Install PCI Card for IDE drive?

I just ordered a DVD+/-RW drive. All of my IDE positions are currently occupied. I was thinking of adding a PCI card for this drive. Question I have is will it work as an additional IDE position, or does it replace the current IDE connections.

Anybody done this?? I could remove my CDRW drive, but I'd like to leave it in place.

If I do this, MSFT will probably make me re-activate. Again.

 

I would say yes, I can't see why not. I have installed a PCI card when I installed my second HD, but I reconnected my arangement. I also have 2 Optical drives not DVD burner but DVD-Rom and CD-R-RW and I have both of them connected to my PCI card and the 2HD to the IDE connectors on the mobo and it works fine.
good luck
hawk22

 

It will add to, not replace current IDE conn. Keep in mind that NOT all cards support CD-ROM, DVD's etc, make sure to read up on the specific card details. Make sure the card supports the speed of the drives you are connecting or the drives performance will slow to that of the card. Also keep in mind when connecting, if you connect an ATA100 drive and an ATA133 drive that BOTH will operate at ATA100, the system will default to the slowest drive connected. Regarding Microsoft, depends on how many changes you have made since activation, this by itself should not require re-activation.

 

Thanks Hawk and TJ. Curiously, there was another reply to this post and I answerd it. Both that reply and my response are gone! Wonder what happenend to them?

Martin

 

Now I remember, I had originally posted this to General Discussions, then realized it probably should have gone to hardware. So I guess I double posted and the other response is over there, excuse me.