New IDE cables

Hi..
I decided to take out the ribbon cables that the Dragon+ came
with and install new 36" round IDE cables. I noticed 2 differences.
The old ribon cables had the red strip so you know which way to
intsall the cable to pin#1, The new round cables have no such marking,
so how can you tell which way to place them ? I also noticed that the
old cables had less holes for the drive pins, the new cables have all
the holes and no blocked pins, my drives are ATA 66 and ATA 100, would
this make a difference. everything seems to be runnng fine..Thanks for
the responses.. Brian

In article <>,
says...
> Hi..
> I decided to take out the ribbon cables that the Dragon+ came
> with and install new 36" round IDE cables. I noticed 2 differences.
> The old ribon cables had the red strip so you know which way to
> intsall the cable to pin#1, The new round cables have no such marking,
> so how can you tell which way to place them ? I also noticed that the
> old cables had less holes for the drive pins, the new cables have all
> the holes and no blocked pins, my drives are ATA 66 and ATA 100, would
> this make a difference. everything seems to be runnng fine..Thanks for
> the responses.. Brian

IDE cables and sockets have been keyed since around the 486 days so that
they can not be plugged in the wrong direction.

Well, I suppose it could be done, but a person would really have to work
at it, and use a lot of force, or a file.

Doug

Brian <> wrote in message news:<>. ..
> Hi..
> I decided to take out the ribbon cables that the Dragon+ came
> with and install new 36" round IDE cables. I noticed 2 differences.
> The old ribon cables had the red strip so you know which way to
> intsall the cable to pin#1, The new round cables have no such marking,
> so how can you tell which way to place them ?

IDE cables are supposed to have an index key which corresponds
to a slot in the center of one side of each IDE socket.

If yours don't, I'd suspect that they are built by a company
that is too cheap to really do it right.

>I also noticed that the
> old cables had less holes for the drive pins, the new cables have all
> the holes and no blocked pins,

Same comment as above.

> my drives are ATA 66 and ATA 100, would
> this make a difference. everything seems to be runnng fine..

Well, everything's running fine because you (50/50) got it plugged
in properly.

However, it seems to me that you have cables from a company that
couldn't be bothered to do things right.

I'd go find some quality product.

Greg

Brian <> wrote in message news:<>. ..
> Hi..
> I decided to take out the ribbon cables that the Dragon+ came
> with and install new 36" round IDE cables. I noticed 2 differences.
> The old ribon cables had the red strip so you know which way to
> intsall the cable to pin#1, The new round cables have no such marking,
> so how can you tell which way to place them ?

IDE cables are supposed to have an index key which corresponds
to a slot in the center of one side of each IDE socket.

If yours don't, I'd suspect that they are built by a company
that is too cheap to really do it right.

>I also noticed that the
> old cables had less holes for the drive pins, the new cables have all
> the holes and no blocked pins,

Same comment as above.

> my drives are ATA 66 and ATA 100, would
> this make a difference. everything seems to be runnng fine..

Well, everything's running fine because you (50/50) got it plugged
in properly.

However, it seems to me that you have cables from a company that
couldn't be bothered to do things right.

I'd go find some quality product.

Greg