Difference between ATA100 & ATA133 cables

t31os · 22 May 2007 at 16:27

Hi guys, i've got 15 various IDE ribbons that i'm gonna get shot of, is there a sure way to tell the difference between an ATA100 and an ATA133 ribbon?...

Some are coloured some are not, but i'm pretty sure this doesnt mean the non-coloured ones are ata100.

Anybody got a definitive answer?..

steve258 · 22 May 2007 at 16:36

ATA100 and ATA133 uses the same cable AFAIA.

t31os · 22 May 2007 at 17:15

I know an ATA133 cable will work for ATA100, i'm pretty sure ATA100 cables don't do it the other way though.....

Don't know why i just have this niggling feeling....

fornowagain · 22 May 2007 at 17:22

Just make sure its an 80 conductor cable, not the older 40.

The faster timing requirements of Ultra ATA/66 and above require the use of
an 80-conductor cable. This is necessary for proper operation of UDMA modes
3 and greater. The 80-conductor cable is used with the same connector
configuration as the standard 40-conductor cable. The 40 additional
conductors are used as ground paths and are all connected to the 7 original
ground conductors. These additional ground conductors serve to improve the
overall signal quality (signal-to-noise ratio) of the ATA cable.
80-conductor Ultra ATA cables are also limited to a maximum cable length of
18 inches.

t31os · 22 May 2007 at 17:26

I think i tell which is which now, the older looking cables have more holes, where as the newer ones have 1 pin blocked when compared.

Sorry not sure what you meant by this...

The faster timing requirements of Ultra ATA/66 and above require the use of
an 80-conductor cable. This is necessary for proper operation of UDMA modes
3 and greater. The 80-conductor cable is used with the same connector
configuration as the standard 40-conductor cable. The 40 additional
conductors are used as ground paths and are all connected to the 7 original
ground conductors. These additional ground conductors serve to improve the
overall signal quality (signal-to-noise ratio) of the ATA cable.
80-conductor Ultra ATA cables are also limited to a maximum cable length of
18 inches.

How do you tell the difference?

EDIT: Nevermind, i understand the quote now, its not the blocked pin but literally the amount of cables the ribbon uses, 40 or 80..... which is quite obvious looking at the cables.

Thanx