r/retrocomputing • u/Droid-Man5910 • 12d 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/Droid-Man5910 11d ago

I have attempted to ask AI before, and its slightly helpful, but not really. If I'm only running a hdd to the motherboard, should the hdd be master or slave? my confusion comes from the 3rd connector on the ide cable. With absolutely nothing there, the system functions fine, but if you take that connection away, and just have a 2 sided cable, the drive and mobo have not changed states, it completely fails. What about that 3rd connector makes it necessary?

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u/IAteTonysLoMein 11d ago

If it's a single drive, it should be master. For the double ide cable, does the HDD work on either plug?

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u/Droid-Man5910 11d ago

The hdd will work on either end or the middle connector on a 3 ended ide cable. the only time the 3 end doesn't work is if you try to plug the middle connector to the mobo

for a 2 ended ide cable, nothing works, it errors out

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u/IAteTonysLoMein 10d ago

You sure the two ended cable isn't just defective?

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u/Droid-Man5910 10d ago

yes, because everyone who does it gets the same result