However, since there is no standard spec for round IDE cables using twisted pairs, you're sort of at the whim of the cable maker as to whether any given cable actually does meet the specs for ...

i only have 2 ide slots on my k7s5a mobo and kind of confused on how i should of set it up. i have one hard drive, one cdrom and one burner. so the problem is 4 ide slots on cables, 3 items to hook ...