IP35-Pro - replacing IDE DVD with SATA DVD

[Taz]

I will be replacing the IDE DVD-ROM drive with a SATA DVD-ROM drive. I understand that the IDE interface on the IP35-Pro uses a separate controller. What can I disable from the BIOS once I have done this?

[Mutley]

BIOS -> Integrated Peripherals -> Onboard PCI Device -> Storage Controller (Disabled).

That should switch off the JMicron IDE controller, and leave you with the SATA interface working.

[Taz]

Cheers, Mutley. The more I can disable the better! I wanted to get rid of the IDE DVD drive primarily to improve airflow in my case as the IDE data cables are ribbon cables and it's a very old drive that struggles to read CD's and DVD's.

[Mutley]

Same here - I have two SATA DVD drives, and SATA HDD. Much better for airflow. I've been able to route the SATA cables very tidily, so they are out of the way.

[LuckyNV]

I did this about 6 months ago, so happy I'm rid of IDE

[BUFF]

just to mention that doing so will disable the 2 eSATA connectors as they are on the JMicron.
Mobo will boot faster with it disabled though.

[Taz]

^ Yes, i'm not using those eSata connectiuons though. What are they good for as there must have been a good reason for them?!

[BUFF]

external drives (backup perhaps) - eSATA is far faster than either USB or firewire.

[Taz]

Well the swap-over from IDE to SATA DVD-drive was painless enough and I was glad to have got rid of that IDE ribbon cable! The system looks much neater from a cabling point of view now. I disabled the JMicron controller and the system does indeed boot a bit quicker so that's an added bonus. The icing on the cake was that my SATA DVD-drive has a black bezel to match the case.

[Mutley]

Which one did you get?
I have two, a Lite-On and Pioneer, both with black bezels...very nice in my P-182..:-)

[Taz]

Which one did you get?
I have two, a Lite-On and Pioneer, both with black bezels...very nice in my P-182..:-)

A cheapo one that Scan had on Today Only a couple of days ago:

LG GH20NS10

Computer hardware and software at amazing prices, available online from Scan Computers UK

My old one had a cream bezel but this one integrates very nicely with my P182. I just need to change one other thing: the 3.5" floppy drive. The one i've currently got came from my old system and has a silver bezel. I need one with a black bezel.

[Mutley]

I don't have a 3.5" drive. Managed to do without one.
I have an old 1Gb pen drive, and using that HP pen drive software, I've been able to make it bootable. No more need for floppy drive....the only thing I used it for was for BIOS upgrades, which I can now do with the pen drive.

[Taz]

^ Mutley, I have several USB pen drives. Are there instructions for flashing the BIOS with one of these instead of a floppy? If I can get rid of the floppy then that's even better!

[Mutley]

I found the guide on the IP-35Pro page on this forum:
http://forums.hexus.net/abit-care-he...de-thread.html

Specifically these two links were very useful:
How to boot an Abit board from a USB flash drive - Universal abit USA Forums
XtremeSystems Forums - View Single Post - **Official ABIT IP-35 Pro Review/Overclock/Guide Thread**

You have to make a couple of changes in your BIOS I think to make it work, but thats outlined in the guides. It worked for me, so with any luck it will work for you too! Good luck...

[Taz]

^ Nice one, thanks. I'll try it out first with the floppy drive still connected and if it works i'll get rid of that. The floppy has a huge, ugly ribbon cable that has been bugging me for ages!

[Taz]

Yep, it all worked perfectly. I'll be whipping the 3.5" floppy drive out...once I find the blanking plate!