now only two connection interfaces are most common hard drives And optical drives: IDE (IDE) And SATA (SATA), and it seems that connecting everything is simple.

On the other hand, motherboard manufacturers have made a very large number of boards with very different configurations of these interfaces: starting from 2/4 IDE and 1 SATA at the moment the SATA interface enters the market before 1 IDE and 6/8 SATA at the moment (hereinafter the number in front of the interface means the maximum possible number of devices that can be connected via the interface to motherboard).

At the same time, there are motherboards in which simultaneous operation of all interfaces is impossible, i.e. for example, when connecting one drive via SATA switched off 3rd and 4th IDE.

With a gradual transition to the interface SATA everything will become easier - one device - one connector.

This means that each device is connected to its own connector, and the user does not need to additionally configure the device and think about which side of the cable to connect to the motherboard and which to the device. And in case of problems, it is better to tell in detail about the option where the problems arose.

On my home PC (GigaByte GA-P35-DS3L motherboard) there are two hard drives SATA, one DVD-RW SATA and one DVD IDE. I will show how they are connected in the following picture:

The figure shows approximately 1/6 of the motherboard. Green– this is a connector for IDE devices, I have an IDE DVD connected to it. Yellow– these are connectors for SATA devices; I have two SATA hard drives and one SATA DVD-RV connected to them.

The southbridge heatsink and PCI-Express connector retainer are shown for quicker locating of connectors. In most motherboards, the IDE and SATA connectors are located next to the south bridge.

The following pictures show the cables for connecting IDE devices. These cables have 80 cores and can be designated as "cable IDE-100/133" or "ATA-100/133 cable". There are also options for 40 cores, but they are practically no longer used.

The following figure shows the connection cables SATA devices. Manufacturer GIGABYTE does not make simple cables for connection SATA, but “with amenities.”

The first is a metal retainer at both ends of the cable. This lock prevents the cable from accidentally disconnecting, for example, when you insert or remove a video card from the system unit and accidentally touch the cable.

The second is an angled connector at one end of the cable. This cable is convenient to use for short cases, in cases where the cable needs to be led directly down from the DVD or hard drive. I recommend using these cables.

At the moment, other manufacturers have begun to equip their motherboards with cables with such “options”. You can also try purchasing them separately.

If you purchased a new hard drive or DVD with a SATA connector, and your PC is not older than 2 years, then connecting via SATA is very simple.

First– install the device in the housing. DVD - as convenient for you, and hard drive - preferably so that there is a small empty space above and below it for better ventilation.

Second– connect the information connector of the device and a free connector on the motherboard.

Third - connect power to the device. The device may have a new type of power connector (for SATA), it may have an old type (Molex), or there may be both connectors.

The following picture shows, as an example, the back side of the hard drive and the connectors are labeled: SATA power, SATA data, Molex power.

If there is only one connector, then connect it.

With the advent of SATA devices, power supply manufacturers began to equip their units with special power connectors for connecting such devices.

Most new devices are already released without a Molex connector. If there are no connectors for SATA in the power supply of your PC or they are already occupied, then you can use a special power adapter, which is shown in the following picture.

The white connector with 4 pins is the connector Molex. Two black flat connectors are connectors for SATA devices.

If the power connector two, then you need to connect any one of them, but not both at once! I recommend using the power connector for SATA devices.

After this, you can turn on the PC, go into the BIOS and check that the device is visible. If it is not visible, you need to switch all SATA connectors to AUTO mode. Then you need to save the changes in the BIOS and exit. After this you can work with the device

If you are not sure how to connect the device correctly or are having problems connecting, then watch the video tutorial below or take our step-by-step video course "Assembling a computer from A to Z."

The article uses materials from the site www.nix.ru

The disk drive, until recently a mandatory element in any computer, is today losing ground to flash drives and retiring. Manufacturers have caught on to this trend and are now happy to follow it, refusing to install a drive in computers and laptops. But what if you need a disk drive? This is discussed in our article.

First we need to decide why we need a disk drive. It's not about his type - by default he should be able to read and write DVDs, that's just the time. But there is such a thing as a connection type - the interface that our drive connects to the computer. It is up to him to be chosen.

The easiest way to determine this is to visually inspect the motherboard and determine the available connection locations.

Let's figure it out in order:

Have you considered the motherboard? Let's evaluate the availability of free ports. If there are several free SATA ports and an IDE port, then you definitely need to choose the first option. It has seriously more advantages, and it’s easier to connect. If there is only one free SATA port, then you can think about it - what if you want to connect another hard drive to your computer? He needs this port more. Well, the easiest option is if you have either SATA or IDE ports. You have no choice, act according to the circumstances.

Removing the old drive

To do this, you will need a medium-thick Phillips screwdriver with a good slot and a vacuum cleaner.

