Distinguishing IDE Cables???

[JimRaynor]

I was doing a little bit of experimenting making my own IDE Cables and from what I have read the ATA66 cables are 80 pin where as the ATA100 cables are 40 pin, is this correct? I always thought it was the other way around, I dunno I guess I just figured ATA100>ATA66 so it would probably have more cables. Can anyone give me confirmation on this and are there any other differences? What about ATA133 Cables, do they look any different?

 

[Jeff7181]

All cables are 40 pin... but ATA66 and up have 80 wires rather than 40 to reduce interference associated with high speed data transfer. The extra 40 wires are located between the normal 40 wires, and are grounded. They carry no information, and serve no other purpose other than to reduce electrical noise.

 

[JimRaynor]

ah so i got all these 40wire cables and only a few 80wire cables, i should use the 80wire ones right? so, you said ata66 and up, is there any way to tell if it's ata66/ata100?

 

[Jeff7181]

Yes, use the 80 wire cables. There's no difference between 80 wire cables, except for maybe quality differences between brands. People call them ATA66 or ATA100 cables because it's easier than saying "40 pin, 80 conductor IDE cables." Actually, 80 wire cables were around in the days of ATA33 as well... but they weren't required... for ATA66 on up, 80 wire cables are required, otherwise it'll operate in ATA33 mode.

 

[JimRaynor]

I got all confused cause every tutorial I was looking at online was these dudes modding 40 wire cables... So I just started thinking those were probably ata100. *shrug* Thanks for your help Jeff.