New, round hard drive cables

  • Thread starter Thread starter MrB
  • Start date Start date
M

MrB

Has anyone here used these? Is there any downside? I have so many wires
inside my case, I would like to clean up the view and the airflow. Thanks
for your input.
 
Has anyone here used these? Is there any downside? I have so many wires
inside my case, I would like to clean up the view and the airflow. Thanks
for your input.
Click to expand...

I can't imagine any downside. I just ordered 2 round EIDE and 2 round
floppy from sidewinder. I needed to make some changes to my
Primary/Secondary configurations for master/slave setup and the flat ribbons
don't allow much leeway.
 
Chuck, thanks. Have you used them yet? What brand name did you order? I have
no info to the contrary and assume you are right.
 
Chuck, thanks. Have you used them yet? What brand name did you order? I
have
no info to the contrary and assume you are right.
Click to expand...

I ordered from the following:

http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/rounatcab.html

I selected sidewinder due to their excellent feedback and ratings from
Resellerratings.com:

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1982.html

I've never purchased anything from sidewinder before, but I've learned a
lesson about checking online vendors before giving them my money. The
cables are only $7-10 each so price wasn't going to be the deciding factor.

I ordered two ATA Silver Mesh 36" and one Floppy Silver Mesh 10". $30 for
everthing, including 2 day shipping. Ordered it 12/31, got shipping
confirmation today.

I need to change the configuration of my 2 hard drives and 2 dvd drives, the
ribbon cables were too difficult (impossible?) to make it happen. I expect
to have the cables by Monday, 1/5.
 
I got a set of 3 , 2 IDE and 1 floppy, not sure what make but the temp
inside my case dropped bout 2 deg from the time I started using them. I've
had no problems using them or since I started using them, infact they've
only done good things for me. 1 they're much easier to use as they can be
twisted (within reason) to what ever you need unlike the flats which can't
without kinking the cable. 2 air flow has increased dramatically, always a
good thing.
Martin.
 
Thank you. I am going to do it.

Muttly said:
I got a set of 3 , 2 IDE and 1 floppy, not sure what make but the temp
inside my case dropped bout 2 deg from the time I started using them. I've
had no problems using them or since I started using them, infact they've
only done good things for me. 1 they're much easier to use as they can be
twisted (within reason) to what ever you need unlike the flats which can't
without kinking the cable. 2 air flow has increased dramatically, always a
good thing.
Martin.
Click to expand...
 
I got a set of 3 , 2 IDE and 1 floppy, not sure what make but the temp
inside my case dropped bout 2 deg from the time I started using them. I've
had no problems using them or since I started using them, infact they've
only done good things for me. 1 they're much easier to use as they can be
twisted (within reason) to what ever you need unlike the flats which can't
without kinking the cable. 2 air flow has increased dramatically, always a
good thing.
Martin.
Click to expand...

But was it really your case temps that dropped, or only the temp of
that one chip taking the temp readings, often the southbridge, which
would be getting an increase of airflow more than any other part in
the system when switching to round cables?
 
Has anyone here used these? Is there any downside? I have so many wires
inside my case, I would like to clean up the view and the airflow. Thanks
for your input.
Click to expand...

Primarily the downside is that, if they don't have pull-tabs, they're
more easily damaged when removing from sockets. Some have a plastic
binder on the ends right before they enter the plug, which can help.
The pull-tabs are easily the most help, but personally I find it less
attractive to have a sleek uncluttered system then have those tabs
sticking out... just depends on if you have a window in the case I
suppose... I fold the tabs at 45' angles and tuck them inside the
boot.

SVC usually has some of the lowest prices on cables:
http://www.svcompucycle.com/cables.html
 
kony said:
Primarily the downside is that, if they don't have pull-tabs, they're
more easily damaged when removing from sockets. Some have a plastic
binder on the ends right before they enter the plug, which can help.
The pull-tabs are easily the most help, but personally I find it less
attractive to have a sleek uncluttered system then have those tabs
sticking out... just depends on if you have a window in the case I
suppose... I fold the tabs at 45' angles and tuck them inside the
boot.

SVC usually has some of the lowest prices on cables:
http://www.svcompucycle.com/cables.html
Click to expand...
I bought the shortest I could (Thermaltake 24cm), with primary and slave
connectors. Since I have a small case, they are still too long if I follow
the instructions of 'if there is only one drive connected to the cable,
attach it to the Master connector at the end'. Is this strictly true? Unlike
the ribbon cables, the round ones can't be folded, and they are too long
:-( If I was able attach a single drive to the Slave connector in the middle
I could secure tail end much more easily. Is this possible? I'm using
jumpers not 'cable select'.
 
