IDE Y-Cable?

  • Thread starter Thread starter lonewolfcsu
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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.
 
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
=================================
 
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.
Click to expand...

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?
Click to expand...

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

Yeah, thats a very viable approach.
but I'd like to ultimately be able to
place it back behind the intake fan.
Click to expand...
Suggestions are much appreciated.
Click to expand...

Those are the only real alternatives in you situation.
 
Thomas Wendell said:
If you jumper your drives master and slave, it won't matter where on the IDE
cable you connect them...
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
Click to expand...


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*
 
Timothy Daniels said:
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.
Click to expand...

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.
Click to expand...

Not necessarily, some motherboards dont like that.
If the shorter segment of the IDE cable isn't long enough, go with a
longer cable.
Click to expand...

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?
Click to expand...

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 said:
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.
Click to expand...


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*
 
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:
Click to expand...

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

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

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.
Click to expand...

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.
Click to expand...

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
 
Timothy Daniels said:
Timothy Daniels wrote
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...

Some do, some dont.
Thus, a 24" (dual) cable has 8" and 16" segments, a 36" (dual) cable has
12" and 24" segments.
Click to expand...

And that last stupidly flouts the ATA standard.
 
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.
Click to expand...
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.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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
=================================
 
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