Computer Construction Help

[TurboSmoke]

i want to add a standard DVD-ROM drive to my existing computer...do i need any other components other than the player software?

i read somewhere that you may need a PCI/AGP video card....my graphics is onboard 32Mb...

what do i need?

..cheers

 

[Shannon]

I have a DVD-ROM and I don't recall needing anything special. I guess you just need a good enough video card to run the vids.

 

[emad]

nah, just pop it in. Worst case, you'll need a slightly longer IDE cable and an extra Molex connecter. The molex can be solved with a splitter, the ide cables only cost 3 or 4 bucks.

 

[Danoff]

I just went through this with my old machine. You need a good video card to power the DVDs smoothly. You'll probably be able to play DVDs with your onboard graphics but they'll be halty.

Any software you need will come with either the video card or the DVD rom drive or (in my case) both.

All you need to do is pick up a DVD rom drive and hook it up. Then install the software and run a DVD. Then you'll see that the graphics are halty and want to buy a good video card.

 

[TurboSmoke]

thanks guys,

i think my onboard 32mb should be okay, my laptop has only 16Mb video ram and it plays DVDs beautifully..

i'll just get one and try it out...

 

[Pako]

In installing the drive, you will have to be aware of the jumper pins position on the drive itself. There are usually three positions that the jumper can be in:

Master (MS), Slave (SV), or Cable Select (CS).

If your computer doesn't "see" the drive, try setting the the jumber to Cable Select.

Good luck and have fun!