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Is there a minimum IDE length?

H

halfadder

Golden Member
This might be a stupid question, but is there such a thing as a minimum IDE length? Just in case the IDE designers, for whatever timing reasons, assumed that cables woud be at least a foot long or so?

I ask because I'm working on a case mod that involves a custom made IDE cable only 2 inches long.
 
I've snipped them without a hitch. ATA-133 speeds no problem too. 🙂

All it takes is a sharp utility knife across the cable right against the connector and it looks just like the cable was made that way.
 
Originally posted by: Powermoloch
Originally posted by: Googer
Originally posted by: Goi
In fact, the shorter the better, since there'll be less skew and crosstalk.
Click to expand...

:thumbsup:
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:thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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I have seen them in short three inch segments. Some custom cable places will make them for you or you can buy a kit to do it your self. Also Granite Digital will custom make any SCSI or IDE cable for you, I highly recomend their line of teflon cables.

http://granitedigital.com/
Shuttle also includes a small IDE cable with many of their SFF kits.
 
I use the short, single-drive, round or SATA cables (8-10") that you can get now all over. Works fine/less clutter. I also cut them off as mentioned above with no problem - except that on the new flat ATA (80-wire) cables with the blue connector for the mobo, you shouldn't use just the end piece (gray to black) and if you use just the blue to gray segment, you have to set your drive to Master (single drive on some like WD) rather than CS as all you have left is the Slave connector (under CS protocol).

.bh.
 
Originally posted by: Jiggz
In fact, they have them on external hdd enclosures about 2" long and works fine.
Click to expand...

No so true. When you use an external enclosure, it is connected to a larger PATA ribbon, so the total leingth between the drive and the host is slightly longer than the specfication. That short cable acts more like an extension cord.



EDIT: Epson ink is some of the best and cheapest on the market.
 
Originally posted by: Googer
Originally posted by: Jiggz
In fact, they have them on external hdd enclosures about 2" long and works fine.
Click to expand...

No so true. When you use an external enclosure, it is connected to a larger PATA ribbon, so the total leingth between the drive and the host is slightly longer than the specfication. That short cable acts more like an extension cord.



EDIT: Epson ink is some of the best and cheapest on the market.
Click to expand...



Open up your USB or FW external hdd enclosure and then tell me if there is not a 2" ide ribbon inside that connect the hdd to the built in controller inside the enclosure itself? Although some do not use a ribbon cable instead they have direct pins built into the controller, Bytecc do use ribbons to connect the hdd to the controller inside the enclosure. I'm not referring to those external adapters which converts a bare ide hdd into USB or makes it plug to a parallel port.
 
Originally posted by: Jiggz
Originally posted by: Googer
Originally posted by: Jiggz
In fact, they have them on external hdd enclosures about 2" long and works fine.
Click to expand...

No so true. When you use an external enclosure, it is connected to a larger PATA ribbon, so the total leingth between the drive and the host is slightly longer than the specfication. That short cable acts more like an extension cord.
Click to expand...



Open up your USB or FW external hdd enclosure and then tell me if there is not a 2" ide ribbon inside that connect the hdd to the built in controller inside the enclosure itself? Although some do not use a ribbon cable instead they have direct pins built into the controller, Bytecc do use ribbons to connect the hdd to the controller inside the enclosure. I'm not referring to those external adapters which converts a bare ide hdd into USB or makes it plug to a parallel port.
Click to expand...

I was reffering to one of those drive bay hdd caddies that allow you to pull them out and take it with you.
 
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