Round IDE Cables

[Jack Gillis]

Will replacing the IDE and Floppy ribbon cables with rounded ones
improve the air circulation in the case to the point it will make a
notable difference in the case temperature?

Thank you.

 

[GT]

Will replacing the IDE and Floppy ribbon cables with rounded ones improve
the air circulation in the case to the point it will make a notable
difference in the case temperature?

Possibly!!

It depends how badly the ribbon cables currently block the air flow. I have
flat ribbon cables, but tidied away, so I'm happy with those, but if you
have ribbon cables blocking the air from a front fan or blocking air to the
hard disks, then either just tidy them up, or replace with round ones. Do
you ever actually use the floppy drive? I scrapped mine a few years ago -
that is 1 less ribbon cable!

 

[kony]

Will replacing the IDE and Floppy ribbon cables with rounded ones
improve the air circulation in the case to the point it will make a
notable difference in the case temperature?

Usually no. The primary restrictions in airflow are almost
always the intake and exhaust points on the walls of the
case. However some people have their so-called "case"
system temperature report coming from the soundbridge or a
chip near the right side of the motherboard, and in that
case it can create a false impression that a cable makes a
difference because it simply blocks (or doesn't) airflow to
the temp sensor.

On the other hand, they can't hurt. If setting up a new box
why not use them? Just don't buy some if you have an
overheating problem then expect any significant benefit.

 

[Jack Gillis]

Possibly!!

It depends how badly the ribbon cables currently block the air flow. I
have flat ribbon cables, but tidied away, so I'm happy with those, but
if you have ribbon cables blocking the air from a front fan or
blocking air to the hard disks, then either just tidy them up, or
replace with round ones. Do you ever actually use the floppy drive? I
scrapped mine a few years ago - that is 1 less ribbon cable!

Thank you.

About once a month I get an update on a floppy from a club I belong to.
If it weren't for that, I probably would do away with the drive.

BTW, alsi thanks for your response to my other question in another
thread about SATA. That is the clincher to just get another IDE.

 

[John]

Will replacing the IDE and Floppy ribbon cables with rounded ones
improve the air circulation in the case to the point it will make a
notable difference in the case temperature?

Thank you.

They really clean up your case if its small and cramped and you have a
lot of them. I used to have a small mid size case Antec and used 6 HDs
and 2 ATAPI devices and that thing was totally cluttered with flat
cables and other wires a total mess. The round cables I eventutally
got for it really cleaned up the interior of the case. I still use
them in my tower case.

They used to be relatively expensive. They are pretty cheap now so
theres no reason not to use them except that you get flat cables all
the time with a drive or MB so it does add to your cost even if its
cheap.

 

[Bob]

About once a month I get an update on a floppy from a club I belong to.
If it weren't for that, I probably would do away with the drive.

If there is any place to use a rounded cable, it's the FDD. No issues
about ATA standards to be concerned about.

--

Map of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
http://home.houston.rr.com/rkba/vrwc.html

"The ultimate result of shielding men from the
effects of folly is to fill the world with fools."
-- Herbert Spencer

 

[Bob]

On the other hand, they can't hurt. If setting up a new box
why not use them?

So you are an advocate of round IDE cables. So am I, but the ATA
standards police think otherwise. I am glad to see someone with
experience doesn't have a problem with them. Of course make sure they
are 80-wire.


--

Map of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
http://home.houston.rr.com/rkba/vrwc.html

"The ultimate result of shielding men from the
effects of folly is to fill the world with fools."
-- Herbert Spencer

 

[kony]

So you are an advocate of round IDE cables. So am I, but the ATA
standards police think otherwise. I am glad to see someone with
experience doesn't have a problem with them. Of course make sure they
are 80-wire.

Aren't they all 80 conductor now? I dont' recall seeing any
40 conductor recently, was mostly a novelty back when I did,
homemade stuff on some kid's website IIRC.

