IDE extension cable?

[Guest]

Hello,

I'm wondering if there is such a thing as an IDE extension cable.
I want to install a third hd in my computer, in addition to the two I
already have, and the DVD ROM drive. The DVD is Master on the secondary IDE,
so I can hook up the hd as slave. However, the IDE cable is too short.
Ideally, I can just extend it; otherwise I guess I'll have to put in a
controller card, and I'm not sure I have a free PCI slot left.

Thank you.

 

[Anna]

Hello,

I'm wondering if there is such a thing as an IDE extension cable.
I want to install a third hd in my computer, in addition to the two I
already have, and the DVD ROM drive. The DVD is Master on the secondary
IDE,
so I can hook up the hd as slave. However, the IDE cable is too short.
Ideally, I can just extend it; otherwise I guess I'll have to put in a
controller card, and I'm not sure I have a free PCI slot left.

Thank you.

Niniel:
IDE data cables are available in various lengths including 24" & 36".
They're generally available from most online vendors and are reasonably
priced. Wouldn't one of those suffice?
Anna

 

[Jim Macklin]

Be sure to get the 80 wire/40 pin type and as short as will
allow the connection. Longer cables will often exceed the
spec for IDE cables.


|
message
| | > Hello,
| >
| > I'm wondering if there is such a thing as an IDE
extension cable.
| > I want to install a third hd in my computer, in addition
to the two I
| > already have, and the DVD ROM drive. The DVD is Master
on the secondary
| > IDE,
| > so I can hook up the hd as slave. However, the IDE cable
is too short.
| > Ideally, I can just extend it; otherwise I guess I'll
have to put in a
| > controller card, and I'm not sure I have a free PCI slot
left.
| >
| > Thank you.
|
|
| Niniel:
| IDE data cables are available in various lengths including
24" & 36".
| They're generally available from most online vendors and
are reasonably
| priced. Wouldn't one of those suffice?
| Anna
|
|

 

[Guest]

Ah yes, of course, I hadn't even thought of that. Thank you.

 

[Guest]

I need something that's longer than the standard cable because the DVD is
located at the top of the case, and the hd racks are somewhere in the center.
And unfortunately, there just isn't much distance between the two connectors
in a standard cable.
But I'll keep your advice in mind; maybe I can get a medium-length round
cable, those seem to be more flexible than the flat cables.

Thank you.

 

[David Vair]

If you have open space below the DVD you can get a couple of adapter plates to fit the the hard
drive into the 5 1/4" space. They are also cheap and available at most retailers.

 

[Anna]

I need something that's longer than the standard cable because the DVD is
located at the top of the case, and the hd racks are somewhere in the
center.
And unfortunately, there just isn't much distance between the two
connectors
in a standard cable.
But I'll keep your advice in mind; maybe I can get a medium-length round
cable, those seem to be more flexible than the flat cables.

Thank you.

Niniel:
Jim's advice is sound insofar as using a IDE cable that's as short as will
make due for your particular situation. Obviously you won't purchase a 36"
long cable if a 24" one will do.

While it is true that the longer cable is "out of spec" in that it exceeds
18" we have never (to my recollection) encountered a performance issue with
using a 24" long cable. As best as I can recall -- ditto for the 36" long
cable - but it was so rare that we needed a cable of that length that I
wouldn't definitively comment one way or another on any performance issue
arising from using a cable of that length and I don't imagine that you would
need one that long.

As far as using an 80-wire cable (rather than the older 40-wire types), it's
been years & years since I've come across a 40-wire in an IDE cable
exceeding 18" available from an online vendor. But perhaps they're still out
there. Unfortunately the 40-wire type is still bundled with the 18" long
cable that comes with many optical drives.
Anna

 

[BigJim]

you can run 4 ide devices of most boards, two off the primary and two from
the secondary IDE channel. The reason I said most boards is because the new
boards only have one ide channel the rest are sata.

 

[Guest]

I did find an extender:

http://cablesonline.stores.yahoo.net/240pinidedir.html

Now I'm wondering if it's better to get that, or a 36" cable where, from the
looks o if, the two connectors are about 10 " apart.

