Belkin Model F2N1123-18INCH 18" 3-Connectors IDE Round Black Cable

Pros: -Have had this in a PC that I sold back in '05 and they are running great, was a max build for '05 and the customer still has that pc and is happy with it, modified it a tad...
-Solid connectors.

- great extension

Cons: none

Pros: None

Cons: This is very poorly made. I am a system builder and have built many systems with rounded cables, but this stuff is junk, and never had this problem before, but was building a new system for my daughter and used this cable, as a builder you would know there will be several times to pull it back out and the first time all the wires came out after pulling on it.

Other Thoughts: The wires came out so easy, and none of them were secure. I had to use a 3 year old cable that worked great. These are way over priced, and are poor quality.

Pros: Round cable is easier to route in the case than traditional IDE cables.
Allows better cooling air flow than ribbon cables.
Nylon sheathing protects cable pretty well.
Labels are nice and length is adequate.

Cons: The connectors seem flimsy where the wires come into each connector. I wouldn't recommend this cabke if you are planning on changing drives out frequently.

Other Thoughts: Round cables are definitely the way to go for older drives and any interfaces that normally use ribbon cables. I've used them for a while, and while this one is better than when they first came out, it could still stand an improvement or two. I don't think this cable would reliably survive more than two or three hard drive changeouts without taking extra special care to avoid stressing the wires at the connectors. It would be nice if they were easily extended as well. All of this is pretty academic though since SATA does not have these issues.

As a side note, this cable does not appear to work as an alternative for the ribbon cable between Creative Labs' Audigy and X-Fi sound cards and their front panel operating bays. The pinout looks right, but I could not make the front operating bay work with this cable in place. Maybe Belkin (or Creative) will offer something that does work.

Pros: it works

Cons: Bigger and bulkier than it looks in the pics. Its pretty stiff, as in it doesnt like to bend easily. Its also kind of cheap near the connector, it looks like a wire could pop out at any moment...

Other Thoughts: This has been sitting in a drawer since i got it and decided i hated it. Looking back I dont know what i was thinking... I guess i thought it would route better and take up less space, when in reality it is the exact opposite. Stick with the classic flat design.

Pros: Works when it's connected

Cons: Master pull-tab broke off after about the 3rd pull. Not the thin "label" part - but the black plastic clip that connects the pull-tab to the cable itself (and it didn't just pull out - the plastic clip broke). I've always feared this was a weakness with round cables but this is the first time it's actually happened to me.

Pros: High quality material, easy to manipulate, and they work as they should, simply put.

Cons: Only comes in black, apparently.

Other Thoughts: I'm glad these are 18". As a general rule, unless it absolutely is required by your build, IDE cables should never be much longer than 18". This helps prevent CRC errors and ensures your device's connectivity and communication with the motherboard, since IDE devices lack terminators at the interfaces, and a cable that is too long will result in the signals you want your drives and your motherboard to be able to hear being significantly blurred by delayed reflections* from each end of the cable.

*- Data transmitted down a cable can reflect (or "bounce") and come back like a wave hitting the end of a bathtub, causing an impedance mismatch.

Pros: Sturdy construction, Easy to manipulate in my desktop case. Rounded for better cooling.
Looks Great. Just what I expect from this manufactor.

Cons: None

Pros: great IDE cable, quality is OK, durable cover and real round cable.

Cons: Short for use in some large MidTower-Tower cases

Pros: Good, Round, Cheap & Black.

Cons: Wish it was longer!, ie. 24 inch.
Dust boots slip unless you add a little silcone.

Other Thoughts: Better than the typical generic brand.

Pros: It's well shielded, and is rounded. Other than that, it is just like any other cable.

Cons: The very ends of the shielding for the cable (the area where the wires meet the connectors) are very loose. This isn't a tremendous problem, but I could expect more from a company that thrives on data mediums. It just doesn't feel solid like some other cables do.

Other Thoughts: Aside from it's shortfall, you get what you pay for with this cable. I personally didn't like it, so I chose to get a different one.