IDE Y-Cable?

[lonewolfcsu]

I recently built a new PC and have run into a small problem. I have a
harddrive and a DVD drive, both of which need to be connected to my
motherboard via an IDE cable. The DVD drive is located at the top of
my tower, and my harddrive is located at the bottom of my tower (behind
an intake fan). I have a single IDE connector on my motherboard, and
it's right in the middle.

So, basically, what I need, is an IDE cable where the main connector is
in the middle, instead of on one of the ends. Does anyone make these?

Also, I know about controller cards, but all my PCI slots are taken up
by other hardware. All I have left open is PCIEx1 slots, and I can't
find a controller card that will go into one of those.

As a temp solution, I've mounted the HD into a 5.25" slot with a
mounting bracket, but I'd like to ultimately be able to place it back
behind the intake fan.

Suggestions are much appreciated.

Thanks.

 

[Thomas Wendell]

If you jumper your drives master and slave, it won't matter where on the IDE
cable you connect them...

(What mobo, as most have two IDE connectors on them. I've seem some with the
second IDE on the lower edge of the card.)


--
Tumppi
=================================
Most learned on these newsgroups
Helsinki, FINLAND
(translations from/to FI not always accurate
=================================

 

[Rod Speed]

I recently built a new PC and have run into a small problem. I have a
harddrive and a DVD drive, both of which need to be connected to my
motherboard via an IDE cable. The DVD drive is located at the top of
my tower, and my harddrive is located at the bottom of my tower
(behind an intake fan). I have a single IDE connector on my
motherboard, and it's right in the middle.

Yeah, can be a problem.

So, basically, what I need, is an IDE cable where the
main connector is in the middle, instead of on one of
the ends. Does anyone make these?

Nope, and that flouts the standard.

You can get them made up that way.

Also, I know about controller cards, but all my PCI slots are
taken up by other hardware. All I have left open is PCIEx1 slots,
and I can't find a controller card that will go into one of those.

As a temp solution, I've mounted the HD
into a 5.25" slot with a mounting bracket,

Yeah, thats a very viable approach.

but I'd like to ultimately be able to
place it back behind the intake fan.

Suggestions are much appreciated.

Those are the only real alternatives in you situation.

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

If you jumper your drives master and slave, it won't matter where on the IDE
cable you connect them...

If you use a 40-conductor cable and you don't mind your HD being throttled
back to 30MB/s. A 80-conductor cable may even give you trouble during POST
because the PDIAG-:CBLID- line is not connecting both drives and one drive's
PDIAG line will be connected to the host controller's CBLID line and the other
drive's PDIAG line will be connected to ground.

 

[Timothy Daniels]

I recently built a new PC and have run into a small problem.
I have a harddrive and a DVD drive, both of which need to
be connected to my motherboard via an IDE cable. The
DVD drive is located at the top of my tower, and my harddrive
is located at the bottom of my tower (behind an intake fan).
I have a single IDE connector on my motherboard, and
it's right in the middle.

So, basically, what I need, is an IDE cable where the main
connector is in the middle, instead of on one of the ends.
Does anyone make these?

Also, I know about controller cards, but all my PCI slots are
taken up by other hardware. All I have left open is PCIEx1
slots, and I can't find a controller card that will go into one of
those.

As a temp solution, I've mounted the HD into a 5.25" slot
with a mounting bracket, but I'd like to ultimately be able to
place it back behind the intake fan.

Suggestions are much appreciated.

You have several choices. If you're willing to switch to a
SATA hard drive, you can use a controller card that goes in
a PCIEx slot:
http://www.siig.com/product.asp?catid=14&pid=1002

These are even made for connection to SATA drives in
external cases:
http://www.siig.com/product.asp?catid=14&pid=1018

But the cheapest way is just to use a standard IDE
cable and plug the middle connector into the motherboard
controller socket and use the outer connectors for the drives.
The drives will have to be jumpered as Master and Slave,
of course, rather than using Cable Select. Be aware,
though, that this "flouts the standards", but it works. If the
shorter segment of the IDE cable isn't long enough, go with
a longer cable. Be aware that this again "flouts the standards".
If you can't find a longer 80-wire ribbon cable, use an 80-wire
"round" cable. Be aware that this also "flouts the standards",
but who the hell cares?

Here is a place that sells "round" cables at a good combin-
ation of wide selection and low price:
http://www.svc.com/cables-ata-100-133-round-cables.html
These cables have 40 signal wires and 40 ground wires,
just like 80-wire ribbon cable, and each signal wire is twisted
together with one of the ground wires. I use the ones with
the braided wire aluminum shields for added protection from
EMI, and I've had no problems with them in 2 1/2 years.

*TimDaniels*

 

[Rod Speed]

You have several choices. If you're willing to switch to a
SATA hard drive, you can use a controller card that goes in
a PCIEx slot:
http://www.siig.com/product.asp?catid=14&pid=1002

These are even made for connection to SATA drives in
external cases:
http://www.siig.com/product.asp?catid=14&pid=1018

But the cheapest way is just to use a standard IDE
cable and plug the middle connector into the motherboard
controller socket and use the outer connectors for the drives.

That wont necessarily give enough room between
what were intended to be the drive connnectors.

The drives will have to be jumpered as Master and Slave,
of course, rather than using Cable Select. Be aware,
though, that this "flouts the standards", but it works.

