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View Full Version : how to make an IDE cable ignite and smoke


cowanrg
10-08-01, 11:10 AM
interesting subject eh? well, it's really what this post is about.

in a desparate attempt to get my sb live value's SPDIF output working, ( http://forums.overclockers.ws/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=39105 ) i decided to try the card in my friend's computer...

so, i plug it in, and boot. still doesnt work. hum. it has a digital daughterboard so i can get optical out and such. i figure i might as well try that too (even though the onboard SPDIF doesnt work either...) so i try that. nothing. being completely frustrated now (analog works fine, but no digital, and no errors, anything).

for those of you that don't know, there is a 40 pin cable (IDE really...) ribbon cable connecting the sb live value with the daughterboard. i figure, i've tried everything, why not switch the cable around, maybe its something stupid like that.

wrong idea... i switch it backwards, and flip the computer on (my friends ;-) ) and we are watching it post, and out of the corner of our eyes, we see nice big plumes of smoke! the ide cable has now ignited! my friend stumbles desperately to get the computer off, but its obviously a software switch, so you cant just press it. i reach over and just yank the power cord out. (yeah, he might have to defrag...)

and we sit thre, looking at a smoldering IDE cable. he wasn't happy. (computer is fine. im guessing daughterboard is trashed completely.) if it worked before, its dead now. just a little FYI. if you have any daughterboards, i would double check the cables.

KILLorBE
10-08-01, 11:42 AM
WOW that sucks, guess its a creative problem cuz I got a AWE64 Gold with SPDIF out (Sony/Philips Digital InterFace) and never got it to work :mad: .

But at least you didn't kill your friends computer, does the SB Live still work?

BTW: Nice cables (AudioQuest) :D

cowanrg
10-08-01, 01:19 PM
nah, sb live still works...

as you can kinda tell from my system, optical is IMPORTANT to me... hell, i can tell difference from coax digital and optical. so, i really really need it to work!

im gonna switch to the onboard audio thing from IWILL. i just ordered it and it should be here in like 2 days. i really hope it sounds alright. its optical though, so it cant really sound TOO bad. (its tough to mess up digital > digital).

yeah, the audioquest cables are awesome! great price too. i have the 4+ bi-wired (2 sets of cables per speaker). so, i have 2 12guage cables for bass, and 2 14 guage cables for treble and midrange. and the copper is single strand, 99.99% pure. the bass it SO tight and extended its amazing. i suggest them to anyone that wants to improve the sound of their speakers.

KILLorBE
10-08-01, 02:49 PM
I would love to have cables like that, but I already spend way too much on my audio equipment.

Here's a pic of my speaker and interlink cables (speaker cables: Monitor Precision Streamline 5, Interlink cables: Home made....Silver plated copper with 24k gold plated plugs :D )

cowanrg
10-08-01, 04:01 PM
very nice!

i will eventually need interconnects, but right now, everything is on my comp...

i use my computer for all my media... everything is in MP3 format, and i USUALLY have optical out :-)