Note! Take care in advance to collect the mounting hardware in a separate place - it will be very helpful during reassembly. It is very unpleasant to look for bolts throughout the apartment.

1. Remove the side covers from the system unit. To do this, unscrew a pair of screws from the back on each side and pull the covers back. After moving them a couple of centimeters and freeing the grooves, remove the covers.

   

2. It's vacuum cleaner time. Carefully, without touching the electronic components (this is important!), remove the top layer of dust. It is better to remove residues using a compressed air cylinder - there is less risk of damaging the components.

   

3. Locate your drive from the inside. Remove traces of hot melt glue from the cables using a screwdriver. Be careful!
4. Carefully remove the cable from the connectors of the drive and motherboard. Then pull out the power.

   

5. The drive is secured with fairly thin screws on the sides - their number ranges from two to four on each side. Unscrew them and remember the approximate position.

   

6. Now remove the drive. Pull it inside the system unit and pull it out, being careful not to touch the rest of the computer components. If the drive does not pull in, push it from the inside out and pull it towards you.

   

Note! Some models of system units do not allow you to pull out the drive inside. The front panel prevents pulling out - for example, the drive bays have rounded edges to which the drive clings. In this case, you need to remove the front panel by unscrewing the four bolts or slightly bending the latches in four places. Do this with extreme care: system unit with an insecurely fastened front panel, it will finally lose its presentability.

Installing a new drive in the system unit

In addition to a screwdriver, you may need pliers.

On a note! If you replaced the drive and followed the previous step to remove the old one, then you have already prepared everything for installation.

Now we will look at what to do for those who want to install a disk drive in new computer, where it has never been, or wants to install a second drive in addition to the old one.

1. Using the instructions from the previous paragraph, open the system unit and remove the front panel.
2. Carefully remove one of the plugs for five-inch devices from the front panel. Be careful not to break the grooves, as it may come in handy in the future if you want to get rid of the drive.

   

3. Using pliers, break out the metal plate opposite the selected plug on the front panel. The plate will definitely not be useful anymore, so just break it out. Can be bent.

   

4. Remove the new drive from its antistatic packaging. Remove all shipping stickers. Carefully insert the drive into its place in the system unit.

   

   Note! It would be nice to find complete bolts from the system unit, but there are none; buy four or eight bolts together with the drive to secure it.

5. Secure the drive with screws. Watch its position: it is important that it fits neatly with the front panel. One way or another, its position can be adjusted later.

   

6. Reinstall the front panel. If the drive does not align with it, loosen the screws and slide it into position. Tighten the screws.

Connecting the installed drive to the motherboard

Let's first consider the option with IDE

IDE is an old format with its own configuration rules. The loop involves the installation of two devices, so it turns out that one device is always the master (“Master”), and the other is always the slave (“Slave”). This may be the problem if the connected drive is not detected. To eliminate it, check the position of the jumper on the back of the drive. Pay attention to the screenshot.

Universal case: if you have only one disk drive on the cable and it is connected with the outermost connector, then put the jumper in the left position (“Cable Select”, or auto-detection of the connection type). If there are two disk drives or devices in general on the cable, then the jumper should take a position based on the position of the device: if the outermost connector is “Master,” that is, the right position, if the middle one is “Slave,” that is, the middle position. However, IDE motherboards have been around for a very long time, so they can easily not meet the standards. In this case, there is only one piece of advice - refer to the instructions.

Now an option with SATA

All that remains is to close the side covers, tighten their mounting screws and start using the computer. Ready!

Video - Connecting (installing, replacing) a PC drive

A disk drive, or optical disk drive, is a device used for reading and. Although optical discs They are losing their popularity every year; it is still impossible to do without a disk drive, especially on a desktop computer. In this article we will talk about how to connect a disk drive to a computer.

Step No. 1. Prepare the computer to connect the drive.

Before you begin directly connecting the drive to your computer, you need to perform a number of preparatory operations. First, the computer must be completely de-energized. Not just turn it off, but completely cut off the power. To do this, you need to pull out the cable that connects the computer to the power supply. This simple action will protect you from electric shock and save your life.

After you have turned off the power to the computer, you need to remove the side covers of the system unit. We need to remove both covers, since to connect the drive to the computer we will need access to both sides of the system unit.

As a rule, the side covers are secured with four screws at the back of the system unit. After unscrewing these screws, move the side covers back a little and then remove them.

Step #2: Distinguish the old drive from your computer.

If your computer has an old disk drive that you want to replace, you will first need to unplug and remove the old disk drive. To do this, unscrew the screws that secure the drive. As a rule, there are four of these screws, two on each side of the drive.

After you have unscrewed the screws, the drive must be carefully pulled out of the system unit. To do this, slightly push the drive from the inside of the system unit and pull it out.

It should be noted that it can only be removed from the outside of the system unit. Therefore, you should not try to push the drive inside the computer case.

