Why IDE Cable has 40 wires??

  • Thread starter Thread starter Radith
  • Start date Start date
R

Radith

Hi all;

I'm just getting into hardware and is wondering why when a 32-bit computer
can only process 32 bits at a time;
Why does an IDE cable has 40 individual wires.

Cheers
 
Hi all;

I'm just getting into hardware and is wondering why when a 32-bit computer
can only process 32 bits at a time;
Why does an IDE cable has 40 individual wires.
Click to expand...

My IDE cables have 80! Dual channel baby, oh yeah! ^_^
 
Onideus Mad Hatter said:
My IDE cables have 80! Dual channel baby, oh yeah! ^_^
Click to expand...

LOL
We had dual channel ide ports long before 80 wire cables were required ;o)

80 is just for increased data rates, i.e. UDMA2 and above.
 
Radith said:
Hi all;

I'm just getting into hardware and is wondering why when a 32-bit computer
can only process 32 bits at a time;
Why does an IDE cable has 40 individual wires.

Cheers
Click to expand...

Note that IDE transfer is only 16 bits at a time!
Difference between 40 and 80 wired is that last case is intended for high
speed (ATA66, 100 and 133) and that therefor each data cable has its own
shielding, which doubles the number of cables.
On next page, you will find a complete description of IDE wiring:
http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/if/ide/conf.htm
 
Hi all;

I'm just getting into hardware and is wondering why when a 32-bit computer
can only process 32 bits at a time;
Why does an IDE cable has 40 individual wires.

Cheers
Click to expand...

Ever hear of grounds?
 
: On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 21:41:11 +1200, Radith wrote:
:
: > Hi all;
: >
: > I'm just getting into hardware and is wondering why when a 32-bit
computer
: > can only process 32 bits at a time;
: > Why does an IDE cable has 40 individual wires.
: >
: > Cheers
:
: Ever hear of grounds?

Someone told me it was for two way
communication and I bought it. Or maybe
I just made it up...
 
General Schvantzkoph said:
: On Thu, 09 Sep 2004 21:41:11 +1200, Radith wrote:
:
: > Hi all;
: >
: > I'm just getting into hardware and is wondering why when a 32-bit
computer
: > can only process 32 bits at a time;
: > Why does an IDE cable has 40 individual wires.
: >
: > Cheers
:
: Ever hear of grounds?

Someone told me it was for two way
communication and I bought it. Or maybe
I just made it up...
Click to expand...

40 wires = 16 data bits, a bunch of grounds, drive control and
handshaking...

Google is your friend:
http://www.bbdsoft.com/ide.html
 
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