I'm getting my annual urge to rebuild my computer. ( Like most of you, my computer is like the axe that chopped off Queen Ann's head. It's had 3 new handles and 2 new blades, but it's the same axe.)

Anyway, I want to install a dual hard drive RAID set, DVD, and CD-RW. I haven't choosen a mainboard yet, but I'm leaning toward one that supports IDE RAID on board.

I find the stock IDE cables a pain in the rear, because they are so short.

My questions are:

1) How long can IDE cables be?
2) What is a good source for good quality cables?

I used to make my own printer cables with ribbon cables and press on connectors, but I'd rather just buy nice long cables that I can nicely route in the case.

well if you're going with ATA/66 or ATA/100, those cables are limited to 2 feet I think, or whatever the standard size is. The reason being that if they were any longer, the connection would degrade and you wouldn't really be getting the best possible performance. That's why you don't see any new IDE cables longer than the standard ones.

If you want more flexibility, SCSI would be the way to go. Of course that's if you don't mind paying for a SCSI RAID solution...



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SystemLogic.net - Hardware Editor

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