Question on ata-100/IDE cables.

[NCstateBen]

I have 2 HDDs, a cd burner and a dvd-rom. My board has built in RAID. I really only need 4 single cables to connect them. As it is now, I have 4 dual device cable with a master and slave, but the slave connector is unneccissary for me on every cable. As you can imagine, these extra connector get in the way and impede air flow.

My question is, can I just cut of the connector on the end and have what was the slave connector work as the master? I can't figure out if it will work.

If not, does anyone know where I can buy some single ata-100 cables? Either rounded or not. If they are flat I'll just round them myself.

Thanks.

 

[TunaBoo]

You should be able to just hack them off.

However, I like to put my device on the end connector and plug the blue into my mobo. I take the middle one and carefully hacksaw the sides off. Then you just pull it apart, and electrical tape where the connector was. This makes 1 long cable with a connector at both ends, which is much easier to fold. (Fold, don't round).

 

[NCstateBen]

I like the idea, but I'm looking to shorten my cables as well by doing this. My HDDs are about 3 in. from thier connectors on the board, so an 18 in. cable just gets in the way.

Also A good suggestion with folding. I have heard that it is much eaiser to just fold ata-100 cables rather than cut them cause the wires are so thin. I've rounded 40 wire cables before, but 80 wire cables look much harder.

Can anyone verify that just cutting the end connector off works?
Also, how would I do it for a floppy cable?

 

[trungma]

Should work fine, just use a sharp utility knife and make sure it is a clean cut. I do all the time to my cables.

 

[TunaBoo]

<< I like the idea, but I'm looking to shorten my cables as well by doing this. My HDDs are about 3 in. from thier connectors on the board, so an 18 in. cable just gets in the way.

Also A good suggestion with folding. I have heard that it is much eaiser to just fold ata-100 cables rather than cut them cause the wires are so thin. I've rounded 40 wire cables before, but 80 wire cables look much harder.

Can anyone verify that just cutting the end connector off works?
Also, how would I do it for a floppy cable? >>



Floppy wont work usually because you have to use the connector with the twist (i.e. on the end). There is a way around this but I forgot it right now (I dont use floppies).

 

[bacillus]

if you've got cash to burn then look here!

 

[obenton]

Cutting off the twisted floppy connector could cause floppy to come up as B:, but many BIOSes have setting to reverse A: and B:.

 

[randomlinh]

will this work? as i understand it, the end of the cable is the master device, and HAS to be (take a look in the case forum about using cat5 for ata cables ). It's just the way they communicate.

And as far as air flow, i think there were a couple of reviews that stated a minimal, if any, difference. Of course, this can probably depend on what case you have exactly and your setup.

 

[Bozo Galora]

&quot;the end of the cable HAS to be the master, thats how they communicate&quot;

That is correct IF there are two drives on the cable. But the poster here only has one drive to connect. There is a serial detection important to Windows here (the &quot;noide&quot; registry entry caused when not detected), but does not apply with one drive.

I too hate those 80 conductor cables, and tried to shorten some by buying my own IDC 80 pin connectors, but there are three rows inside and its just too critical to make your own. So i cut the cable just after the grey connector with sharp SS scissors and check with magnifying glass that wires are not touching adjacent. There is an orientation here: after cutting the cable and leaving the jumper on cable select it shows the drive as slave, so you have to make sure and jumper as master.
I have tested my drives 6 ways to Sunday, and cannot see any difference in performance with the shortened cable.

serial ata will solve all this mess

 

[DocDon]

The end connector on an IDE cable does not have to be the &quot;master.&quot; The middle connector can be used to hook the master and the end can have the slave. On a floppy cable the end is &quot;A&quot; drive and the middle is &quot;B,&quot; but Obenton is right, you can switch this in the BIOS.

 

[SCSIRAID]

The standard ATA cable (not the CS version) is a straight bussed cable. All connectors are equivalent. There is no restriction on what plugs where (as long as the middle isnt the motherboard). The CS version is used by folks like Compaq to make config easier. Works like the floppy cable and sets the Master/Slave relationship automatically.

Serial ATA will make things better but its still a while off.

 

[NCstateBen]

Well, I haven't heard anyone scream &quot;NO DON'T CUT THE END OFF&quot;, so I guess it's ok.