Spec for 80 conductor IDE cable

  • Thread starter Thread starter Mark M
  • Start date Start date
M

Mark M

Does anyone know what the exact length is of an 80 way IDE cable
according to the relevant standard. I know some suppliers make far
longer IDE cables than the spec defines.

Also what does the spec have to say about the location of the middle
connector.
 
Does anyone know what the exact length is of an
80 way IDE cable according to the relevant standard.
Click to expand...

18", 46cm
I know some suppliers make far longer
IDE cables than the spec defines.
Correct.

Also what does the spec have to say
about the location of the middle connector.
Click to expand...

min 5 inches from the motherboard connector,
max 6 inches from the end drive connector
distance from the motherboard connector >= distance from the end drive connector

T13/1532D Volume 2 Revision 0d
Table 14
 
Mark M said:
Does anyone know what the exact length is of an
80 way IDE cable according to the relevant standard.
I know some suppliers make far longer IDE cables
than the spec defines.

Also what does the spec have to say about the
location of the middle connector.
Click to expand...


The following link was provided recently by Rod Speed:
http://www.t13.org/docs2003/d1532v2r3.pdf

On page 30 of the document, the distance from the Host
connector to the Device 1 (middle) connector is to be at
least 5". The distance from the Device 1 connector to
the Device 0 (end) connector is to be maximum of 6".
The distance from the Host connector to the Device 0
connector (total length) is to be 18". But 18 inches is
not a practical maximum as many companies are making
money selling 36 inch "round" IDE cables.


*TimDaniels*
 
Timothy Daniels said:
http://www.t13.org/docs2003/d1532v2r3.pdf

On page 30 of the document, the distance from the Host
connector to the Device 1 (middle) connector is to be at
least 5". The distance from the Device 1 connector to
the Device 0 (end) connector is to be maximum of 6".
The distance from the Host connector to the Device 0
connector (total length) is to be 18"....
Click to expand...

Eeeps! Make the last sentence read "The MAXIMUM distance
from the Host connector to the Device 0 connector (total length)
is to be 18".


*TimDaniels*
 
Rod Speed said:
min 5 inches from the motherboard connector,
max 6 inches from the end drive connector
distance from the motherboard connector >= distance from the end
drive connector

T13/1532D Volume 2 Revision 0d
Table 14
Click to expand...


Thanks for the info.

Would I be fussing too much if I reject an 80way cable that had the
connectors at the wrong locations because it is more likely that no-
name cable has poor out-of-spec electrical properties?
 
"Mark M" asked:
Would I be fussing too much if I reject an 80way
cable that had the connectors at the wrong locations
because it is more likely that no-name cable has
poor out-of-spec electrical properties?
Click to expand...


The electrical properties of IDE cable are pretty
flexible if the popularity among gamers of "round"
cables is any indication. Those things come in
lengths ranging from 8 inches (2-connector cables)
to 36 inches (3-connector cables). Probably of
more importance is to not leave the Device 0
connector (the far end connector) in a 3-connector
cable unterminated and to not fold a ribbon cable
tightly - both for avoiding signal reflections due to
sharp changes in cable impedance.


*TimDaniels*
 
Thanks for the info.
Click to expand...
Would I be fussing too much if I reject an 80way cable that had
the connectors at the wrong locations because it is more likely
that no-name cable has poor out-of-spec electrical properties?
Click to expand...

I cant understand that question. Have another go.
 
Rod Speed said:
I cant understand that question. Have another go.
Click to expand...


OK, here goes. :-)

What do you guess is more important to be right on no-name 80way IDE
cables:

(a) the correct length of cable and location of the connectors
(b) the electrical quality of the cable itself

I know it's a bit like "how long is a piece of string" but any
thoughts would be welcome.
 
OK, here goes. :-)
Click to expand...
What do you guess is more important to
be right on no-name 80way IDE cables:
Click to expand...
(a) the correct length of cable and location of the connectors
Click to expand...

This one.
(b) the electrical quality of the cable itself
Click to expand...

The most important thing is to use the correct physical
ribbon, dont play silly buggers with round cables etc or
rolling up the flat ribbon cable etc.

If the correct physical type of ribbon is
used, then the length detail matters most.

Its unlikely that you will see any real problem with the ribbon detail
itself, largely because the thing that matters most is the physical
spacing between the wires and thats locked into the physical
spacing between the pins on the connectors and even the biggers
butcher cant change that and still have it plug into drives etc.
I know it's a bit like "how long is a piece of string"
but any thoughts would be welcome.
Click to expand...

The short story is that as long as they stick with a flat 80
conductor ribbon, even the biggest butcher cant get it too wrong.

They obviously can and do particularly with the total length.
 
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