A1200 IDE Cable for Hard Drive

[ewsz]

Hello everyone

I'm still using the original hard drive in my A1200. Unfortunately my IDE cable is gone for good, and I have to replace it.

So I ordered one from AmigaKit, but it is different from the original one from Commodore. The one from Commodore has one connector heading to the top, one to the bottom of the cable. The new cable has both connectors heading to the same direction. I hope it is possible to understand what I mean.

Are these cables still fine to use on an A1200 with a real hard drive? I figured the risk of trying is minimal, since there are no 12 volts on the connector. But I am still hesitant.

So am I just fine using this cable? Or do I have to make my own one?

Thanks in advance. And sorry for the stupid question.

Regards

[F0LLETT]

I would say the Commodore one is wrong.

Standard IDE cable should have connectors with notch in same direction.
As long as Arrow on connector plastic goes to red wire, your fine.

[ewsz]

Thanks. I gave it a shot. The cable is working. But the Commodore cable was working too.

I still cannot wrap my head around it, but it looks like both cables are doing the same.

Regards

[Boing-ball]

I would say the Commodore one is wrong.

Standard IDE cable should have connectors with notch in same direction.
As long as Arrow on connector plastic goes to red wire, your fine.

I thought there were cases as an example where a wire was cut on some 44 pin IDE cables? Was it pin 1? Or something like that. For certain hard drives to work correctly.

[F0LLETT]

I thought there were cases as an example where a wire was cut on some 44 pin IDE cables? Was it pin 1? Or something like that. For certain hard drives to work correctly.

Makes no difference, its still the red wire and clearly seen. I guess he is talking about the connector itself, being put on other side of cable. Maybe with notches pointing towards each other.

Thanks. I gave it a shot. The cable is working. But the Commodore cable was working too.

I still cannot wrap my head around it, but it looks like both cables are doing the same.

Regards

Any chance of pictures. Would help understand exactly what you mean.

[Thomas]

I still cannot wrap my head around it, but it looks like both cables are doing the same.

Of course they do. It's just a mechanical reason that they look different. If you have a harddrive/CF solution which fits better into the case in the other direction you might prefer the other type of cable. It is very similar to SATA cables with angled connectors. You get them angled to the left or angled to the right. Depending on how the harddrive is mounted in the case you might need one or the other. And it is very disappointing if you bought the wrong one.

[ewsz]

Of course they do. It's just a mechanical reason that they look different. If you have a harddrive/CF solution which fits better into the case in the other direction you might prefer the other type of cable. It is very similar to SATA cables with angled connectors. You get them angled to the left or angled to the right. Depending on how the harddrive is mounted in the case you might need one or the other. And it is very disappointing if you bought the wrong one.

I think you are hitting the point. Commodore´s variant is significantly reducing the stress on the connector on the main board of the A1200. But both result in the same wiring.

Do you know a source, where to buy a 40 PIN IDE cable with connectors on opposing sides? I could not locate one.

[F0LLETT]

You could also be talking about relief strains.

Post a picture. So we know exactly what you are talking about. As we are guessing here.

[ewsz]

You could also be talking about relief strains.

Post a picture. So we know exactly what you are talking about. As we are guessing here.

I am talking about a 2.5'' hard drive for an A1200 with the standard mounting bracket shipped by Commodore. If you have difficulties to envision that, then thanks anyways.