IDE cable in a micro-ATX HTPC case?

[Guywiththegun]

Well, not much explanation really required.

I have some old parts lying around from when I was starting to build budget PC's (micro-ATX case, IDE hard drive) and I want to fit it into a small HTPC case. I just want to put this thing in my room for emulation and games . . maybe a DVD drive, but nothing else.

Will the IDE cable fit?

 

[Zepper]

If you're worried about it, why not convert the drive to SATA? Or doesn't your mobo have SATA connections? And there are ways to origami the flat cables to be less in the way - just don't make the folds too tight, don't want to break any of those little wires.

.bh.

 

[Guywiththegun]

How do you convert a drive to SATA?

 

[Zap]

$6 adapter

I have yet to see a micro ATX case that could take SATA drives and not IDE.

 

[Zepper]

Those adapters generally work well with hard drives, but not all may work well with optical drives. Need to get one that specifically supports ATAPI drives. Some older SATA controllers didn't handle ATAPI well either. I hope the one linked by Zap is an example, not a recommendation. In a compact case, I'd prefer one that takes less room than that one. Here is one that takes up less space: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16822998001, but this one is also an example, not necessarily a recommendation.
These PATA to SATA adaptere also usually require a floppy size power connection - if it doesn't come with a power Y, then you may need to get one (standard power connector to one standard plus one floppy connector).

.bh.

 

[VirtualLarry]

I would just use a rounded IDE cable. That's what I did with my HTCP. Have both the HD and DVD drive hooked up to the IDE port on NV6150 mobo.

 

[ther00kie16]

Round IDE cables are fairly cheap, but it's cheaper to make them yourself if you just slice up the regular IDE cables every few wires (~6 works well), then bind it with twist ties or rubberbands or w/e you have.

 

[wwswimming]

Originally posted by: Guywiththegun
Well, not much explanation really required.

I have some old parts lying around from when I was starting to build budget PC's (micro-ATX case, IDE hard drive) and I want to fit it into a small HTPC case. I just want to put this thing in my room for emulation and games . . maybe a DVD drive, but nothing else.

Will the IDE cable fit?

depends a lot on layout. probably, especially if you use one of those new
PATA IDE cables that is rounded/ bunched up/ folded.

i have a Shuttle in the closet that is 2/3 the size of an XQ-Pack with 3 PATA
IDE devices, one optical and 2 hard drives. Shuttle pays a lot of attention
to cable routing in their designs.

also an old eMachines T2200 with an XP2200. i saved it because i like the
cable routing, one of the cleanest designs i've ever seen. (all PATA).