From: "S.Boardman" (e-mail address removed)
Date: 01/03/2004 10:16 AM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id: <[email protected]>



I bought the shortest I could (Thermaltake 24cm), with primary and slave
connectors. Since I have a small case, they are still too long if I follow
the instructions of 'if there is only one drive connected to the cable,
attach it to the Master connector at the end'. Is this strictly true? Unlike
the ribbon cables, the round ones can't be folded, and they are too long
:-( If I was able attach a single drive to the Slave connector in the middle
I could secure tail end much more easily. Is this possible? I'm using
jumpers not 'cable select'.
Click to expand...

If you have only one drive, always connect it to the end of the cable. If
connected in the middle, the free-hanging end acts as an antenna, possibly
causing signal instability, resulting in errors on the drive.
 
ChrisJ9876 said:
snip!

If you have only one drive, always connect it to the end of the cable. If
connected in the middle, the free-hanging end acts as an antenna, possibly
causing signal instability, resulting in errors on the drive.
Click to expand...

OK then. I'm going to have to keep the ribbon cables or have slack round
cables... rather defeats the object! :-(
 
If you have only one drive, always connect it to the end of the cable. If
connected in the middle, the free-hanging end acts as an antenna, possibly
causing signal instability, resulting in errors on the drive.
Click to expand...

Can the free hanging end be cut off?
 
From: Dave (e-mail address removed)
Date: 01/03/2004 11:00 AM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id: <[email protected]>



Can the free hanging end be cut off?
Click to expand...

Yes, but that would be kinda stupid, because if at a later date you want to add
a drive, then ya gotta buy a new cable.
 
OK then. I'm going to have to keep the ribbon cables or have slack round
cables... rather defeats the object! :-(
Click to expand...

True, there isn't a good selection of very short cables on the market.
I'd love to find cheap 20-24cm.

Usuallyt I tuck the cables away behind (to the right side of, when
facing front of case) the drive bays, though to stay tucked away they
need be a little more than 30cm long usually. Nylon wire-ties can be
pretty useful, as can plastic wire fastener "blocks" with sticky-tape
on their mounts, or velcro if you want it fancier. Electronic surplus
'sites are good places to find stuff like that at lowest prices,
though they may not carry regular inventories so you have to buy when
it's available.

If you have enough slack in the IDE cables you could just tie a knot
in it, though I'd be careful not to strain the connectors, wire.
 
Can the free hanging end be cut off?
Click to expand...

I just did that, you should take note of the following:

The slave connector (the first one, the one that would not get cut off) has
pin 28 (connector) or 56 (wire) removed, wich the master connector hasn't. I
haven't got much knowledge of the IDE/ATA standard, but this pin seems to
make the interface differentiate between device 0 and 1.

I cut off the master connector and put a WD800JB HD on the slave connector.
Setting the HD to master causes the bios to hang before the boot stage and
setting the HD to cable select works fine, but the drive is seen as a slave
device, with no master on the same bus. I don't know if that has any
consequences, but it doesn't really look right to me.

I don't know if every cable uses the removed pin on the slave connector, but
I have another flatcable lying around that does.

On another note, there is a simple and cheap way to create your own semi
round cables: Make small cuts in the ribbon cable between every
third/fourth/fifth... (whatever you think is best) wire and divide the cable
by pulling the groups of wires apart. Take them together (nicely roundish
arranged) and tie them up with tie-raps. I've done this and it actually
looks quite well.
 
From: T (e-mail address removed)
Date: 01/03/2004 2:22 PM Eastern Standard Time
Message-id: <BC1CD4EA.D69%[email protected]>



I just did that, you should take note of the following:

The slave connector (the first one, the one that would not get cut off) has
pin 28 (connector) or 56 (wire) removed, wich the master connector hasn't. I
haven't got much knowledge of the IDE/ATA standard, but this pin seems to
make the interface differentiate between device 0 and 1.

I cut off the master connector and put a WD800JB HD on the slave connector.
Setting the HD to master causes the bios to hang before the boot stage and
setting the HD to cable select works fine, but the drive is seen as a slave
device, with no master on the same bus. I don't know if that has any
consequences, but it doesn't really look right to me.

I don't know if every cable uses the removed pin on the slave connector, but
I have another flatcable lying around that does.
Click to expand...
The IDE/ATA standard is this:
Pin 28 is grounded in the connector at the motherboard end. That wire is not
connected in the slave connector, but is connected in the master connector.
When using cable select, the drive connected to the master connector sees pin
28 as grounded, and makes itself the master. The drive connected to the slave
connector sees pin 28 as floating, and makes itself the slave.
40-wire cables do not all conform to this standard; a special cable was
required if you wanted to use cable select. 80-wire cables should all conform
to the standard.

If you're using master & slave jumpering (not cable select), then the pin 28
issue should not come into play.
Some drives have jumper settings for "master without slave" or "master with
slave".
See the following site for more info:

www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/if/ide/confCS-c.html
 
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