I wouldn't pay $14 a pop for 'em like some people do, but
I"ll usually throw a few sets in every time I order from
svc.com, as they're pretty cheap there to begin with and
even cheaper when on clearance. Still haven't figured out
what to do with all the leftover ribbon cables though, I
stil have a few dozen brand new 40 conductor cables.

 

[Bob]

I wouldn't pay $14 a pop for 'em like some people do, but
I"ll usually throw a few sets in every time I order from
svc.com, as they're pretty cheap there to begin with and
even cheaper when on clearance.

$3.00 at Directron, dual device.

Still haven't figured out
what to do with all the leftover ribbon cables though, I
stil have a few dozen brand new 40 conductor cables.

Throw them away.

--

Map of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
http://home.houston.rr.com/rkba/vrwc.html

"The ultimate result of shielding men from the
effects of folly is to fill the world with fools."
-- Herbert Spencer

 

[kony]

$3.00 at Directron, dual device.

That's a good price, but do you have many sizes and cable
sheathing options? It is reasonable to buy from Directron
if one placed other orders there but I'd mentiond SVC
because they often have some for less than $3, fancier
cables for around $2-5, and that shipping from SVC can be
cheaper for very small orders.

Throw them away.

Seems a little wasteful, no? They make good backups, such
that when there is some drive problem and you want to swap
in a cable to rule out that possibility, you have a brand
new sealed cable to try. I find more use for the 40
conductor cables in general though, because the larger wire
size makes for easier manipulation when used for other
electrical/etc (unrelated) projects.

 

[Bob]

That's a good price, but do you have many sizes and cable
sheathing options?

18", 24", single device, sual device. All have boots. Directron caters
to the custom build market that likes to make colorful statements with
their computers, so they have a range of funky cables too. The only
funk I pay any attention to is George Clinton, so I just get the plain
kind.

Seems a little wasteful, no?

Packrat.

I bet you have a full collection of vacuum tubes somewhere, just in
case.


--

Map of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
http://home.houston.rr.com/rkba/vrwc.html

"The ultimate result of shielding men from the
effects of folly is to fill the world with fools."
-- Herbert Spencer

 

[Jack Gillis]

18", 24", single device, sual device. All have boots. Directron caters
to the custom build market that likes to make colorful statements with
their computers, so they have a range of funky cables too. The only
funk I pay any attention to is George Clinton, so I just get the plain
kind.



Packrat.

I bet you have a full collection of vacuum tubes somewhere, just in
case.

5U4's, 6L6's and 12AX7's. Need some?

 

[Timothy Daniels]

18", 24", single device, sual device. All have boots. Directron caters
to the custom build market that likes to make colorful statements with
their computers, so they have a range of funky cables too.

Is that all? Check this out:
http://www.svc.com/cables-ata-100-133-round-cables.html
Prices:
http://www.svc.com/rc18hd1.html

Round floppy cables as well:
http://www.svc.com/cables-floppy-round-cables.html
Prices:
http://www.svc.com/cables-floppy-round-cables-18--single-device-round-floppy-cables.html

*TimDaniels*

 

[CBFalconer]

.... snip ...

5U4's, 6L6's and 12AX7's. Need some?

I had all those, plus such things as 24As, 27s, 6J8, 807, etc.
Even the odd 201A with a bayonet base. Then my wife cleaned out
the basement, including the transconductance tube tester. We used
to buy 12AU7s for about ten cents each. Just barely worthwhile
picking them up off the floor.

 

[kony]

Packrat.

I bet you have a full collection of vacuum tubes somewhere, just in
case.

I'll gladly take any spare tubes off your hands rather than
having them thrown out.

Cables and dongles though- 100 would fit in a box the size
of a single case. I'll still slowly throwing out old AT
stuff. In the good old days cases were nice and strong,
could be stacked 4-high. Good use of basement space.

 

[Bob]

I'll still slowly throwing out old AT stuff.

AT stuff??? That's 20 years old.

You are beyond redemption.