 

[Guest]

My problem is that I don't really need such a long cable, but I do need to
cover a bit of a distance between the 2 devices that'll share the secondary
IDE channel. The standard-length cable reaches the DVD ROM ok, it's the
connection to the next device that's too short.
Unfortunately, it looks like that only some longer cables offer some more
space between connectors; I found one that was 24" to the first connector,
and another 12" to the second.

 

[Mike Hall - MS MVP Windows Shell/User]

I'm with you on this one..

If you have open space below the DVD you can get a couple of adapter
plates to fit the the hard drive into the 5 1/4" space. They are also
cheap and available at most retailers.

 

[Guest]

Great idea, I think I'm going to do just that.
Should have thought of this myself...

Thank you!

 

[BR549]

you can run 4 ide devices of most boards, two off the primary and two from
the secondary IDE channel. The reason I said most boards is because the
new boards only have one ide channel the rest are sata.
news:[email protected]...

I think that fact was already known.

 

[Jim Macklin]

They have a lot of nicely priced cables in the catalog and
on-line from www.cyberguys.com The round cables also do
not restrict cooling either.




|I need something that's longer than the standard cable
because the DVD is
| located at the top of the case, and the hd racks are
somewhere in the center.
| And unfortunately, there just isn't much distance between
the two connectors
| in a standard cable.
| But I'll keep your advice in mind; maybe I can get a
medium-length round
| cable, those seem to be more flexible than the flat
cables.
|
| Thank you.
|
| "Jim Macklin" wrote:
|
| > Be sure to get the 80 wire/40 pin type and as short as
will
| > allow the connection. Longer cables will often exceed
the
| > spec for IDE cables.
| >
| >
| > | > |
| > message
| > |
| > | > Hello,
| > | >
| > | > I'm wondering if there is such a thing as an IDE
| > extension cable.
| > | > I want to install a third hd in my computer, in
addition
| > to the two I
| > | > already have, and the DVD ROM drive. The DVD is
Master
| > on the secondary
| > | > IDE,
| > | > so I can hook up the hd as slave. However, the IDE
cable
| > is too short.
| > | > Ideally, I can just extend it; otherwise I guess
I'll
| > have to put in a
| > | > controller card, and I'm not sure I have a free PCI
slot
| > left.
| > | >
| > | > Thank you.
| > |
| > |
| > | Niniel:
| > | IDE data cables are available in various lengths
including
| > 24" & 36".
| > | They're generally available from most online vendors
and
| > are reasonably
| > | priced. Wouldn't one of those suffice?
| > | Anna
| > |
| > |
| >
| >
| >

 

[Jim Macklin]

The fewer connections, the more secure the system will be,
fewer places to come loose.



|I did find an extender:
|
| http://cablesonline.stores.yahoo.net/240pinidedir.html
|
| Now I'm wondering if it's better to get that, or a 36"
cable where, from the
| looks o if, the two connectors are about 10 " apart.
|
| "David Vair" wrote:
|
| > If you have open space below the DVD you can get a
couple of adapter plates to fit the the hard
| > drive into the 5 1/4" space. They are also cheap and
available at most retailers.
| > --
| > Dave Vair
| > CNE, CNA, MCP, A+, N+
| >
message
| >
| > >I need something that's longer than the standard cable
because the DVD is
| > > located at the top of the case, and the hd racks are
somewhere in the center.
| > > And unfortunately, there just isn't much distance
between the two connectors
| > > in a standard cable.
| > > But I'll keep your advice in mind; maybe I can get a
medium-length round
| > > cable, those seem to be more flexible than the flat
cables.
| > >
| > > Thank you.
| > >
| > > "Jim Macklin" wrote:
| > >
| > >> Be sure to get the 80 wire/40 pin type and as short
as will
| > >> allow the connection. Longer cables will often
exceed the
| > >> spec for IDE cables.
| > >>
| > >>
| > >> | > >> |
in
| > >> message
| > >> |
| > >> | > Hello,
| > >> | >
| > >> | > I'm wondering if there is such a thing as an IDE
| > >> extension cable.
| > >> | > I want to install a third hd in my computer, in
addition
| > >> to the two I
| > >> | > already have, and the DVD ROM drive. The DVD is
Master
| > >> on the secondary
| > >> | > IDE,
| > >> | > so I can hook up the hd as slave. However, the
IDE cable
| > >> is too short.
| > >> | > Ideally, I can just extend it; otherwise I guess
I'll
| > >> have to put in a
| > >> | > controller card, and I'm not sure I have a free
PCI slot
| > >> left.
| > >> | >
| > >> | > Thank you.
| > >> |
| > >> |
| > >> | Niniel:
| > >> | IDE data cables are available in various lengths
including
| > >> 24" & 36".
| > >> | They're generally available from most online
vendors and
| > >> are reasonably
| > >> | priced. Wouldn't one of those suffice?
| > >> | Anna
| > >> |
| > >> |
| > >>
| > >>
| > >>
| >
| >
| >

