IDE rounded cables..

Cookie Monster

Diamond Member
May 7, 2005
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Before i go buy some from frozencpu, do they effect performance in anyway?

Ive read some articles on rounded cables, but im not too sure. What is the general view on rounded IDE cables?

On the frozencpu site, the rounded cables area ATA-133 cables, and can that replace the older ata-100 cable that i have been using? (that came with the asus p4p800 delue motherboard)

Post your thoughts.
 

jpeyton

Moderator in SFF, Notebooks, Pre-Built/Barebones
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Aug 23, 2003
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ATA133 cables are backwards compatible, so they will work with ATA100/66/33 drives.

Rounded cables do not affect performance.

That said, you can also reduce clutter inside your system by doing some cablegami.
 

mcurphy

Diamond Member
Feb 5, 2003
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Yes, you can use 133 cables in place of 100 cables.

Round cables offer no performance increase over ribbon cables as far as data transfer.

There is an increase, although very small, in going from ATA100 to ATA133, but your IDE drives and mobo must also be ATA133.

The greatest advantage to rounded cables is the space they take up. They are smaller and easier to manage than ribbons and thus allow for greater airflow through your case.
 

Caveman

Platinum Member
Nov 18, 1999
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I've used them on 2 builds with great results. Help airflow, cable managment, and they look nice... wont ever go back to ribbons now...
 

lobbyone

Golden Member
Sep 4, 2003
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They move air more easily than standard ribbon cable inside the case, also they make the case look more tidy, my thoughts.
 

Frintinrocks

Junior Member
Feb 6, 2007
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LOL Cablegami...I love it.

Performance is generally considered a moot point...flat cables or rounded perform the same when data throughput is considered. Some might argue that the placement of wires in a flat cable tend to make for higher throughput because of the standard for IDE cables (earth wires between data wires with more important data wires furthest out on a flat cable etc blah blah.)

I firmly believe that rounded cables can improve airflow in a case! Flat cables have a larger surface area that can trap hot nasty air (depends on how neat you place flat cables in your case though...cablegami is not what you usually see in peoples computers!), while the rounded feature of rounded cables allows for air to flow in a case.

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Cookie Monster

Diamond Member
May 7, 2005
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Thanks for the quick response!

This is why AT rocks. Anyway, im off to buy some rounded cables from frozencpu.

Cablegami looks pretty interesting though. :D

edit - should i go for the 10 inch ones? 18 inch seems pretty long for my mid tower case. (chenbro gaming bomb thats going to be modded soon)
 

engiNURD

Diamond Member
Jan 15, 2004
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Measure it inside your case with a string, for the length you need. I think svc.com is cheaper, thats where I got all of my rounded cables. Since you have that chenbro case, the rounded cables should improve airflow. In a Sonata, or any other case where the drives are perpendicular to the standard mounting orientation, then rounded IDE cables are actually hard to use for IDE drives, since the ends are so bulky.
 

Cookie Monster

Diamond Member
May 7, 2005
5,161
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Wow, svc is MUCH cheaper. Thanks for the link.

I tend to believe frozencpu is abit bloated on price but you just saved me from paying more.

How flexible are the rounded cables from svc?