Max Length of cables?

Blindside · 03-23-03, 03:15 PM

I am building my computer semi-permanently into my desk in a completely custom enclosure with the hope of separating myself from all noise making devices (fans, etc.). However, it would be nice to have CD drives closer at hand. Is there a maximum effective length of IDE cables before I experience performance losses?

NookieN · 03-23-03, 03:34 PM

I think the standard says no more than 18 inches. I've seen some 24 inch cables out there, but I'm not sure I try to go much further than that.

stool · 03-23-03, 05:06 PM

I have been using 28" cables in a large full tower, and to date haven't shown any data loss problems. I wouldn't recommend going much longer than that.

Ben721 · 03-23-03, 05:13 PM

Isn't 36" the absolute maximum?

Wicked Klown · 03-23-03, 07:54 PM

So far the longest I have seen is 36". However they do tell you try and stay at or around 18". Right now I have mine on a 24" and so far so good.

SickBoy · 03-23-03, 07:58 PM

Shorter is better. 18" is the official maximum and I have only exceeded that once (For the DVD drive in my dual box). I don't recommend running your primary HD on anything longer than 18".

Yodums · 03-23-03, 08:09 PM

My cd rom is on a 36" cable because I'm using a full tower. My hard drives however are only on a 18" cable.

Blindside · 03-23-03, 09:38 PM

Many thanks for the responses! I'll just be mounting the cd drives "remotely". Thank god Antec installs 45' power cords on their power supplies haha

03-23-03, 03:15 PM	Thread Starter #1
Blindside Registered Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Indianapolis	Max Length of cables? I am building my computer semi-permanently into my desk in a completely custom enclosure with the hope of separating myself from all noise making devices (fans, etc.). However, it would be nice to have CD drives closer at hand. Is there a maximum effective length of IDE cables before I experience performance losses?
	QUOTE Thanks

03-23-03, 03:34 PM	#2
NookieN Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: The West	I think the standard says no more than 18 inches. I've seen some 24 inch cables out there, but I'm not sure I try to go much further than that.
	QUOTE Thanks

03-23-03, 05:06 PM	#3
stool Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Albany, NY	I have been using 28" cables in a large full tower, and to date haven't shown any data loss problems. I wouldn't recommend going much longer than that. __________________ My Heatware
	QUOTE Thanks

03-23-03, 05:13 PM	#4
Ben721 Official X-Hour Man Join Date: Feb 2002	Isn't 36" the absolute maximum? __________________ Ben My Heatware
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03-23-03, 07:54 PM	#5
Wicked Klown Hard Ass Southern Boy Senior Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Sheboygan, Wisconsin	So far the longest I have seen is 36". However they do tell you try and stay at or around 18". Right now I have mine on a 24" and so far so good. __________________ Media Server \| Norco RPC-470 \| GIGABYTE GA-890XA-UD3 \| Phenom II X4 925 Deneb \| 8gigs G.SKILL Ripjaws PC3 10666 \| 64gig Crucial M4 \| x2 2TB Samsung F3 \| x2 1TB Samsung F1 \| x1 2TB Samsung F4 \| 500gigs Seagate 7200.10 \| Sapphire HD4830 HDMI \| Corsair 650hx HEAT "Never surrender. You're too much of a hardass to die on everyone." - Voodoo Rufus
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03-23-03, 07:58 PM	#6
SickBoy Inactive Moderator Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: Minneapolis, MN	Shorter is better. 18" is the official maximum and I have only exceeded that once (For the DVD drive in my dual box). I don't recommend running your primary HD on anything longer than 18". __________________ Used to be awesome Heatware
	QUOTE Thanks

03-23-03, 08:09 PM	#7
Yodums Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: Ottawa, Canada	My cd rom is on a 36" cable because I'm using a full tower. My hard drives however are only on a 18" cable. __________________ Peter Gibbons: Let me ask you something. When you come in on Monday, and you're not feelin' real well, does anyone ever say to you, 'Sounds like someone has a case of the Mondays'? Lawrence: No. No, man. ****, no, man. I believe you'd get your ass kicked sayin' something like that, man.
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03-23-03, 09:38 PM	Thread Starter #8
Blindside Registered Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Indianapolis	Thanks guys Many thanks for the responses! I'll just be mounting the cd drives "remotely". Thank god Antec installs 45' power cords on their power supplies haha
	QUOTE Thanks

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