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Old March 10th 06, 03:54 AM posted to alt.comp.periphs.hdd,comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage,microsoft.public.win98.disks.general
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Default Can IDE cable's end connector be left idle ( w-o affecting data transfer ) ?

Arno Wagner wrote
wrote
Arno Wagner wrote
glee wrote
glee wrote


You are correct as far as what that particular
web page refers to:40-pin, 80-wire IDE cables.


Correction/Typo: That should read: 40-pin, 40-wire IDE cables.
Brain failure (again)!


I'm not sure I should go so far as to say you are correct there,
either..... there can and will be the possibility of "electrical
disturbances" regardless.


True. There will be signal echoes on the wires. The enpoint
will indeed get a significantly cleaner signal.


But as I said a device at the end will not improve
the situation for the device in the middle in any way.


Wrong, it reduces the 'signal echoes' which are actually
the sharp edges getting reflected off the impedance
discontinuity. Thats reduced with a drive on the end.


It does not matter whether it is an 40/40 or an 40/80 cable.
IDE devices just don't do any termination.


Irrelevant. The drive has a different impedance to no drive.


Very relevant.


Nope.

An unterminated drive connected to the end actually
makes things worse for the device in the middle.


Nope. The impedance of that drive is
better reflections wise than no drive at all.