Step No. 3. Connecting the drive to the computer.

Now we come to the most important question of this article, how to connect a disk drive to a computer. To do this, insert the drive into the free compartment on the front side of the case and push it in until it stops. After the drive is in place, it needs to be secured with screws. Don't skimp on the screws; tighten all four of them, two on each side of the drive. If the drive is poorly secured, it will vibrate and make a lot of noise when writing or reading discs.

After the drive is installed, you need to connect it to the computer. All modern disk drives connect exactly the same way hard disks, using cables. All you need to do is plug a narrow SATA cable (usually red) into a free SATA port on the motherboard and into the drive. You also need to connect a cable with SATA power, which comes from the power supply. The SATA power cable is slightly wider and consists of 4 conductors.

Once you have connected the SATA cables to your drive, you can close the side covers and turn on the computer. This completes the process of connecting the drive to the computer.

Installing the DVD-ROM device is very simple. You just need to decide on the device connection standard: “IDE” or “SATA”? Depending on this, the connecting cables (data and power cables) will be different.

This is what our “IDE” device looks like from the back (where the connection takes place).

We install the DVD-ROM in the space allocated for it in the system unit (usually the front top part body). We connect the power and the “data loop”. Please note! On the “cable” there is a “key” in the mounting socket for its correct orientation. For “IDE” drives, the connection should look like this.

Now all we have to do is securely fix our device on both sides with four bolts and connect the second end of the “cable” directly to the motherboard.

For “SATA” drives, this process is completely identical to that described, and the cable DVD data devices of the old standard must be connected to one of the “IDE” channels of the controller on the board.

In the figure above, under the numbers, we show:

• 1 - the first “IDE” controller (two devices can be installed on it: “master” and “slave”)
• 2 - second “IDE” controller (you can also connect two devices: in master mode and slave mode)
• 3 - drive controller (FDC controller)

So, it is to controller number 3 that we will connect our disk drive. It is also called a “floppy disk” or “3.5-inch disk” (based on the size of the floppy disks with which it works).

The drive looks like this:

And here are its connection connectors from the back side:

The large oval is the data cable connector, the white one with four pins is the power connector. The drive data cable is slightly narrower than the “IDE cable” of the hard drive, so you simply cannot mix it up and connect it incorrectly :)

This is what it looks like:

The cable is also equipped with a special “key” to prevent it from being installed incorrectly. The corresponding “key” is also available on the motherboard controller.

The power cable to the floppy disk comes directly from the computer's power supply. It has a specific connector and is connected as follows:

Pay attention to which side the connector is connected to the device (this is the only correct position). Otherwise the floppy disk will not work.

At the end of the article, I want to give a little advice: if you need to open a CD-DVD-ROM without turning on the computer (for example, you forgot a disk in it), then pay attention to the small hole specially provided for this purpose on its front panel.

Straighten the paperclip (or use a needle), insert it into the hole and press firmly. The device tray will open slightly. Pull it out completely by hand, remove the disc and push it back in. Don't worry, it won't break. Just don't do this while the disk is spinning inside the device! :)

How to connect CD-ROM?

Installing a CD-ROM will not take much time if done correctly. Next we will look at how to install a CD-ROM using different types connectors: IDE and SATA.

Connecting CD-ROM using IDE

First, notice that there are three sections on the back of the CD-ROM. To install the CD-ROM, we need the two on the far right. The first one on the far right is for connecting power. The section located in the middle is needed to connect to the motherboard.

Follow these steps to connect the CD-ROM:

1. Open the system unit and secure it using CD-ROM screws.
2. Take one of the wires coming from the power supply and connect it to the CD-ROM.
3. Next, take a flat wire extending from the motherboard and representing a broadband bus. Connect it to the CD-ROM.
4. Now all you have to do is turn on your computer and it will automatically detect the connected device.

Connection using a SATA connector

If your CD-ROM has a SATA connector, then you will of course need a special SATA cable. Therefore, before purchasing such a CD-ROM, make sure that your motherboard has SATA connectors. In general, the connection process is completely identical to the previous one.

You can check that the CD-ROM is properly connected to your computer without turning it on. To do this you will need to use a paper clip. Straighten the paperclip and insert it into the small hole on the front of the CD-ROM, which is usually located under the disc tray. Use a paper clip to press the button located inside. The CD-ROM should respond and eject the disc tray. Please note that these steps cannot be performed if the device tray is already loaded, as this may cause damage to the rotating disk.

I would like to point out that this instruction Suitable primarily for CD-ROMs manufactured after 2000. If you have old model CD-ROM, we recommend that you seek the help of specialists to connect it to the power supply and motherboard. However, it should be said that such old CD-ROMs should be replaced with newer ones, since their operation may be incorrect and even pose a threat to the media.

If you want to learn more about the various components, then go to the section.