IDE cable question - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

mrap1 · 09-06-2004, 08:08 PM

Normally on an 80 conductor IDE cable the blue end plugs into the motherboard and then the middle grey and black ends plug into the drives. Due to a unique drive arrangement (the drives are arranged side by side) this standard configuration renders my cables too short. Is it possible to plug the black end into the mobo and use the blue and middle grey connectors for the drives? I would just try it to see if it works but since I'm using it in my Tivo I'd like to experiment as little as possible.

I wouldn't be opposed to buying a new cable but all of the cables I've seen online (even the 36") seem like they would also be too short. So if anyone has any suggestions where I could find a cable where the two drive connectors are seperated by a longer distance that would be great too.

shortynickel · 09-06-2004, 09:20 PM

is there any room in the box to move ur harddrives? i have done that before...usually have them in the normal spots but the one i had to hook up once wasnt gonna work so i moved it next to the cdrom drive so they were close enough...also if u move them u may need to buy a 3.5 to a 5.25 kit

billege · 09-06-2004, 11:22 PM

Quote:

According to the ATA standards, the official maximum length is 18 inches, but if you suspect problems with your hard disk you may find that a shorter cable will eliminate them. Sometimes moving where the disks are physically installed in the system case will let you use a shorter cable.

Warning: There are companies that sell 24" and even 36" IDE cables. They are not recommended because they can lead to data corruption and other problems. Many people use these with success, but many people do a lot of things they shouldn't and get away with it. :^)

from here:http://www.pcguide.com/ref/hdd/if/ide/confCable-c.html

I can't imagine what you're trying to do that 36" cables aren't long enough, but I think you may have a problem here. From reading the above you should gather that even 36" cables are pushing it.

I would suggest using SATA drives, because that standard allows for a "to standard" length of one meter. I imagine people will streach that for all it's worth. But, alas, you have a TIVO, and I don't think it's going to have SATA. Bummer.

Not sure what you're up to buddy, but I think you'd better find some way to restack them drives.

Good luck!

bendsley · 09-07-2004, 09:06 AM

yes, you can reverse the cable if need be.

mrap1 · 09-07-2004, 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by billege

Not sure what you're up to buddy, but I think you'd better find some way to restack them drives.

Good luck!

I think the 18 inch limitation was more of a factor in the 40 conductor cable. The new 80 conductor cable provides more insulation allowing for a longer cable length.

The drives have to be set side by side next to each other in order to fit in the box. The problem is that since the drives are set side by side I need a long distance between the two drive connectors. When I look at longer cables they seem to only get longer from the mobo connector to the first drive connector, allowing you to install the drives farther away from the mobo. This is precisely not my problem. The two drives are very close to the motherboard but because of the way they are stacked the drives are far away from each other. The only solution I see is to reverse the way the cable is connected, that would give me perfect length for everything. I just don't know if it would work.

guardian · 09-07-2004, 02:31 PM

Regardless off the Coloring - you can plug in the cable in any manner you want as long as Pin one on the cable is plugged into pin one on the MB or drive. I have had strange configs before and even had to plug the middle on to the MB and both ends to different drives.

Have fun.

spived2 · 09-07-2004, 02:36 PM

Remember, they're just wires. As long as the right pin goes to the right pin, it doesn't make a difference. Just make sure you do what guardian said above

mrap1 · 09-07-2004, 09:11 PM

Yet another IDE cable question.

When I was examining some of my cables I noticed that some of them have what looks like the 21st pin hole sealed off. I examined my hard drives and I also noticed that they don't have the 21st pin either. Meaning that they actually only have 39 pins. I had never noticed this before, but I was trying some of my different cables in the Tivo and some of them didn't go into the IDE mobo connector. Of course some of the cables didn't plug in because they only had 39 holes not 40.

What's going on here? I thought all IDE connectors were supposed to be 40 pins, yet it turns out my hard drives are only actually 39 pins.

This is an ebay picture of what I'm talking about:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...705546332&rd=1
You can see what I'm talking about by looking at the 3rd picture on the page. Look at the grey connector and you will notice that the 21st slot is sealed off.