Not necessarily, some motherboards dont like that.

If the shorter segment of the IDE cable isn't long enough, go with a
longer cable.

Those arent usually longer between the drive connectors by much.

Be aware that this again "flouts the standards". If you can't find a
longer 80-wire ribbon cable, use an 80-wire "round" cable. Be aware that
this also "flouts the standards", but who the hell cares?

Anyone with a clue, thats who.

It makes a hell of a lot more sense to add a fan
to the drive mounted in the 5.25" drive bay stack.

 

[Timothy Daniels]

If the
shorter segment of the IDE cable isn't long enough, go with
a longer cable. Be aware that this again "flouts the standards".
If you can't find a longer 80-wire ribbon cable, use an 80-wire
"round" cable. Be aware that this also "flouts the standards",
but who the hell cares?

Here is a place that sells "round" cables at a good combin-
ation of wide selection and low price:
http://www.svc.com/cables-ata-100-133-round-cables.html
These cables have 40 signal wires and 40 ground wires,
just like 80-wire ribbon cable, and each signal wire is twisted
together with one of the ground wires. I use the ones with
the braided wire aluminum shields for added protection from
EMI, and I've had no problems with them in 2 1/2 years.

The "round" cables that are longer than 18" maintain the
ratio of 1:2 between the short segment and the long segment -
just like the standard 18" IDE cables. Thus, a 24" (dual) cable
has 8" and 16" segments, a 36" (dual) cable has 12" and 24"
segments.

*TimDaniels*

 

[lonewolfcsu]

(What mobo, as most have two IDE connectors on them. I've seem some with the

second IDE on the lower edge of the card.)

ABIT AL8-V ATX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127216

There is another connector on the lower edge, but unless my eyes are
playing tricks on me, it's smaller than the other (as is the provided
ribbon that connects to it).

 

[lonewolfcsu]

You have several choices. If you're willing to switch to a

SATA hard drive, you can use a controller card that goes in
a PCIEx slot:

My main drive is actually SATA. And I do have SATA ports still open on
my MoBo, so a controller card wouldn't be neccessary. The drive in
question in this situation is actually a secondary drive that I'm using
mostly for media storage.

I'll look into your other suggestion, though. I wasn't aware that you
were actually able to connect a standard IDE cable in "non-stadard"
ways and have it actually still work.

 

[lonewolfcsu]

It makes a hell of a lot more sense to add a fan

to the drive mounted in the 5.25" drive bay stack.

I'm not sure I could do this, given space contraints.

It may not matter, though. As I said when replying to Tim's response,
the drive in question in this situation is just a secondary drive that
I'm using primarily for media storage.

As it's not going to see the same type of use as my primary (OS/Program
Files) drive, I might be okay not having it behind a fan.

 

[Rod Speed]

ABIT AL8-V ATX
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16813127216

Yeah, that one only has one IDE connector.
http://www.abit-usa.com/products/mb/techspec.php?categories=1&model=282

There is another connector on the lower edge, but unless
my eyes are playing tricks on me, it's smaller than the
other (as is the provided ribbon that connects to it).

Yeah, thats for the floppy drive.

 

[Rod Speed]

I'm not sure I could do this, given space contraints.

Yes you can, there are some 5.25/3.5" drive bay kits that have a
fan and some fans that screw onto the bottom of the 3.5" drive too.

It may not matter, though. As I said when replying to Tim's
response, the drive in question in this situation is just a
secondary drive that I'm using primarily for media storage.

That really makes very little difference drive heating wise.

As it's not going to see the same type of use as my primary
(OS/Program Files) drive, I might be okay not having it behind a fan.

Yes, you could be fine, really depends on what drive it is.
Some of the 5.25/3.5" drive bay kits are a bit flimsy, rather
thin metal, so if you have an older Barracuda etc thats
designed to get rid of the heat by conduction to thru the
drive rails, it might get hotter than is desirable.

Easiest approach is to monitor the drive temperature
using the SMART data with Everest. Bear in mind tho
that you arent into the hottest of summer yet, so you
would need to check if it again then if you dont air
condition where the PC is used.
http://www.majorgeeks.com/download.php?det=4181

 

[Rod Speed]

Timothy Daniels wrote

The "round" cables that are longer than 18" maintain the ratio of 1:2
between the short segment and the long segment - just like the standard
18" IDE cables.

Some do, some dont.

Thus, a 24" (dual) cable has 8" and 16" segments, a 36" (dual) cable has
12" and 24" segments.

And that last stupidly flouts the ATA standard.

 

[Rod Speed]

My main drive is actually SATA. And I do have SATA ports
still open on my MoBo, so a controller card wouldn't be
neccessary. The drive in question in this situation is actually
a secondary drive that I'm using mostly for media storage.

I'll look into your other suggestion, though. I wasn't aware
that you were actually able to connect a standard IDE cable
in "non-stadard" ways and have it actually still work.

Sometimes you can, sometimes you cant. Some motherboards will
disable DMA if you use the middle connector on the motherboard.

Thats VERY undesirable if the optical drive is a burner.

 

[Thomas Wendell]

Yep, your mobo has only one IDE connector. The one at the bottom is the
floppy connector...


--
Tumppi
=================================
Most learned on these newsgroups
Helsinki, FINLAND
(translations from/to FI not always accurate
=================================