Dave's perpetual question thread

[Helevitia]

Ok, I'm probably going to ask a lot of question in the next few months so I thought I'd start my own thread

Does anyone know if there is an adaptor that allows you to break the 18 inch(1/2 meter) barrier of IDE? For instance, maybe a tranceiver between the two IDE end intefaces that allows you to connect a SATA cable between. This would allow me to reach 39.37 inches(1 meter).

I finally have verification that SATA DVDs will be out soon, but nothing about CD-RW. Can anyone add to this?

Thanks,

Dave

[Dilitante1]

46" http://www.trianglecables.com/48inide40pin.html

36"

http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/ide-11008-36.html

[Helevitia]

Originally posted by Dilitante1
46" http://www.trianglecables.com/48inide40pin.html

36"
http://www.ramelectronics.net/html/ide-11008-36.html

thanks Dil, the problem is, after 18 inches, you are risking reliability. Now, I don't have first hand experience with reliability issues on extra long cables, but I am trying to keep it within spec.

Dave

[Marshmallowman]

Have a look around there are some VERY cheap PCI Silicon image SATA controllers around.

Failing that I would try out one of the long ATA133 cables(not that I have tried any of them)

[Dilitante1]

is the reliability an issue with a cdrom? or are ya planning running hard drives at that length?

[bsdgeek]

Hmm, really long cables and a removable motherboard tray... What is this mystery project?

[Dilitante1]

(/me thinks out loud) a portable system tester (/me shuts up now)

[Jammrock]

http://www.pcmods.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=392

The RD3XP cables are heavily shielded and constructed so they do do not degrad signal quality under almost any situation. They are expensive, but they are considered the best there are.

Jammrock

[Jon P. Inghram]

Maybe you could buy 40 uberexpensive audiophile cables and make your own IDE cable?

[Helevitia]

Originally posted by Dilitante1
is the reliability an issue with a cdrom? or are ya planning running hard drives at that length?

to be honest, I could strictly stick with sata assuming the dvd and cd's come out soon enough, but I rather have the option of using IDE if I need to. As of this moment, it is for CD/DVD and not the HDD.

[Helevitia]

Originally posted by bsdgeek
Hmm, really long cables and a removable motherboard tray... What is this mystery project?

Hopefully in the not to distant future, I can tell you.

[Helevitia]

Originally posted by Dilitante1
(/me thinks out loud) a portable system tester (/me shuts up now)

Nope

[Helevitia]

Originally posted by Jon P. Inghram
Maybe you could buy 40 uberexpensive audiophile cables and make your own IDE cable?

Hey, if I thought it was feasible, I'd consider it

[Wombat]

I'm at my mom's place, so I don't have everything handy, but I remember a web page from a guy that made an IDE cable out of CAT5, it was very long and worked quite well.

But maybe I'd try Jammy's link first.

[Technoid]

Originally posted by Wombat
I'm at my mom's place, so I don't have everything handy, but I remember a web page from a guy that made an IDE cable out of CAT5, it was very long and worked quite well.

But maybe I'd try Jammy's link first.

Yup, some years ago

And I can say that those extra long "normal" ide cables are not to trust for one instant.....

The one Jammrock linked to would be the only rging apart from the special cat5 ide cable that I believe will work