I can also take better close up pictures with my digital camera and email them for more clarity. I would post them here but I don't know how

mrap1 · 09-10-2004, 01:55 PM

can't anybody tell me more about the sealed off hole?

cliche · 09-10-2004, 03:27 PM

Pin 20 on an IDE cable is the 'key' pin. ie it doesn't exist. So ideally there should be no pin, and no hole on the connector.
Of course it's not always cheapest to do it that way, so you may see connectors with 40 holes. You shouldn't see drives with 40 pins though (as a lot of connectors wouldn't work with them).

Any use?

mrap1 · 09-10-2004, 06:56 PM

The problem is that the motherboard ide connector does have 40 pins, therefore a lot of the cables I have won't work with it. So how can I make sure that when I buy a new ide cable that it actually has 40 holes? For example the cable I was going to buy on ebay above is listed as a 40 pin cable but the picture shows that is actually has only 39.

heyal256 · 09-10-2004, 09:12 PM

Sounds like you have an older motherboard there. The best that I can suggest is to either find an IDE cable from an older pc (which didn't have the key) or maybe try drilling a notch in the connector for the extra pin (i.e. hack the cable to make it fit). You could also try a local computer shop for the ide cable so that you can see if they have the specific cable you need.

moonpie · 09-10-2004, 09:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrap1

I wouldn't be opposed to buying a new cable but all of the cables I've seen online (even the 36") seem like they would also be too short. So if anyone has any suggestions where I could find a cable where the two drive connectors are seperated by a longer distance that would be great too.

Dude, I have a case that is 2.5 - 3ft. tall and a 36" is fine. And yes, you CAN switch the cables around, HOWEVER I have seen situations where it doesn't work if you have multiple drives. There is a difference between the blue connector and the others in terms of the way data flows with dual drives, but most of the time you can get by. Alas, one may be fully capable of doing something, but that doesn't mean they should (I could kill someone, but I'm not gonna... yet). Just get a longer cable. If a flat (ribbon) cable won't work try a rounded one.

Knucklehead · 09-11-2004, 07:16 AM

Worse comes to worse, add a Promise ide card.

shortynickel · 09-14-2004, 08:24 AM

what mb, case and hd's do u have? there shouldnt be a reason y u cant connect them with a 36" cable, even if u only had 39 pins on each end to connect to.

shortynickel · 09-16-2004, 07:55 PM

i was checking some things out and i came across this abit mb, it is one of 3 abit mb's that one of which has the fastest intel chipset out there atm....imo something like this would only need the use of a 500 watt power supply...

i am curious what mb and processor u have still...maybe send a pic on what u r trying to do?

09-06-2004, 08:08 PM	#1 (permalink)
mrap1 Insane Location: NY	IDE cable question Normally on an 80 conductor IDE cable the blue end plugs into the motherboard and then the middle grey and black ends plug into the drives. Due to a unique drive arrangement (the drives are arranged side by side) this standard configuration renders my cables too short. Is it possible to plug the black end into the mobo and use the blue and middle grey connectors for the drives? I would just try it to see if it works but since I'm using it in my Tivo I'd like to experiment as little as possible. I wouldn't be opposed to buying a new cable but all of the cables I've seen online (even the 36") seem like they would also be too short. So if anyone has any suggestions where I could find a cable where the two drive connectors are seperated by a longer distance that would be great too.

09-07-2004, 09:06 AM	#4 (permalink)
bendsley Professional Loafer Location: texas	yes, you can reverse the cable if need be. __________________ "You hear the one about the fella who died, went to the pearly gates? St. Peter let him in. Sees a guy in a suit making a closing argument. Says, "Who's that?" St. Peter says, "Oh, that's God. Thinks he's Denny Crane."

