What and Where are the best SATA-II cables?

[ChaiBabbaChai]

OK, so I'm building a new PC - newegg has everything I want - except SATA-II cables. The problem with their selection is all the negative reviews on any cable with these specs if they even have them. People saying they're cheaply made, etc.

These are the cables I want (all black with latches if possible):

• ~12" straight to straight or 90 (3)
  ~12" straight to 270 (2)
  ~3' eSATA cable

The PC is going to be:

• Antec P193
  PC Power & Cooling Silencer 610
  Core i7 920
  MSI X58 Platinum SLI
  Gigabyte 9800GT 1Gb Silent Cell
  6Gb DDR3 Corsair XMS 1333 C7
  Hitachi 7K OS HDD's
  WD Black 640Gb
  Echo AudioFire4 sound

===========================

From AnandTech Moderator to all posters in this thread:

Stop insulting each other.

Any more posts containing personal insults will result in locking the thread. There's no justification for name-calling over a piece of wire.

RebateMonger
AnandTech Moderator

 

[RebateMonger]

Hmmmm...I didn't look at the specific lengths/connectors that you are looking for, but a quick browse of Newegg's SATA cables shows lots of 4-star and 5-star reviews. I don't recall a single complaint in these Forums about SATA cable quality problems. The drive connectors break off, but the cables seem to work fine.

Anyway, if Newegg doesn't have what you need, check out http://monoprice.com . They are dirt cheap, shipping is cheap, and I've heard of no issues with quality.

 

[Farmer]

Maybe just use the ones that will come with your motherboard?

I mean, it's just a cable.

 

[Eureka]

Originally posted by: Farmer
Maybe just use the ones that will come with your motherboard?

I mean, it's just a cable.

 

[ChaiBabbaChai]

I always read the lowest reviews on newegg first because there are tons of idiots out there, and I am not one of them the majority of the time. Also, the insight in the helpful low-egg reviews shows how they are made without seeing them myself, even if it's only one review. Most people don't even bother to write reviews so it's good to see just one candid review by a person as discerning as I. Newegg doesn't have any high rated cables in black with those connectors. They have 10" black by OKGear, but I am NOT buying a product called OK. ;P hahaha

let me remind you of one of the most famous sayings ever... the chain is only as strong as its weakest link.

I don't want any connectors falling off or breaking off. I'd much rather have even a $10 cable break than my HDD or mobo connector.

 

[mmntech]

Cables are cables regardless of what anybody tells you. They're all made the same way, probably all in the same factory. Don't be one of those idiots who buys into the $100 HDMI cable because it's got better super electrical conduciveness with high tech plastic coating, or some other horse manure like that.

Monoprice sells them for the grand total of a single buck. They're the same cables that most retail boxed HDDs an motherboards ship with.
http://www.monoprice.com/produ...p?keyword=SATA&x=0&y=0

 

[yh125d]

3X http://www.monoprice.com/produ...id=4543&seq=1&format=2

1X http://www.monoprice.com/produ...id=3940&seq=1&format=2

 

[ChaiBabbaChai]

Originally posted by: mmntech
They're all made the same way, probably all in the same factory.

Monoprice sells them for the grand total of a single buck. They're the same cables that most retail boxed HDDs an motherboards ship with.

Don't you mean they're the same cables that everyone else sells? hahaha

 

[ChaiBabbaChai]

Cables are not all created equal. Digital cables (SATA, HDMI, SPDIF, DVI, etc) don't matter that much, but when you get into analog audio cables make a huge difference. That is where I'm coming from. I'm not saying I'll spend $100 on an HDMI cable, but I have spent over $40 on a 12' guitar cable, which is not that much compared to other options.

If I can't find anything online I'll just get RadioShack cables so I don't have to pay $7 for shipping.

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: mmntech
Cables are cables regardless of what anybody tells you. They're all made the same way, probably all in the same factory. Don't be one of those idiots who buys into the $100 HDMI cable because it's got better super electrical conduciveness with high tech plastic coating, or some other horse manure like that.

Monoprice sells them for the grand total of a single buck. They're the same cables that most retail boxed HDDs an motherboards ship with.
http://www.monoprice.com/produ...p?keyword=SATA&x=0&y=0

Testing has shown that for short runs (>10') then almost all HDMI cables are equal. However, once you get into cross-room Home Theater runs (30'+) then you actually can start to notice a difference, not just on testing equipment (which for obvious reasons is highly sensitive) but also in visual tests. It is there that you want the more expensive, higher quality stuff (still not necessarily Monster of course, but higher quality all the same)

 

[AnnonUSA]

http://www.satacables.com/index.html

 

[ChaiBabbaChai]

^^^ that site is supposedly a scam from what I could find, but their cables look like what I want.

 

[Boobs McGee]

Dude, Check monoprice as suggested above. They are very reasonable on shipping and their prices are very competitive. You can go in there and pick up a few spares of whatever and still come out ahead.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

Dear OP, just admit to yourself you like to spend extra money on cables cuz it makes you feel l33t. I've built 2 or 3 systems every year for the last 15 years and haven't broke a connector since the early '80s. I usually just use the cables that come with the MB but, after so many builds, I just reach into my parts stash and grab what I need. There may be a difference in cables for guitars, I dunno but, there is no frackin difference between cables for internal connections in a desktop. Send me your extra cash and I'll email you every day telling you how smart and, good looking you are and, uber l33t your build is.

