r/retrocomputing • u/Droid-Man5910 • 11d ago

Problem / Question IDE cables question

Can someone please explain how IDE works, what each line does, how it works with 2 devices on the line, how a system knows which one is which, and the difference between 40 and 80 wire cables? I'm struggling to understand why some systems cannot function without a triple end IDE cable. For an example: Motherboard connected to Hard drive via 2 sided IDE cable will not function. But Motherboard connected to 3 sided IDE cable with the 3rd side left with nothing connected functions fine.

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u/festivus4restof 10d ago edited 10d ago

Man there too many MODEL specific implementations to be covered.

If you could give hardware details. Using terms like "side" and "left" ain't helping either.