Homemade Rounded IDE Cables

MediaManMediaMan Powered by loose parts.
edited November 2003 in Science & Tech
"Why pay money for these rounded cables when you can make your own for nothing? Put the money you save towards an upgrade in your true hardware."

Al_Capown teaches us a few things about doin' it ghetto style with ribbon cables. Check it out,

Comments

  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited November 2003
    Nice.

    I've been doing this for the longest time, before I could afford the real deal. Loved doing it too.
  • SimGuySimGuy Ottawa, Canada
    edited November 2003
    Good job Al :)

    I've got a few PC's that could really use rounded IDE cables, but I'm way too damned cheap to go buy them. Thanks for the guide :)

    It's unfortunate that rounding IDE cables won't last very much longer, as SATA is coming in nice and quick, allowing the IDE cable to finally enjoy a long, overdue retirement. :)
  • profdlpprofdlp The Holy City Of Westlake, Ohio
    edited November 2003
    Good article, Al. I believe that this is another example of where the hobbyists have led the way, with the manufacturers following.
  • TheSmJTheSmJ
    edited November 2003
    SimGuy had this to say
    Good job Al :)

    I've got a few PC's that could really use rounded IDE cables, but I'm way too damned cheap to go buy them. Thanks for the guide :)

    It's unfortunate that rounding IDE cables won't last very much longer, as SATA is coming in nice and quick, allowing the IDE cable to finally enjoy a long, overdue retirement. :)

    I dunno about that. I mean, I dont plan on replacing my optical IDE drives anytime soon.


    Great work Al!
  • SimGuySimGuy Ottawa, Canada
    edited November 2003
    TheSmJ had this to say
    SimGuy had this to say
    Good job Al :)

    I've got a few PC's that could really use rounded IDE cables, but I'm way too damned cheap to go buy them. Thanks for the guide :)

    It's unfortunate that rounding IDE cables won't last very much longer, as SATA is coming in nice and quick, allowing the IDE cable to finally enjoy a long, overdue retirement. :)

    I dunno about that. I mean, I dont plan on replacing my optical IDE drives anytime soon.


    Great work Al!

    The sooner I can get rid of IDE, the better. I just picked up 4 RocketHead 100 SATA Converters today and converted all 4 IDE devices I have over to SATA. Thank god the IC7-MAX3 has 6 SATA ports, as the other 2 SATA drives combined with these other 4 converted IDE devices completely fill the SATA controllers. :)

    Nice thin cables, increased performance (marginally) and the ability to utilize SATA-RAID on IDE devices sure makes things easier. I'm done with IDE forever.
  • TheSmJTheSmJ
    edited November 2003
    Yeah, but doing this costs much, much more than just using EIDE, unless mobo's start coming with more than 1 adapter, and more than 2 SATA inputs.
  • Al_CapownAl_Capown Indiana
    edited November 2003
    Glad everyone enjoyed the article. Be expecting more in the future.

    Al


    P.S.
    One way to test the cable is to run a quick test HD diag through the cable after making. The other thing is, the best round cables ARE round and are twisted pair inside and will get less noise so they can be longer for bigger cases. 36" round cables with a metallic braided outer layer with a ground wire from outer braid are the very best, and these will dampen RFIEMIEFI from many fans best also. A FOIL outer wrap under the electrical tape, or between layers of electrical tape, can make an emergency RFIEMIEFI dump layer adn if you can ground it with a wire even better yet-- but this will make the cable more rigid and might not be the result you want, so try without first or try two to three layers of electrcial tape first before you resort to that. Vinyl tape is not best, PVC is best (3M commerical grade).

    Thanks, Al Capown :D

    I'd be lying big time if I said I understood 10% of that.
  • ThraxThrax 🐌 Austin, TX Icrontian
    edited November 2003
    Retarded long posts simplified:

    Wires wrapped with their nearest pair to cancel noise is beneficial.
    Wires wrapped in a metallic braid to block RFI/EMI is beneficial.
    Wires wrapped again in foil over metallic are beneficial.
    Wires then wrapped in a PVC tape finishes it all off.
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