Integrated drive electronics, also known as parallel advanced technology attachment, was once the most common interface used to connect storage devices to a computer. IDE was a hard drive standard until about 2003, at which point serial ATA, a more advanced technology, was released. Since then, IDE has decreased in popularity, to the point that some hard drive manufacturers have stopped selling consumer IDE devices altogether. Because some modern computers lack IDE support, you may have issues installing an IDE device to your ASUS PC.
Basics
IDE devices connect to a computer via an IDE socket. Older motherboards have two IDE sockets, but most modern boards contain just one. Each IDE socket can hold up to two devices at one time, enabling a computer to use a maximum of two or four devices simultaneously, depending on the motherboard setup. If two devices are connected to a single IDE socket, one device must function as the master, or primary, device, and the other as the slave, or secondary, device. If one device is connected to an IDE socket, it is automatically a master device.
Incompatiblity
Some ASUS products, including the P6T6 WS Revolution, don't include even a single IDE socket. These products, instead, connect storage devices to the computer via SATA sockets. Note, however, that it is uncommon for a motherboard or desktop computer not to include at least one IDE socket. Find your product manual on the ASUS website and locate the motherboard diagram. Use the diagram to find where the IDE socket is positioned on the motherboard. Modern notebooks, on the other hand, are much less flexible; they use SATA exclusively.
Workaround
If the motherboard lacks an IDE socket, you can install an IDE controller card to an expansion slot. Note that this option is only available for desktop computers. Most IDE controller cards enable the computer to use a random array of independent disk setup, which is useful for improving hard drive performance and security. Once the card is installed to the appropriate port on the desktop, connect the IDE device or devices to the card. Depending on which product you purchase, you may need to install the software for the IDE controller card before you install the hardware to the PC.
Faulty Installation
If the ASUS motherboard comes with IDE sockets, but the computer fails to recognize the hard drive upon boot, confirm that the IDE device is installed and configured correctly. Use the jumpers on the back of the drive configure the device as master or slave -- configuration varies depending on the make and model -- then connect the appropriate connector to the device. Use the black connector for a master device and the gray connector for a slave device. Connect the blue end to the motherboard. Attach a 4-pin power connector to the drive to complete the installation.
Tags: hard drive, advanced technology, connect storage, connect storage devices, controller card, devices computer