ATA IDE HDD Cables query

[cruthin]

Are all ATA IDE cables born equal? Until recently I always believed that 40 pin (80 conductor) ATA IDE cables were all the same. What I mean by this is that the same cable would work at any speed (ATA 66 or ATA 100 or ATA 133), depending of course upon the Hard Disk Controller and the Hard Disk.

Recently, I have seen in various catalogs and on certain web sites different ATA IDE cables available for sale. They would have ATA 66 cables listed at one price, ATA 100 cables listed at another price, etc. Generally, the description would state that the cables are backward compatible (as you would expect). Does anyone know if there is an actual difference or is it maybe just marketing? Also, do you know of any links stating this for a fact (maybe whitepapers)?

 

[Peter]

Either it's a ripoff, or they're selling below-specification quality cables cheaper. The cable specification didn't change from ATA66 to 100 to 133.

Watch the length. 45 cm is maximum.

 

[cruthin]

I didn't think that the specs had changed any. I ask the question be cause we get people into our shop (here in Northern Ireland) asking for ATA 100 or ATA 133 cables. If the packaging says ATA 66 (as it sometimes does depending upon the age of the packaging) and makes no mention of ATA 100 or 133 they don't want them. Any of the cables I have tried that make no mention of ATA 100 or 133 work fine with the faster ATA 100 or 133 controllers/hard disks (well according to the POST summary screen).

 

[Peter]

Oh, I see you're on the other side of the desk You got it right anyway, and I too have found out that customers who consider themselves supersmart actually don't know a bloody thing - and they don't trust the shop personnel either.

 

[KevinMU1]

The best advice is always to try it, if possible, in my book. If those customers won't take them, sell them with your promise they'll work, and if not, tell them they can bring them back and you'll gladly exchange it. Or sell it for less. People can be so finicky. I understand both sides of the desk though, I've met some pretty shady store clerks, but at the same time I'm one of those smart-a** punks that think I know everything. hehe j/k

 

[jarsoffart]

Don't the hard drives still work, just at a slower speed? Some LordEvermore guy flamed at me when I was just laughing at myself when I found out the cables with the thick ribbons, that I was using for my ATA100 drives, were ATA66.

 

[Peter]

Originally posted by: jarsoffart
Don't the hard drives still work, just at a slower speed? Some LordEvermore guy flamed at me when I was just laughing at myself when I found out the cables with the thick ribbons, that I was using for my ATA100 drives, were ATA66.

You didn't listen. Read my lips: There is no cable quality above "UDMA66 capable". For UDMA100 and 133, the exact same cables are used.

 

[jarsoffart]

Originally posted by: Peter

Originally posted by: jarsoffart
Don't the hard drives still work, just at a slower speed? Some LordEvermore guy flamed at me when I was just laughing at myself when I found out the cables with the thick ribbons, that I was using for my ATA100 drives, were ATA66.

You didn't listen. Read my lips: There is no cable quality above "UDMA66 capable". For UDMA100 and 133, the exact same cables are used.

So even if the IDE cable has thicker ribbons, my ATA100 hard drive will still run at it's full speed (I know it won't run at it's theoretical speed of like 100 mb/s or something like that).

What's the difference between the cables with thick ribbons and thin ribbons?

 

[mee987]

the thick ribbon (40 conductor) cables are ata33 cables, for ata66+ you need thin ribbon (80 conductor) cables

 

[KevinMU1]

mee987 is correct... thick cable (40 conductor) are for ATA33, thin cable (80 conductor) are for ATA66+.