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Step 5: Attach the interface cable
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 Attach the cable to both the master and slave drives on the same channel. |
Most ATA interface cables have a red stripe along one edge. Connect the cables so that this stripe aligns with pin 1 on the drive's connector, the side closest to the four-pin power connector. Most systems and ribbon cables are keyed to allow connection in only this orientation.
Tip:
Use the ribbon cable provided with your PC unless there's a good reason not to. Some drives, including ours, come with 40-conductor cables that don't support cable select if you choose that option. (See "The right connections")
Step 6: Attach the power cable
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 Power connectors are keyed to insert only one way. Don't be afraid to use a little force when installing or removing them. |
Tip:
Don't be afraid to use force when installing and removing power connectors--they fit quite tightly.
Step 7: Attach the audio cable
Many older systems require an audio cable to connect your optical drive's four-pin analog output to an output on your sound card so that you can play audio CDs on your PC. This approach yields fine audio quality for most of us, but it's not ideal: PC optical drives typically don't contain hi-fi-quality digital-to-analog converters. Some sound cards and most current optical drives allow a digital connection between the two devices, but this connection is seldom used.
Many newer systems do away with the audio cable altogether. Recent versions of Windows support audio-CD playback using digital audio extraction, which lets the PC read digital data directly from the drive and perform the necessary digital-to-analog conversion. The biggest drawback of digital audio-CD playback: If there's a headphone jack on the front of the optical drive, it won't work when you play a CD.
On both of our test systems, which already used digital CD playback with no problems, we installed the new drive without an audio cable. If your current optical drive uses an analog cable and you want to add your new drive with the same type of connection, you may need to buy a Y connector; most sound cards allow only one analog input.
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as i do not know much about computers i need to know which driver to set to master and which to set as slave. i have a combo drive in all ready which allows me to burn and play cd and play dvd's. if this drive does not use the audio cable does this mean my computer has a digital sound reader so i dont have to connect the audio cable on the dvd burner i am about to install. if i could have someone reply to my questions i would be very greatful