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ATAPI Cabling
Audio / Video Cabling
Audio - Virtual Cabling
Cabling & Networking Products
Microphone Cables
SCSI Cabling

Occasionally we're asked about Cabling. A chain is only as strong as the weakest link. In time, as we expand this List we will also expound upon the Virtues of Cabling. In Cabling, Quality counts! And price does not always dictate quality. IF a manufacturer is proud of their cables, they'll take the time to explain why they may have a better solution than the competition. OR why a a particular type of cable make such a difference in signal integrity over the distance of time & space. GB

Everyone sells cables. Not everyone sells specialty cables. Some of these links may help.

APC - Cable/Connectivity Solutions
1. www.apc.com/tools/cable_selector/
2. Cable Selector: Find Cables by Type or Device.

ATA/ATAPI Cabling

The SFF-8049 (Small Form Factor Committee - SFF) Specification limited the cable length to 18" end to end. This includes 12" from Motherboard to Secondary Drive and 6" from Secondary Drive to Primary Drive. Even though this Spec, SFF-8049 (80-conductor ATA Cable Assembly) proposed in 1997 by the T13 Technical Committee - AT Attachment as "T13/D97121R1" has Expired, we will continue to quote this spec, SFF-8049, until we locate a more current and quotable ATA Specification for reference or Serial ATA overtakes us!

Longer 24" Cables are available and can be used on ATAPI Devices (CD-ROM's). Longer 24" Cables should NOT be used on ATA/133 HD's. The Small Form Factor Committee Specs may be viewed from their FTP site. See: Index of Specifications - SFF-8000.

"SFF-8049 Specification for 80-conductor ATA Cable Assembly, Rev 2.7 July 15, 1998 - Abstract: This document defines the construction of a cable which provides protection against signal crosstalk in ATA applications. The members voted in September 1999 that this specification Expire."

"T13/D97121R1", was defined as, "Proposal for inclusion of additions to ATA/ATAPI-4 required to specify an 80-conductor cable assembly and a 40-conductor cable assembly with an alternate CSEL (CS - Cable Select) configuration." We may include this information later for further reference and study. This proposal was designed as a “drop-in” to ATA/ATAPI-4 and is based on T13's D1153r1. And further referred to as, "80-conductor ATA Cable Assembly [SFF-8049]."

Based on our other ongoing Analysis & Specifications Research Watch, the reason for this Specification expiring would be due to the content being included in the current ATA Standards by www.T13.org (1/1/03). GB

Quoting Belden in regards to Cable Length since the goal would be Reducing Crosstalk, "Generally speaking, the longer your transmission length, the more crosstalk. Therefore, reduce your cable length to the shortest achievable distance." See: Cable Crosstalk - Definitions.

ATA Cables are typically made of PVC [gray], TPO (Thermal Plastic Olefin) [white] & TPE (Thermoplastic Elastomer) [yellow] or Teflon jackets. If this is correct according to insulation material color, then Gigabyte's ATA Cables are TPE. And yes, Cables DO make the difference! More on that subject later!

ATA/ATAPI Cables have 3 significant areas to overcome: EMI, Crosstalk & Noise Interference. All 3 of these issues are related and of great importance when dealing with ATA/133 signal integrity.