Hard drive question..

[SONY007]

Western Digital Caviar 120GB Special Edition 8MB Cache - OEM (HD-001-WD). I want to order this H/D on-line but I notice it says OEM, so like with processors when it says OEM i've been told it means it doesn't come with a heatsink, so what does the OEM mean the H/D comes without just so I know before I purchase?

[mpucoder]

WD OEM drives are just like retail, except it is nothing but the drive. No cables, instructions, or utility floppy.

You don't really need this stuff, though. The jumper settings are printed on the disk, you can get UDMA cables elsewhere, and the utilities are available online. http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp

[SONY007]

Sorry about this m8 but what are UDMA cables are they the gray flexable that goes from the h/d to the m/b, I always thought they were called idle cables or something like that. Is it some new kind of cable which replaces the IDE cable. I have'nt got a clue but i'm trying to build my first pc but I need to get and the names of the component right so I know whats what !!!

This is what i've order so far, (i've got my case already + 350 PSU):

Epox 8RDA+ nForce2 (Socket A) Motherboard (MB-019-EP)

Western Digital Caviar 120GB Special Edition 8MB Cache - OEM (HD-001-WD)

Corsair 512MB DDR XMS3500 Platinum CAS2 (MY-010-CS)

Now i'm just deciding on weather to get the BARTON 3000+ or get a 2800 if there's not much in it with speed.

Have I missed out any component? I've got the writer's in the pc i'm on at the moment to put in the (HOPEFULLY) new one !!!

:scared: :scared: :confused: :scared:


Is there a good place on-line with illustration to show ppl how to build a pc, tried going PC WORLD and WHSMITH to get a book or magazine on how to build a pc but could'nt find one.

[int 21h]

TomsHardware has some stuff... he and his staff can come across as zealots occassionally, but its a start at least:

http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/index.html

specifically:
http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20020904/index.html
http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20020918/index.html
http://www6.tomshardware.com/howto/20021102/index.html

Good luck.

[mpucoder]

UDMA cables are the newer IDE cables with 80 wires. Since the drive and motherboard you mentioned both support ATA-100 I'd recommend using them. Most Epox motherboards ship with one or two of these cables, so you should be set. The cables have three connectors, the 2 that are closer together are for HD's, use the end connector first.
Also the utilities from WDC can wait unless you are migrating from one HD to another, or need to change the UDMA mode (default for should be ATA-100).

[MasterYoshidino]

the UDMA also sport the CS jumper setting or 'cable select' where the UDMA cable (that sports 80 pins) can detect whether one device is on the slave or on the master, helping to prevent jumper setting errors. UDMA supports the higher settings (ATA 66/100/133) where the old DMA cables were maxed at ATA33.

If you are going to get cables, make sure they are UDMA (usually one cable is colored blue and has a nudge and the other cable black)

My only concern would be the lack of a warranty for OEM products.