Dual High-Speed IDE drive cables

[callbar]

Hi,
I have a dual high-speed -80 ribbon- IDE drive cable which I would like to use to connect my ATA-100 HDD and CD-ROM drives to the primary IDE of my motherboard. The cable length from the BLACK connector to the GREY Connector is around 6" and from the GREY to BLUE connector is around 12".

Unfortuantely, the ratio of the cable dimensions to the connectors are the wrong way round for it to reach my devices. I really require the BLACK to GREY connector to be 12" and the GREY to BLUE to be 6". As I understand it, the BLACK connector should connect to the motherboard's primary IDE connector and the BLUE and GREY to the respective devices.

Is it possible to use the same cable but connect the BLUE connector to the motherboard's IDE connector and use the BLACK connector for the HDD IDE connector. Ofcourse making sure that the Red-Ribbon connects up to Pin 1. Is there any reasons why I could not use the cable in this way round?

Thanks

[yawningdog]

As long as pin 1 is connected to pin 1 and pin 1, it shouldn't be a problem.

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He thrusts his fists against the posts but still insists he sees the ghosts.

[callbar]

I checked the PC-Guide info pages and I find that I was wrong in thinking that by convention the BLACK connector attaches to the host (motherboard or Controller). According to PC-Guide regarding Connector Assignments and Color Coding:

Blue: The blue connector attaches to the host (motherboard or controller).
Gray: The gray connector is in the middle of the cable, and goes to any slave (device 1) drive if present on the channel.
Black: The black connector is at the opposite end from the host connector and goes to the master drive (device 0), or a single drive if only one is used.

So I should be OK with my present cable dimensions to connect it the 'conventional' way round. But it's nice to know that it does not make any different which colored connector - BLACK or BLUE - connects to the Host.

[kenja]

I've been able to use (non-"cable select") IDE cables "upside down" (reliably) only for ATA-33 transfer rates. Ditto for 24" IDE cables. I think it involves standing waves, etc.