So, we review a cable...
Coolermaster Aerodynamic IDE Cable (TTC-A24)
Introduction
Over the years of computing, computers have always been known
to have these ugly gray ribbon cables inside of them connecting there
hard disks to the motherboard. Well recently people have been changing
there ribbon cables for rounded IDE cables. These don't just improve the
look of inside your PC but also help with airflow. Now your probably thinking
by removing a small ribbon cable and replacing it with a rounded cable
can't dramatically improve the airflow. But when your running a high end
processor, overclocked as far as it can go, airflow is critical.
Appearance
The first thing you notice once you have opened the box, is that the cables
have pull tabs. The pull tabs are to prevent mishandling when removing
the cable from a motherboard or IDE device. Many people just pull at the
cables, which can bend the pins on the IDE connector and also cause damage
to the plastic around the cables by not pulling the cable straight. The
connectors are also colour coordinated. IDE connections on motherboards
are blue, therefor Coolermaster have matched this and by using a blue
connector on the cable and a blue pull tab.
The cables also come in a variety of colours. Coolermaster
have split these rounded cables into categories. The Coloured Series which
consist of Green, Yellow and Red coloured cables. The Transparent Series
which is the silver braided cables. And finally the Ultra series. These
are available in black and also come with a chassis grounding wire.
Features
The main features of these cables are:
- Colour-Coded connectors for easy installation.
- Round cable for minimal clutter and better air flow.
- Aluminum foil shielding to minimise EMI. (electromagnetic interference)
- Integrated pull tab on connector to ensure ease of removal.
Specification
- Length: 24 inches (60cm)
- Connector Type: FC 40P socket x 3
(blue-M/B, Black-Master, Grey-Slave) - Conductor:AWG 30
- Cable Jacket: PVC with Tinned Copper Wire Braiding
- Boot: PVC 80 (Colourless)
- EMI Shielding: Tinned Copper Wire
Tests
Before I installed the Coolermaster cable I took the time to do
a few tests to compare the cable against my existing rounded cable. The
cable I was using was a standard ATA100 silver braid cable. I benchmarked
my IBM 60GB 60GXP 7200rpm. As you can see the two graphs shown below,
the Coolermaster cable seems to be slightly better with less peaks
Standard Silver Braided Round ATA100 IDE Cable
Coolermaster Silver Braided Round ATA133 IDE Cable
Pro's
- Clean uncluttered look
- Handy Pull Tabs
- Variety of colours
- Increase airflow
- Slightly improved performance
Con's
- Pull Tabs could easy be torn
- Slightly more expensive than other brands
- Not as flexable as I wished.
Conclusion
My advice is if you are wanting to buy some new rounded cables
then go for the Coolermaster ones. With a bit peace of mind knowing your
HDD transfers are not going to be jeopardised by using cheaper alternatives.
They are one the best quality IDE cables I have used and you can tell
Coolermaster have taken some time and effort in producing these cables.
:-)
