I would like to add a 3rd HD, and an internal Zip Drive into my machine, but since I already have 2 HD's and 2 CD drives, there no more power cables for the new drives and plugs on the mb to connect the new drives, so I am stuck.

Are there spliters or something of that matter to connect additional internal devices ?

YOu could buy an internal hard drive and get an external hard drive neclosure for USB 2.0. About the zip disk, you could buy an external zip disk also.

I already have an external zip drive.

But then why my and most of the pc cases have bays for an average of 4 5.25 drives, since you can't connect them?

PCI controller cards come with ide cables now and then. They are used internally to fill the rest of the bays you mention.

R.A.I.D. is just a newer 'Johnny come lately' term. The non-raid cards have been around for much longer.

PCI controller cards come with ide cables now and then
With an additional controller card you can add two more IDE HDDs.

Something like http://byterunner.com/byterunner/product_name=ATA-133/user-id=/password=/exchange=/exact_match=exact will add two channels and thus add four IDE/ATAPI devices.

If getting any controller cards check that they will support the speed and size of any devices you intend to add to them. Also with all these additional drives make sure your PSU is powerful enough to cope.

OH, that's cool, but is there a card or something for additional power cables?