replacement optical drive cable for mac pro?

[nyc123]

Hello,

Just spent the entire day calling from the east to west coasts looking for a replacement ide cable. I frayed mine when I pushed in the dvd cage a BIT too hard.

I took out the cable, thought I could get this anywhere for under 15 bucks, case closed. Well, not too fast...! turns out I can't get this anywhere except to bring in the entire box to a repair center.

the 15 bucks is turning out more like 150-200 bucks. Plus **TIME**.

My question is: the service manual says it's a 40-pin standard IDE (20X2) - part 922-7686. can I use any standard ide cable? but the cable looks like an enhanced-IDE though. So I am a bit confused here.

does anyone know which IDE I can use, beside the apple's?

 

[Lovesong]

You should be able to use ANY IDE cable you have. You have any spare HDs? Pull one out of there? Do you have any computer stores around? Those things are sometimes even given out for free. That Superdrive is a regular Sony DVD-R that can be placed in a PC or Linux box. There is nothing special about it.

 

[SmurfBoxMasta]

AFAIK, the only diff between IDE & EIDE cables is the number of wires (40 vs. 80) and the # of drive connectors (1 vs. 2).......

if you need/cant find some, I have several extras of varying lenghts, just pay the postage ($1-2) & they're yours

 

[nyc123]

thank you all, I have extra ide cable laying around. I have been building my own systems for a while now. I'll try it and report back.

the lack of a sound connection threw me off, so I thought it was a specialized cable. Plus I didn't think it was such a HUGE deal get get a replacement cable from Apple.

thanks.

 

[peepsula]

Cable replacement work?

Did the generic IDE cable work for you. I think I pinched my cable moving the sled on a SSD install and now it won't read/write...but it does mount. Bought a new drive...same problem...now trying to work on cable. 2006-2008 Mac Pro.

 

[bralim]

Any luck with a generic cable?

I would think a cable for ultra-ata 133 should be fine? Let me know if you did try it. I will know soon enou as the generic is getting here tomorrow, all the piles of cables of mine are in storage....

 

[CaptainChunk]

Hmmm... $27.00 here.

I suppose you COULD use any generic IDE ribbon cable, but it would probably be difficult to route through the chassis.