Have recently added a new CD-ROM to my system, and I am curious about the best IDE configuration.

Right now, it looks like this:
-Channel 1: Hard disk = master, Zip driver = slave
-Channel 2: CD-ROM(52x) = master, CR-RW = slave

Is this the most efficient arrangement? I have heard that you should try to pair the hard disk up with the fastest unit possible, since all untils on the same channel will adjust their speed according to the slowest unit. This can't be true, can it?

Thanks.
Arthur

Yes it is true. But that doesn't mean your hard drive will work like your zip drive. What it means is, if your hard drive is ultra 66, and your cd is ultra 33, your hard drive can only me ultra 33. So, it is a question of the two devices going down to the slowest mode. Don't know which of your devices is the slowest though. You may want to check the bios or device manager to see what mode they are working in.

Well, the best I can find in either BIOS or Device manager is as follows. I will give you all the particulars of my system:

Compaq 7460
AMD-K6-2 500/100 MHz processor
192 MB 100MHz SDRAM

IOMEGA IDE/ATAPI Zip 100 drive
E-IDE CD_ROM 52x/AKH
IDE-CR R/RW 4x4x24
GENERIC IDE Hard disk TYPE 01

Any suggestions on an arrangement? As I said, I don't notice any immediate performance degradations with the IDE arrangement mentioned in my previous message, but if anyone has any suggestions as to something more efficient, I am all ears.

Thanks.