80 Wire Cables

[Robert M]

Is there a method for determining whether or not a drive requires one of the new 80 wire IDE cables by looking at the drive?
What were the capacities of drives when these were introduced?

[Train]

The 80 wire is required for the ATA66 and up hdds.

Better yet read this on the Ultra DMA (80-Conductor) IDE/ATA Cables

[Robert M]

Thanks Train, that's a nice description of the considerations needed using these cables. Going to print it out now.

[Train]

Your welcome and i sure hope that helps out.

[Nix]

Is there more than one type of 80 Wire cable.

This http://www.dse.com.au/cgi-bin/dse.st...ct/View/XH3244 says it's for UDMA66/100 what if the drive supports UDMA133 ?

Also that article you linked to (Train) stated the cable could not be more than 18" yet a quick search of Google for IDE UDMA 133 CABLE reveals http://www.google.com.au/search?hl=e...e+Search&meta= and they all seem to 2' long (24")

Even one here http://www.casecooler.com/36rounbluide.html which is 36" long

[falcon2000]

Nix,

ATA 133 use the same 80-wire cable.

18" is the longstanding standard recommendation. I personally have not used any longer than 18" but I've heard that people do use 24" and 36" cables with no ill effect ...

[Nix]

Thanks Falcon2000.

We're crossing path's a bit lately.

Still haven't found that fix for WMP7 Recent File List yet.........................

[DrMDJ]

Any properly made 80-wire/40-pin ide cable can be used with Ultra66/100 and 133.

Following on what Falcon2000 said... The 18-inch maximum length is part of the offical ata specifcations (the specs also call for a 10-inch minimum length). But as Falcon said, in reality it can be taken as a recommendation (for total compliance with the specs). In practive cables longer than this can be used. I might be hesitant to use a 36 inch cable (which are sold), but 24-inches is fine, signal integrity is maintained at these lengths.

[Nix]

Thanks.

I saw in a computer store the other day, reels of flat ribbon.

If I was to buy some of that and the relevent connector plugs, do I need a special tool to put them on or is it just simple task of clamping them on and they automatically make the connection as they cut through the cable ?

[SuperSparks]

Make sure that you get IDC connectors (Insulation Displacement Connectors). As long as you have those, then just squeezing them should be all that's needed.

[Nix]

Thanks

[Nix]

Well I opened up my case and pulled out the two 80 wire cables and measured them.

One was about 43 cm long with the slave and master connectors being about 10cm apart.

This one was too short to go from IDE controller 2 on ATA Card to second and third drive (but had the conectors in the correct spots).

The other cable was about 50cm long so went the distance, but the slave connector was slap bang in the middle of the cable and nowhere near the third drive.

So I carefully removed the connector from the middle of the cable and put it further up the cable about 8cm from the master connector.

Tried to push it on by hand - not much luck.

Placed it on the ground and pushed with both hands.

A little better but still not fully on.

Tried it in machine and it wouldn't recognise drive connected to slave connector.

Applied more force and it looked reasonable.

Tried it and it came up with a whole load of gobeldy gook for the drive name during detection and would not boot.

Looked at the connector again and saw that the middle didn't seem to be going right through the cable (could see some metal 'teeth' still).

Laid it on the ground and got out my trusty hammer, a few decent taps along the length of the conenctor and inspected to see a nice flat cable / connector clamping effect with no 'teeth' visible.

Hooked it up and tried again.

Voila third drive recognised on Secondary ATA cord controller slave connector.

As a matter of interest, that cable now has a series of small holes where the connector used to be.

Should I tape over them or something to prevent dust settling in them and causing a short circuit or is this unlikley ?

P.S. Sorry Robert M for hijacking your thread

[DrMDJ]

I would put the tape over it. For a number of reasons it is worth keeping the shielding intact.

[Nix]

Originally posted by DrMDJ
I would put the tape over it. For a number of reasons it is worth keeping the shielding intact.

Thanks.