SATA connectors and IDE Channels

[Proxime Accessit]

I am planning a new system build using a Gigabyte GA-MA785GMT-UD2H motherboard and need advice on the correct use of the Standard CMOS IDE Channels (page 45 of the manual).

I shall be installing and IDE DVD-RW optical drive, plus 3 SATA drives to be run in Native IDE mode. My misunderstanding is over the relationship between the IDE Channels 0~3, with their Master and Slave settings, and the SATA2_0~SATA2_3 connectors on the mobo. I am assuming that the DVD drive, to be attached via the IDE connector, will be on Channel 0, although the manual does not say as much; is this correct? If it is correct, then am I right in my belief that the 3 SATA drives must use the mobo connectors SATA2_1~SATA2_3, leaving SATA2_0 alone?

I am hoping that the solution is as simple as this, but would welcome some advice should I have got it all wrong. I have always found SATA connectors to be somewhat fiddly to unhook and I don't want to mess things up.

Many thanks in advance.
[IMG]file:///D:/DOCUME%7E1/PAULST%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-1.png[/IMG][IMG]file:///D:/DOCUME%7E1/PAULST%7E1/LOCALS%7E1/Temp/moz-screenshot-2.png[/IMG]

[artdrivers]

Re: SATA connectors and IDE Channels

Set all IDE to Cable Select.
Set your bootable hard drive to SATA0/3 Set your SATA DVD drive to SATA4/5 Go into bios and set as follows:

Integrated Peripherals
OnChip IDE Channel [Enabled]
OnChip SATA Controller [Enabled]
OnChip SATA Type [Native IDE] [COLOR="darkred"]depends RAID, AHCI or not[/COLOR]
x OnChip SATA Port4/5 Type IDE [COLOR="darkred"]IDE for SATA DVD[/COLOR]
Onboard LAN Function [Enabled]
Onboard LAN Boot ROM [Disabled]
} SMART LAN [Press Enter]
Onboard Audio Function [Enabled]
Onboard 1394 Function [Enabled]
OnChip USB Controller [Enabled]
USB EHCI Controller [Enabled]
USB Keyboard Support [Enabled]
USB Mouse Support [Disabled]
Legacy USB storage detect [Enabled]
Onboard Serial Port 1 [3F8/IRQ4]
Onboard Parallel Port [378/IRQ7]
Parallel Port Mode [SPP]
x ECP Mode Use DMA 3[COLOR="DarkRed"][/COLOR]

Do not be concerned on the IDE Channels Master and slaves 0-4
This:

Standard CMOS Features
Date (mm:dd:yy) Mon, Jun 15 2009
Time (hh:mm:ss) 22:31:24
} IDE Channel 0 Master [None]
} IDE Channel 0 Slave [None]
} IDE Channel 1 Master [None]
} IDE Channel 1 Slave [None]
} IDE Channel 2 Master [None]
} IDE Channel 2 Slave [None]
} IDE Channel 3 Master [None]
} IDE Channel 3 Slave [None]
Drive A [1.44M, 3.5"]
Floppy 3 Mode Support [Disabled]
Halt On [All, But Keyboard]

[Proxime Accessit]

Re: SATA connectors and IDE Channels

Thanks for the speedy response!
However, I am still a bit puzzled.

You say to set the bootable hard drive to SATA0/3. Does that mean 'Plug the cable in to any one of the SATA2_0 ~ SATA2_3 connectors on the motherboard' ? I assume the other two hard drives will be similarly connected. Since 'Hard Disk' has to be specified to establish the boot order (page 48), does the bootable drive have to be in the first of the available connectors or can the BIOS work things out for itself?

Regarding the DVD drive, mine is an IDE drive, not SATA, so I cannot use the Port 4/5 connector. I will use the IDE cable and set the jumper to CS.

[artdrivers]

Re: SATA connectors and IDE Channels

Yes the bios will work things out. I always as a rule connect the SATA wire for the SATA HDD with my OS to SATA2_0 Put the other HDD's on SATA2_1/SATA2_2 set my cd and dvd ide drive jumpers to cable select. Bios will automatically work things out either way you connect the ide drives. You need not be concerned with the master or slave with the SATA2 drives. I am sorry for any confusion I may have caused.

[Proxime Accessit]

Re: SATA connectors and IDE Channels

Now I've got it! I am a much happier bunny now. I always had a feeling that it was really quite simple but the manual is not very helpful in this area.

Thank you for taking the trouble to help me out.

[artdrivers]

Re: SATA connectors and IDE Channels

Great It's easier to do it than it is to explain it.