09-07-2004, 02:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
spived2 Desert Rat Location: Arizona	Remember, they're just wires. As long as the right pin goes to the right pin, it doesn't make a difference. Just make sure you do what guardian said above __________________ "This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is it vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished, as the once vital voice of the verisimilitude now venerates what they once vilified. However, this valorous visitation of a by-gone vexation, stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violently vicious and voracious violation of volition. The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous. Verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose vis-à-vis an introduction, and so it is my very good honor to meet you and you may call me V." - V

09-10-2004, 03:27 PM	#10 (permalink)
cliche Rookie Location: Oxford, UK	Pin 20 on an IDE cable is the 'key' pin. ie it doesn't exist. So ideally there should be no pin, and no hole on the connector. Of course it's not always cheapest to do it that way, so you may see connectors with 40 holes. You shouldn't see drives with 40 pins though (as a lot of connectors wouldn't work with them). Any use? __________________ I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones. -- John Cage (1912 - 1992)

09-06-2004, 09:20 PM	#2 (permalink)
shortynickel Addict Location: Central PA	is there any room in the box to move ur harddrives? i have done that before...usually have them in the normal spots but the one i had to hook up once wasnt gonna work so i moved it next to the cdrom drive so they were close enough...also if u move them u may need to buy a 3.5 to a 5.25 kit

09-07-2004, 02:31 PM	#6 (permalink)
guardian Upright	Regardless off the Coloring - you can plug in the cable in any manner you want as long as Pin one on the cable is plugged into pin one on the MB or drive. I have had strange configs before and even had to plug the middle on to the MB and both ends to different drives. Have fun.

09-07-2004, 09:11 PM	#8 (permalink)
mrap1 Insane Location: NY	Yet another IDE cable question. When I was examining some of my cables I noticed that some of them have what looks like the 21st pin hole sealed off. I examined my hard drives and I also noticed that they don't have the 21st pin either. Meaning that they actually only have 39 pins. I had never noticed this before, but I was trying some of my different cables in the Tivo and some of them didn't go into the IDE mobo connector. Of course some of the cables didn't plug in because they only had 39 holes not 40. What's going on here? I thought all IDE connectors were supposed to be 40 pins, yet it turns out my hard drives are only actually 39 pins. This is an ebay picture of what I'm talking about: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...705546332&rd=1 You can see what I'm talking about by looking at the 3rd picture on the page. Look at the grey connector and you will notice that the 21st slot is sealed off. I can also take better close up pictures with my digital camera and email them for more clarity. I would post them here but I don't know how

09-10-2004, 01:55 PM	#9 (permalink)
mrap1 Insane Location: NY	can't anybody tell me more about the sealed off hole?

09-10-2004, 06:56 PM	#11 (permalink)
mrap1 Insane Location: NY	The problem is that the motherboard ide connector does have 40 pins, therefore a lot of the cables I have won't work with it. So how can I make sure that when I buy a new ide cable that it actually has 40 holes? For example the cable I was going to buy on ebay above is listed as a 40 pin cable but the picture shows that is actually has only 39.

09-10-2004, 09:12 PM	#12 (permalink)
heyal256 Not so great lurker Location: NY	Sounds like you have an older motherboard there. The best that I can suggest is to either find an IDE cable from an older pc (which didn't have the key) or maybe try drilling a notch in the connector for the extra pin (i.e. hack the cable to make it fit). You could also try a local computer shop for the ide cable so that you can see if they have the specific cable you need.

09-11-2004, 07:16 AM	#14 (permalink)
Knucklehead Upright Location: NePA	Worse comes to worse, add a Promise ide card.

09-14-2004, 08:24 AM	#15 (permalink)
shortynickel Addict Location: Central PA	what mb, case and hd's do u have? there shouldnt be a reason y u cant connect them with a 36" cable, even if u only had 39 pins on each end to connect to.

09-16-2004, 07:55 PM	#16 (permalink)
shortynickel Addict Location: Central PA	i was checking some things out and i came across this abit mb, it is one of 3 abit mb's that one of which has the fastest intel chipset out there atm....imo something like this would only need the use of a 500 watt power supply... i am curious what mb and processor u have still...maybe send a pic on what u r trying to do?