being a puter dummy i ordered Philips SPD2513bd to replace Sony ddu1623
have P4GE-MX motherboard can I use it?

Hi logger and welcome to D-A-L. I am sorry to say that it looks like you ordered the wrong drive. The Philips requires a SATA interface and your motherboard, assuming that is the ASUS P4GE-MX, does not support SATA.

This is a common mistake and you should be able to contact the retailer for an exchange. You need a DVD that connects to the older ATA (also known as EIDE, IDE, or PATA) controller. A reputable retailer will be happy to make the exchange - you may have to pay shipping. If they give you grief, be sure to inform them that you will never do business with them again and that you will ensure all your friends and co-workers are aware of how cooperative they were.

Alternatively, if you have a spare PCI expansion slot in your computer, you can add a PCI SATA controller card such as this the Rosewill RC-205. A card like this installs in a spare PCI slot and has an internal SATA connection to connect your new SATA DVD drive.

thank you much think will try controller card

Just make sure you have a free slot first.

have Compaq Presario 6000 from what this dummy can see does not have slot
to take controller card-where this all started bought DDU1632 burned 3-4
dvd's then lost write function

According to this page, your computer should have 3 PCI slots. Since your motherboard has integrated LAN and sound, it seems like you should have an open slot or two.

Looking at the back of the PC - you should see the slots on the bottom of the tower, or on the right if a desktop.

have 2 empty slots but they are 2 section and controller card is 3 section

Originally Posted by logger

have 2 empty slots but they are 2 section and controller card is 3 section

I don't know what that means. PCI is PCI.

puter slots have 2 sections of contacts card has 3

I say again, PCI is PCI.

If your card has an extra gap in the contacts, no big deal. As long as the one gap lines up, you are good to go.