IDE cables..

[doodoo]

Other then the UDMA-66 cable, are all IDE cables identical? I just bought a new one and it doesn't look right. You know the part that sticks out from the connector that tells you where you should connect the cable? It doesn't have it.

[muno]

The ground (red line) is usually toward the center of the hd/cd. If it doesn't have the 'you cannot plug this cord wrong way'-pin then connect it the above way. ata66 is different from ata33 (ata33 has less pins). And I would imagine ata100 differs too from ata66 (haven't seen one cable thou).
-M

[jbyron]

The cable is the same for 40 pin IDE.
Some have the raised spot some do not.

[solo-pc-tech]

I see a lot of OEM IDE cables without a key tab.

The red stripe side(pin 1) plugs into the hard drive next to the power connector. Haven't seen any recent drives that are different. Red stripe next to power plug is also true for CD-ROMs.

Now the orientation of pin 1 on the motherboard IDE connector is not consistent. Usually though pin 1 will be identified by a silk screen letter on the motherboard itself. Otherwise you will have to consult the manual.

[Fingers]

Pin-20 (actually the absence of pin-20) is also sometimes used to ensure that the cable is connected correctly.

Why is the 20th hole plugged on the Ribbon Connector? - Maxtor Q&A (http://www.maxtor.com/products/diamondmax/techsupport/q&a/30011.html#Q11)

[solo-pc-tech]

You're right, Fingers, but I haven't seen any recent motherboards with pin 20 missing. If fact I've got a pile of old IDE cables with the hole for pin 20 plugged and can't use them.

[KAknight]

*deleted*

I really need to read all the posts before I post. http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif



[This message has been edited by KAknight (edited 07-02-2001).]

[Hellmund]

UDMA66 and UDMA 100 cables are one and the same. AT100 is just optimised AT66 I think.

[Banti]

solo-pc-tech said
If fact I've got a pile of old IDE cables with the hole for pin 20 plugged and can't use them.

Take one hot paperclip and make a hole. The leads are still there. I have done this many times, and it works every time. Make sure the plastic is cool before plugging it into anything, and try not to burn yourslef like I did the first time http://www.sysopt.com/forum/smile.gif

Banti

[gfunkmartin]

1. ATA66 and ATA100 cables are one and the same, just as regular old IDE and ATA33 can use the same cable. 66/100 = 80 pin, ata33=40 pin
2. my boss had a mobo that had pin 40 plugged on the cable, but only the part that connected with the board. The hot paperclip will work, but I just checked on www.technick.net, (http://www.technick.net,) and was able to determine that pin 40 is used for grounding. I just removed the pin for the motherboard I wanted to connect to. If you check and can determine that the pin isn't needed, you can just take it out w/ pliers, and don't burn yourself

[acid_burn~187]

IDE33 calbes have 40 pins, and 40 wires. one for each pin.

IDE66/100 (same cable) have 40 pins, 80 wires.. the only diff is that the ATA66/100 cable has grounds between all the data lines so that they don't interfere with eachother, therefor the cable can handle a higher transmission speed without data integrity problems.

BTW, the red wire always goes to pin #1.

~Paul