Computer Assembly - How To Assemble A PC
Install The DVD RW Drive
If you are using the retail packaged version of an optical drive then it may have come with a second, alternate faceplate (bezel) of a different color. I purchased the OEM version of the Sony Optiarc 24x SATA DVD RW/CDRW optical drive that I am using and was careful to select one with a black faceplate already installed to color coordinate with the Antec Sonata 3 computer case. If you want to use a different faceplate then I have an example where I detail the steps describing How To Change The Front Panel on the DVD RW drive.
The top three bays in the computer case are for 5" drives, namely optical drives such as the DVD RW. To remove a faceplate, use the finger holes to squeeze the tabs holding the faceplate, detaching it.
Like so.
Attached behind the black 5.25 inch bay cover that has just been removed are two drive rails.
Lift the silver tab up and they slide right off from the back of the bay cover.
The drive rails mount on the side of the DVD RW drive. Notice there are two pairs of holes on the side of the DVD RW drive. The drive rail needs be secured using either the top pair or bottom pair. But only one pair will allow the drive to mount properly inside the computer case. For me, it is the bottom pair that should be used. If the wrong pair is used then the drive will not slide back into the computer case with the drive rails mounted.
The drive rails are secured to the side of the DVD RW drive using screws that came with the computer case. The screws in the lower-left of the first picture can be used. If you are using an optical drive that came in a retail package then it also included a small package of screws that can be used, such as those shown in the second picture.
Attach a drive rail to each side of the DVD RW drive. There is more than one hole in the drive rail which can be used to secure the drive rail to the DVD RW drive. Again, it's a matter of trial-and-error to see which hole is best. If the wrong hole is used then the front of the DVD RW drive will not be flush with the other 5.25 inch drive bays when it is mounted inside the computer case. It's important that the drive is properly secured since the next step is to plug in connectors to the back of the drive. The drive needs to be secure since some pressure is required to ensure the power connectors are fully in place.
Slide the Sony DVD RW drive with the drive rails attached back into the open 5.25 inch drive bay. If the drive rails were attached properly then it should slide right in, clicking into place, and the front of the DVD RW drive should be flush with the rest of the bays.
This shows the back of the Sony DVD RW drive inside the computer case with no connections yet made to the back of the drive.
This shows a closer view of the two L-shaped connectors in the back of the Sony DVD RW drive. The larger connector is for a power cable to connect the drive to the power supply. The smaller connector is for a SATA cable to connect the drive to the motherboard.
As described previously for the hard drive, the DVD RW drive also connects to the computer with a SATA cable.
Plug the SATA cable into a SATA header on the motherboard.
Select one of the SATA power connectors from the bundle of power connectors coming out of the power supply like the one shown.
Connect the SATA power connector to the SATA DVD RW drive. The connection is keyed so it can only plug in one way.
Here is how the back of the Sony DVD RW drive looks inside the computer case with these two connections made to the back of the drive.
And here's how the inside of the computer looks with the optical drive installed.
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Like so.
Attached behind the black 5.25 inch bay cover that has just been removed are two drive rails.
Lift the silver tab up and they slide right off from the back of the bay cover.
The drive rails mount on the side of the DVD RW drive. Notice there are two pairs of holes on the side of the DVD RW drive. The drive rail needs be secured using either the top pair or bottom pair. But only one pair will allow the drive to mount properly inside the computer case. For me, it is the bottom pair that should be used. If the wrong pair is used then the drive will not slide back into the computer case with the drive rails mounted.
The drive rails are secured to the side of the DVD RW drive using screws that came with the computer case. The screws in the lower-left of the first picture can be used. If you are using an optical drive that came in a retail package then it also included a small package of screws that can be used, such as those shown in the second picture.
Attach a drive rail to each side of the DVD RW drive. There is more than one hole in the drive rail which can be used to secure the drive rail to the DVD RW drive. Again, it's a matter of trial-and-error to see which hole is best. If the wrong hole is used then the front of the DVD RW drive will not be flush with the other 5.25 inch drive bays when it is mounted inside the computer case. It's important that the drive is properly secured since the next step is to plug in connectors to the back of the drive. The drive needs to be secure since some pressure is required to ensure the power connectors are fully in place.
Slide the Sony DVD RW drive with the drive rails attached back into the open 5.25 inch drive bay. If the drive rails were attached properly then it should slide right in, clicking into place, and the front of the DVD RW drive should be flush with the rest of the bays.
This shows the back of the Sony DVD RW drive inside the computer case with no connections yet made to the back of the drive.
This shows a closer view of the two L-shaped connectors in the back of the Sony DVD RW drive. The larger connector is for a power cable to connect the drive to the power supply. The smaller connector is for a SATA cable to connect the drive to the motherboard.
As described previously for the hard drive, the DVD RW drive also connects to the computer with a SATA cable.
Plug the SATA cable into a SATA header on the motherboard.
Select one of the SATA power connectors from the bundle of power connectors coming out of the power supply like the one shown.
Connect the SATA power connector to the SATA DVD RW drive. The connection is keyed so it can only plug in one way.
Here is how the back of the Sony DVD RW drive looks inside the computer case with these two connections made to the back of the drive.
And here's how the inside of the computer looks with the optical drive installed.