 

[Jim Macklin]

The cables are the same from end to end, you may be able to
reverse the cable to the mobo end and use the longer space
to the drives.



| My problem is that I don't really need such a long cable,
but I do need to
| cover a bit of a distance between the 2 devices that'll
share the secondary
| IDE channel. The standard-length cable reaches the DVD ROM
ok, it's the
| connection to the next device that's too short.
| Unfortunately, it looks like that only some longer cables
offer some more
| space between connectors; I found one that was 24" to the
first connector,
| and another 12" to the second.

 

[Loren Pechtel]

Hello,

I'm wondering if there is such a thing as an IDE extension cable.
I want to install a third hd in my computer, in addition to the two I
already have, and the DVD ROM drive. The DVD is Master on the secondary IDE,
so I can hook up the hd as slave. However, the IDE cable is too short.
Ideally, I can just extend it; otherwise I guess I'll have to put in a
controller card, and I'm not sure I have a free PCI slot left.

No. You can buy 24" cables but that's it. There are some longer ones
but my experience is that they are unreliable.

 

[Bullwinkle]

Hello,

I'm wondering if there is such a thing as an IDE extension cable.
I want to install a third hd in my computer, in addition to the two I
already have, and the DVD ROM drive. The DVD is Master on the secondary
IDE,
so I can hook up the hd as slave. However, the IDE cable is too short.
Ideally, I can just extend it; otherwise I guess I'll have to put in a
controller card, and I'm not sure I have a free PCI slot left.

Thank you.

Why not do what most folks are doing now. Install an external hard drive.
connected via a USB 2 line. If your computer is older than 2 years you may
need a card to get the USB line. The drive will work just as if it an
internal drive.

Internally your drive might not have enough electric power to run
efficiently but as an external drive you plug it right into the mains.

Regards,

 

[Jonny]

Hello,

I'm wondering if there is such a thing as an IDE extension cable.
I want to install a third hd in my computer, in addition to the two I
already have, and the DVD ROM drive. The DVD is Master on the secondary
IDE,
so I can hook up the hd as slave. However, the IDE cable is too short.
Ideally, I can just extend it; otherwise I guess I'll have to put in a
controller card, and I'm not sure I have a free PCI slot left.

Thank you.

Don't understand. You have to open up the PC case to install, move, remove,
or modify the ide ribbon cable. The appearance of an open PCI slot will be
apparent.

The TOTAL length of the ide ribbon cable is 18" by specification. Have had
some success with 24", 80 wire versions.

Have not had success with any optical devices connected to a PCI ide card.
Some people have. Have had poor results with most round ide cables at any
location or configuration. Some people have.

I usually use an idea David noted for two externally accessed ide devices.
An internal hard drive can be used as a substitute for such. All my hard
drives are internally mounted in the case. I have 6.

 

[Anna]

Why not do what most folks are doing now. Install an external hard drive.
connected via a USB 2 line. If your computer is older than 2 years you may
need a card to get the USB line. The drive will work just as if it an
internal drive.

Internally your drive might not have enough electric power to run
efficiently but as an external drive you plug it right into the mains.

Regards,

Bullwinkle:
There may be good & sufficient reasons for using a USB external HDD in one's
system (primarily for backup and storage), but using that device as a
substitute for an internal HDD is *not* one of them. Among other negatives,
there are substantial performance differences, i.e., data transfer rates,
between an internal HDD vis-a-vis a USB external HDD, all to the detriment
of the latter device.
Anna