P.S. I also recommend monoprice. Reading Newegg reviews is like asking a high school kid their opinion on world events, they're totally clueless.

 

[ChaiBabbaChai]

LOL

wouldn't l33t be buying UV sensitive cables with tribal dragon graphics or something??

I do want to spend too much on getting exactly what I want (within reason), but I don't want any creepy emails.

 

[ChaiBabbaChai]

Looking at the "Professional Series" audio cables on monoprice.com to see what my impression is if I were buying audio cables, and:

I would never buy an audio cable from someone who calls that crap "professional". They don't even use canare, mogami, belden, neutrik, or switchcraft... or any other lesser known pro audio parts.

 

[tcsenter]

Originally posted by: ChaiBabbaChai
Cables are not all created equal. Digital cables (SATA, HDMI, SPDIF, DVI, etc) don't matter that much, but when you get into analog audio cables make a huge difference.

Right, like coat hanger wire.

 

[Modelworks]

There is a quality difference in SATA cables. Not in the wire itself but in how the connector is attached to the cable. I have several SATA cables that have the wires showing where they enter the socket. Then I have others that are higher quality where the insulation around the cable is molded into the connector. Many people are having issues with hard drives that appear on one boot but gone the next. Often it is the cable.

The cables I like are molded , solid metal clip, and soft rubber covering on the connector not the hard plastic. They are just hard to find.

I like these if I can't get the other type because they really keep a solid connection.
http://www.cooldrives.com/dacosaiicado.html

 

[Old Hippie]

Originally posted by: ChaiBabbaChai
^^^ that site is supposedly a scam from what I could find, but their cables look like what I want.

I was going to post it myself but there's very few in black.

I buy from there all the time.

I'm especially addicted to the yellow 13" ones. :laugh:

 

[ChaiBabbaChai]

Originally posted by: Modelworks
There is a quality difference in SATA cables. Not in the wire itself but in how the connector is attached to the cable. I have several SATA cables that have the wires showing where they enter the socket. Then I have others that are higher quality where the insulation around the cable is molded into the connector. Many people are having issues with hard drives that appear on one boot but gone the next. Often it is the cable.

The cables I like are molded , solid metal clip, and soft rubber covering on the connector not the hard plastic. They are just hard to find.

I like these if I can't get the other type because they really keep a solid connection.
http://www.cooldrives.com/dacosaiicado.html

hmmmmm they have nice products, but seem too shady for me. I'm sure someone has received their order, but I'm not down with no phone calls. Sux.

 

[Modelworks]

Originally posted by: ChaiBabbaChai


hmmmmm they have nice products, but seem too shady for me. I'm sure someone has received their order, but I'm not down with no phone calls. Sux.

Monoprice has the same type cables. I just listed the other site because it showed the type I use, never shopped with them myself.

http://www.monoprice.com/produ...id=5181&seq=1&format=2

Its the power + sata being together in a plug that makes it fit more snug so any cable with the idea should work.

 

[coolVariable]

OP is one of those i****s that keep monster cable in business?

 

[ChaiBabbaChai]

LOL - good one, buddy. Nice sig by the way. Not only is it full-on ridiculous, but the HTML is wrong. Apparently all the investors in the world aren't becoming rich. You should call them up and let them know they're doing it wrong.

 

[GuitarBizarre]

This is ridiculous. SATA cables are digital. They work, or they don't. If you're too cackhanded to build a computer without needing insanely expensive cables and connectors, then by all means go for incredibly expensive cables.

Or alternatively, you could just opt for some cheap and cheerful standard SATA cables that will work perfectly fine in any rig and at exactly the same speeds to boot. You do NOT need to waste money looking for awesome sata cables. And it is a waste, trust me on this.

Edit: Oh, and given that last little comment - You're coming off like an arrogant asshole. Stop ignoring the advice you're given just because you want to go out and spend more money on cables. We're helping you off our own backs here, and it doesnt justify you being self righteous about it if we're annoyed that you're disregarding what we say based on personal bias.

 

[coolVariable]

Originally posted by: GuitarBizarre
This is ridiculous. SATA cables are digital. They work, or they don't. If you're too cackhanded to build a computer without needing insanely expensive cables and connectors, then by all means go for incredibly expensive cables.

Or alternatively, you could just opt for some cheap and cheerful standard SATA cables that will work perfectly fine in any rig and at exactly the same speeds to boot. You do NOT need to waste money looking for awesome sata cables. And it is a waste, trust me on this.

Edit: Oh, and given that last little comment - You're coming off like an arrogant asshole. Stop ignoring the advice you're given just because you want to go out and spend more money on cables. We're helping you off our own backs here, and it doesnt justify you being self righteous about it if we're annoyed that you're disregarding what we say based on personal bias.

Yup.
OP has his head so far up his own ass, he can't hear us apparently.