Cabeling

Connections inside the PC are what connect the various components to the Motherboard and to one another. There are three main types of connection IDE, Floppy Ribbon and power.

The IDE is a ribbon that contains 40 or 80 wires and connects two devices to the motherboard, in most computers there are two IDE ribbons allowing for a possible four devices i.e. two HDD’s and two CD-ROM drives.

The Floppy ribbon is similar to an IDE cable as it can connect up to two devices; it is thinner and only contains 34 wires.

Each device that doesn’t connect to the PCI needs a power supply which comes from two types of connections. The Molex supplies power to the CD-ROM and HDD and the connector is an inch size D shape so that it can’t be inserted the wrong way (see pic belows). It consists of four wires leading to the connection, two blacks (ground wires), a red (5v) and a yellow (12v). A Mini Connector which is smaller also contains the same four wires and powers the FDD.

On the Left is a Molex and on the right is a Mini Connection.

This is called a Paralell Cable usually used to connect a Printer to a Computer but is now being replaced by USB.

This is a USB cable that connects a Printer or Scanner to a Computer.

And IDE cable with two connections to connect upto two devices to one IDE Controller.