IDE cables

W

WayneM

A couple years ago when I assembled this machine I used the standard flat
cables that came with the drives. I've been thinking about getting some of
these round cables because the flat cables are such a mess but I never get
around to ordering new cables.

My Event Log in XP Pro has been showing an error (Event ID: 11) for quite
some time which indicates a failing cable. I've checked that the cables are
seated firmly, but I don't know what to look for as far as system operation
goes.

Are 18" round cables adequate in a mid-size tower? There is little
difference in price between 18" and 24" cables. I just want to keep the
clutter to minimum.

TIA,

Wayne
 
M

Matt

WayneM said:
Are 18" round cables adequate in a mid-size tower? There is little
difference in price between 18" and 24" cables. I just want to keep the
clutter to minimum.

Wrong newsgroup. Please repost this question to sci.rocket.
 
W

WayneM

Thanx wooducoodu.

After posting I did some more searching and found an article indicating that
the cables were only supposed to be 18". I've also measured some unused flat
cables that I found in a drawer and the are 18".

Wayne
 
B

Bob

technically IDE cables aren't supposed to be longer than 18".

I have used ATA 100 round cables 24" in length without incident. I think
it is the twisting of the individual wires that makes a difference.
 
D

David Besack

After posting I did some more searching and found an article indicating
that
the cables were only supposed to be 18". I've also measured some unused flat
cables that I found in a drawer and the are 18".

For even LESS clutter, I have a 10" single-IDE cable running to my only IDE
hard drive. It's nice since the mobo headers and the drive input are about
5 inches away from one another.
 
L

Lenny Vaz

Hi Wayne,
The 18" should be more than enough, and the round cabling will help keep
things tidy and increase air flow.
 
D

Dave C.

Lenny Vaz said:
Hi Wayne,
The 18" should be more than enough, and the round cabling will help keep
things tidy and increase air flow.

I don't think it makes that much difference, myself. I recently built a
system with two round IDE cables. One was a premium brand and one was a
freebie that came with the motherboard. BOTH were really flimsy and the
round cables were so thick that it probably HURTS, as far as airflow goes.
Based on that, I probably wouldn't use round cables again unless I was
building one of those vanity systems. You know . . . the ones where the
owners think someone else is actually going to care about what the inside of
their case looks like. -Dave
 
L

Larc

| After posting I did some more searching and found an article indicating that
| the cables were only supposed to be 18". I've also measured some unused flat
| cables that I found in a drawer and the are 18".

I've always heard that as well, but it's a bit difficult to abide by
in the real world. Try connecting an optical drive in the top bay of
a full-tower case with an 18" cable! I'm using a 36" in each of three
cases for connecting optical burners and readers without so much as a
hint of a problem.

Larc



§§§ - Change planet to earth to reply by email - §§§
 
S

Shawk

Dave C. said:
I don't think it makes that much difference, myself. I recently built a
system with two round IDE cables. One was a premium brand and one was a
freebie that came with the motherboard. BOTH were really flimsy and the
round cables were so thick that it probably HURTS, as far as airflow goes.
Based on that, I probably wouldn't use round cables again unless I was
building one of those vanity systems. You know . . . the ones where the
owners think someone else is actually going to care about what the inside of
their case looks like. -Dave

Depends on whether you have the room to tidy the wide flat cables away. If
not they are definitely going to restrict airflow. Shaun
 
A

Atreju

A couple years ago when I assembled this machine I used the standard flat
cables that came with the drives. I've been thinking about getting some of
these round cables because the flat cables are such a mess but I never get
around to ordering new cables.

My Event Log in XP Pro has been showing an error (Event ID: 11) for quite
some time which indicates a failing cable. I've checked that the cables are
seated firmly, but I don't know what to look for as far as system operation
goes.

Are 18" round cables adequate in a mid-size tower? There is little
difference in price between 18" and 24" cables. I just want to keep the
clutter to minimum.

TIA,

Wayne

18" are typically enough. That's a foot and a half. Unless you are
using a very large full-tower case such as a server, it should fit.

Also, you would need longer ones if you happen to be going from
motherboard all the way up to the top for a CD or something, then back
way down to a lower hard drive bay. Sometimes these configurations are
used when needed, in which case just measure the distance with a
tape-measure, and add about 3 inches to the total for bending space.


---Atreju---
 
D

David Besack

I don't think it makes that much difference, myself. I recently built a
system with two round IDE cables. One was a premium brand and one was a
freebie that came with the motherboard. BOTH were really flimsy and the
round cables were so thick that it probably HURTS, as far as airflow goes.
Based on that, I probably wouldn't use round cables again unless I was
building one of those vanity systems. You know . . . the ones where the
owners think someone else is actually going to care about what the inside of
their case looks like. -Dave

It's true that you can move regular IDE cables around so that the bulk
of the cable doesn't block anything, but the advantage of round cables
is that they let air flow around them even if there are a few hanging in
the free space between your drives and processor. 2 flat IDE cables and
a flat floppy cable hanging there is a major air blocker.
 

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