[hammerbill]

I've noticed for several years that people who sell cables (IDE/SCSI) often brag about the length as if it were a good thing. I think a lot of people have bought into this and have cables in their computers that are too long. I have even seen IDE cables as long as 3 feet for sale and have wondered who could possibly need such length.
Why get shorter cables? I can think of several good reasons:
1. Shorter cables can reduce airflow blockage.
2. They pick up less electromagnetic interference.
3. Electrical resistance to the drive is minimized.
4. They often cost less.
5. It is easier to look in your system and see where everything goes at a glance.

I even use round single device IDE 100/133 cables, which I have found as small as 6 inches long on lone drives. Even so, many people have computers in which a 3 inch cable might work if one were made and sold. I prefer round cables.

[haysdb]

I have been looking in vain for short round cables. My hard drives are mere inches from the motherboard connectors, and even 12" cables are way longer than they need to be, and contribute to the clutter inside my case. The shortest cables I have found are 10". 8" would be better and even 6" would be long enough for two of the drives.

David

[JohnWill]

Buy the connectors and wire and make them yourself. I fashion short cables when I need them all the time. FWIW, if you can't find the 80 pin connectors, with a little care, you can remove them from a standard cable and reuse them.

[mobo]

The less clutter in the box, the greater the air flow; the cooler the box,the happier the user