Re: Slightly OT

Maverick wrote on 10/13/2003, 3:01 PM
Still having problems with this DMA thingy and have just about exhausted every avenue.

But, as a final thing I am wondering whether the IDE connector is wrong (40 wire not 80) as the original broke and I put in a replacemnet. is there an easy way of finding out. I can't see any conceivable difference bewteen the two types when comparing another from my PC.

Cheers

Comments

Chienworks wrote on 10/13/2003, 3:12 PM
If you have the high speed ATA interface (66 or better), you need the 80 wire cable. The extra wires form shields between adjacent wires. If you use a 40 wire cable then it just ain't gonna work well. You'll be restricted to 33MHz at best and DMA probably won't function. Your local computer store probably has a ton of the 80 wire cables for a couple of bucks each. They may even give you one if they've got extras. I'd send you one for free, but the postage would probably cost more than the cable.
Maverick wrote on 10/13/2003, 3:22 PM
Cheers, I appreciate the sentiment - and being the opposite side of the pond the postage may be just that little bit more;-)

Sadly our local stores are operated by means b*gg*rs but I've odered a new cable now online that is called a Transparent Tube Cable. Maybe this won't take up so much space either.

Thanks again.
BillyBoy wrote on 10/13/2003, 5:49 PM
Yep, those round cables are nice. The reason for using a 80 connector cable is once you get to the high end of IDE specs something called cross-talk happens. By making every other wire a ground it gets rid of the interference. It still terminates in a regular 40 pin connector. The newer drives, serial, only have 4 wires. A bit pricy yet and not for an older PC. Most of those are hot swapable,meaning you could add/remove a drive without turning off the computer.