So I'm modding my new and old case in various ways, and to further enhance it, I need rounded EIDE cables.

My hard drive states that it uses an ATA-100 cable, and my lite-on dvd/rw drive doesn't really say what type it uses, so maybe someone can give me some insight.

Here is the main question:
Since I'm ordering most of my parts through frozencpu, and I would like silver or uv reactive rounded cables: Can I get an ATA-133 cable and use it as ATA-100 as long as they are both 40 pin?

Because I could easily screw this up as well, in a server size atx case, what would be the length of the two-device cable, that would run to the optical drives, and what would be the length of the single device cable that would run to the hard drive?

Thanks in advance

Quote: Originally Posted by trenolds39 So I'm modding my new and old case in various ways, and to further enhance it, I need rounded EIDE cables. My hard drive states that it uses an ATA-100 cable, and my lite-on dvd/rw drive doesn't really say what type it uses, so maybe someone can give me some insight. Here is the main question: Since I'm ordering most of my parts through frozencpu, and I would like silver or uv reactive rounded cables: Can I get an ATA-133 cable and use it as ATA-100 as long as they are both 40 pin? Because I could easily screw this up as well, in a server size atx case, what would be the length of the two-device cable, that would run to the optical drives, and what would be the length of the single device cable that would run to the hard drive? Thanks in advance

The HDD's should use an 80 conductor cable and the opticals use a 40 conductor.

A comparison of the 80-conductor and 40-conductor cables.


Yes you can use the ATA-133 cables to replace them.
The length will depend on how long you need it, to reach your drives.

The optical drives MAY use the 40-conductor cable, I personally use 80 conductor for everything as it allows you to hook HDDS up to the cable and achieve decent performance if desired.

And as the ATA-133 are made of superior materials than ATA-100, they will certainly work, though they will not provide any increase in performance over ATA-100 since that is where your drive operates.

I remember making rounded cables before you could buy them... whoo!!

Anything over ATA 33 you'll want an 80-conductor cable for. I haven't rounded an 80-wire, since they started selling them before I needed one.

Also be aware that the maximum recommended length for an ATA cable (by specification) is 18", though they do sell 24" cables, they are technically only supposed to go 18".

Have fun!

sweet, thanks for the help guys, I'll probably get off my arse and get the ole measuring tape out and actually measure the distances.

I've used these cables a few times when I had a DVD and CD RW on the same cable, and also when I had two IDE hard drives on the same cable.

http://www.acryan.com/_roundcables/ACR-RC32004.shtml

Make sure you measure twice and take into account for cable managment before buying rounded cables. I ordered one that was too short one time, but ended up using it later down the road.