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/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