Lengthening IDE cable questions

**osnola22** · 02-10-2006, 07:45 PM

I am trying to locate an XBox DVD drive to my dash, but in order to do that I need to extend the IDE cable. I bought a few 1 foot extensions just because they were cheap so I could test it out. I put one on at a time until it didn't work. I extended it 2 feet and it worked fine. When I put the third foot on there, it recognized the drive and the disc, but would not load. I need that third foot, plus another 6-12 inches.
My question is, if I bought a cable that was continuous, would this be better than having a bunch of little one-footers connected. I would think you may lose a little something with all of those connectors. Also, this is only a 40 pin cable. Can I use an 80 pin? Will it plug right in? From what I've read, the 80 pin has a ground wire between each of the 40 to produce a cleaner signal. My thoughts are, if I have a continuous 80 pin wire, I just may be able to get the 3 and a half to 4 feet I'm looking for if 2ft worked fine the way I had it rigged up. I just wanted to see your thoughts, since I don't have any experience with this. I don't know how much of a difference being continuous and having 80 pin wire vs. the 40 pin would help. If anyone has any experience with this, I'd appreciate any thoughts, ideas, or help.

Thanks alot.

**DarquePervert** · 02-10-2006, 07:57 PM

IDE specification is for max cable length is eighteen inches.
Twenty-four inches is relatively common, but technically outside the official IDE specifications.
Any longer than that and I wouldn't count on it working, plain and simple.

Considering that Xbox uses some proprietary disc format that's not CD or DVD, the likelihood that using a connection out of spec will work is even less. You've been given this information before, but you don't seem to think it's worthwhile or are just plain ignoring it.

You need to come up with a new plan. Sorry if you don't like that, but it's fact.

**gnomad** · 02-11-2006, 12:52 PM

I've seen some hacks that let you do real USB on the x-box; one of those coupled with an IDE-USB adapter for the DVD *might* do the trick. At the hardware level it should certainly work, at least, but it is questionable whether the x-box software would talk to a USB drive.

-g.

**LESLIEx317537** · 02-11-2006, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by DarquePervert

IDE specification is for max cable length is eighteen inches.
Twenty-four inches is relatively common, but technically outside the official IDE specifications.
Any longer than that and I wouldn't count on it working, plain and simple.

Considering that Xbox uses some proprietary disc format that's not CD or DVD, the likelihood that using a connection out of spec will work is even less. You've been given this information before, but you don't seem to think it's worthwhile or are just plain ignoring it.

You need to come up with a new plan. Sorry if you don't like that, but it's fact.

Do your research.
Maybe also I should change my sig to add 15 foot IDE 80wire to my list of things I've used for 4 years.

I have a 15 foot IDE 80 wire powering my dvd-cdrw laptop slotload in my glovebox.

You cannot buy 80wire IDE extension cables Male and Female connector from www.Stonewallcable.com.
But you can buy a 40wire one, but it won't work.

Replace the whole IDE with a continious 80 wire 40 pin and it will work. You can get it from www.stonewallcable.com
http://www.stonewallcable.com/produc...++++++++++++++
$21.00 + $0.05 per Inch

This cable isn't for show and it plain works, and that's a fact!

**DarquePervert** · 02-11-2006, 03:45 PM

Look...
I'm not saying anything bad about your setup. I'm glad you've got this long-as-hell IDE cable working.

Look at what I told the OP:
The official IDE specification sets a maximum cable length of eighteen inches.
Two-foot IDE cables are very common, although technically out of specification.
I wouldn't count on it working with a longer cable.

My research isn'g going to go into any number of people that have longer-than-spec (or longer-than-common-length) IDE cables. Your'e not the only one who has a long IDE cable that works.
There are also many others who have made such a cable that haven't had your results, too. Yours is a special case.
Kudos for you. You beat the odds. You bucked the system.

But telling someone that a 15-foot cable will definitely work, especially in a non-standard setup like an Xbox is false. You don't know that it will work, but you believe it will.

Hell, even your cable source won't guarantee a cable longer than four feet:

Originally Posted by stonewallcable.com

Note: This 40 pin, 80 conductor ATA ribbon cable allows for custom placement of the connectors on the cable. Configuration is blue (controller), and black (primary drive). Our ATA cables are guaranteed to a maximum length of 48 inches. The length, in inches, is the distance between the two connectors and not a tip to tip measurement.

So is it worth a shot for osnola22 to contact this vendor? Sure. I'd say it's worth a shot, but I'd call them and ask some questions about the use of the cable in an Xbox before dropping $30 or so on a cable.

**LESLIEx317537** · 02-11-2006, 04:18 PM

Can't he just return it if it doesn't work?
You never know till you try!

**DarquePervert** · 02-11-2006, 04:34 PM

Most suppliers won't take returns on custom-made pieces.
Of course, you could always ask.

**malkalm** · 02-11-2006, 04:50 PM

if the wires are twisted it might work

**DrLomax** · 05-11-2006, 05:16 PM

I just got my 18ft 80/40 IDE from stonewall cable and it does NOT work. May be its because there are 2 drives hooked on it. But we dont have a second IDE port in the xbox. Its weird because the DVD boots up if theres a game in it but the HDD doesnt even though the cable is setup as

HDD <---- 24"----> Controller port <---- 16ft ----> DVD
Controller Port <---- 24"----> HDD <---- 16ft ----> DVD

I expected the HDD to boot up and not the DVD rom. The cable costed my $50 after shipping so I dont think im gonna trial and error another one.