--

Map of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
http://home.houston.rr.com/rkba/vrwc.html

"The ultimate result of shielding men from the
effects of folly is to fill the world with fools."
-- Herbert Spencer

 

[kony]

AT stuff??? That's 20 years old.

You are beyond redemption.

Naw, AT stuff was still being sold 10 years old, though
being phased out at that point. Thing is, just because I
don't want to build a new box today out of AT parts, let
alone use one myself, there are some people out there that
are downright stingy when it comes to buying computers, want
just to keep their box running.

Pull the old AT PSU out, swap in another one and 5 minutes
later they're good to go. I'll end up throwing enough
memory into their box that they end up with 64MB (cacheable
limit on many socket 7 boards) and they can continue getting
email, websurfing and office docs, which is all many people
do with a system anyway.

Besides that, there are a lot of other misc parts one can
find of use in an old AT box. Ever priced decent rubber
feet at digikey et al? Same goes with other misc parts like
bi-pin connectors, cables, etc. That's not justification to
keep a whole system though, hence I _am_ throwing them
out... not collecting them. Just didn't have any need to
regain that corner of the basement.

 

[Bob]

Naw, AT stuff was still being sold 10 years old, though
being phased out at that point. Thing is, just because I
don't want to build a new box today out of AT parts, let
alone use one myself, there are some people out there that
are downright stingy when it comes to buying computers, want
just to keep their box running.

But you can get a used P3 from Directron for only $69.

http://www.directron.com/gxa.html

# Specifications: CPU: Pentium 3 450 MHz;
# Memory: 128MB;
# Hard Drive: Seagate 6.1GB;
# Optical Drive: Sony DVD-ROM;
# Floppy Drive: TEAC 1.44MB;
# LAN: Onboard;
# Audio: Creative SoundBlaster PCI 128 CT4700 onboard;
# Video: 8MB ATI Xpert 98 or Rage Pro 2X AGP onboard;
# Ports: 2USB, 1Parallel, 2Serial;
# Motherboard: Original Intel board.
# Case: Inwin Desktop with PowerMan power supply. The power supply
includes an extra AC plug for accessories/peripherals.
# Operating System: Windows 95 or 98;
# Software: Office Suite 97 and others (no warranty or support on any
of the software).

Pull the old AT PSU out, swap in another one and 5 minutes
later they're good to go. I'll end up throwing enough
memory into their box that they end up with 64MB (cacheable
limit on many socket 7 boards) and they can continue getting
email, websurfing and office docs, which is all many people
do with a system anyway.

But you have to charge them at least $69 to make it worth your while.

Besides that, there are a lot of other misc parts one can
find of use in an old AT box. Ever priced decent rubber
feet at digikey et al? Same goes with other misc parts like
bi-pin connectors, cables, etc. That's not justification to
keep a whole system though, hence I _am_ throwing them
out... not collecting them. Just didn't have any need to
regain that corner of the basement.

The mice that have made nests in those old cases must love you. It's
like a high-rise condo to them.


--

Map of the Vast Right Wing Conspiracy
http://home.houston.rr.com/rkba/vrwc.html

Individualism is a political and social philosophy that emphasizes individual
liberty, belief in the primary importance of the individual and in the virtues
of self-reliance and personal independence. It embraces opposition to authority
and to all manner of controls over the individual, especially when exercised by
the state or society. It is thus directly opposed to collectivism.

 

[CBFalconer]

AT stuff??? That's 20 years old.

You are beyond redemption.

I've got some XT stuff here. If I could unload its hard disks (one
of which failed) I'd be willing to junk it, but I want the wide
track floppy drives. So far that seems to be the best chance of
recovering some lost software. And yes, that software is viable
today.

 

[Jon Danniken]

AT stuff??? That's 20 years old.

You are beyond redemption.

Bah, I've still got a couple of 386 systems laying about, along with two IBM
PS2 systems (an 8086 and a 286).

I must admit I have been thinking about clearing them out through, but it
seems such a waste....

Jon