IDE Cable question (master/slave)

[nightfishing]

With a standard 3 connector IDE cable, does it matter which connector goes to the master device and which goes to the slave?

I was always under the impression that the master went to the end of the cable and the slave went in the middle.

Does it make any difference?

I have read that w/ 66/100 devices it needs to be set up as I stated above, but w/ standard devices (CDRoms etc) it makes no difference.

[HAL9000]

I don't think it really matters with the standard IDE cables, just the ultra cables. Guess I should add also with the old cable select cables.

[morriswindgate]

Hal, maybe I am wrong on this, but it is my understanding that if you jumper the drives to master or slave it makes no difference on ATA66 cables. That the plug position on matters for cable select. Although convention is that Master at end, Slave at middle.

[HAL9000]

Everything I have read on Ultra cables specifies that even if you jumper master and slave on them, that the master must go on the end and the slave in the middle.

[morriswindgate]

Thanks Hal, I always use the standard convention, so until this post I never though about it.