I'm planning a carputer for my 350z, for which I already have a mini computer and a screen I just confirmed purchase for from CopperZ. I plan on completely hiding the computer itself (undetermined location so far) but relocating the power button, hard drive light, and power light (easy move). I also plan on relocating the CDROM drive (slim, laptop style, slot-load) to somewhere convenient, but out of the way, flush-mounted. The only snag so far is finding a cable for these little cdrom drives.

I can't figure out an official name for the connector, other than "mini IDE", and all the results I get are for mini-IDE to regular IDE converters, not cables.

here is a picture of it, it's the bottom connector, the smaller one:


does anyone have any idea what the name of this connector is, and if a cable even exists for it?

 

wow he iddnt wait for me to figure out money orders....i hate copperz now...wow

 

but to anser your question...i dont knwo the name either other than its an ide 44 female pin to a 40 male pin...

let me see if i can find it...

 

found one...its a like this...and ive seen different versions of how they are, so jsut look araound....


http://www.compusa.com/products/prod..._Cable_Adapter

 

hmm maybe i worded it funny...

the cdrom i have has the mini 44-pin, and the mobo for the computer also has a mini 44-pin on some kind of riser card, but the connection to the mobo is still ONLY a 44-pin, and I have no free IDE slots to put a 44-pin to 40-pin converter.

all i need is a cable that is 44-pin male to 44-pin female.

 

well, i told him to consider it sold, that i would mail payment tomorrow. he had no objections. what did he tell you?

 

well i thought i implied i would be buying it when i asked about how money ordering worked....but i guess he didnt take it like that...i was sitill asking questions about payment...so i guess yours sounded firmer....but gah this sucks...

 

oh i took your question in a different way...but yah you can get a 44-44 like on new egg or something

 

ah i'm sorry man. yeah my connotation about it was very firm.

you try ebay for the lilliput screens? they're all over

 

yah and xenarc too...but ppl usin that one program/helper or something cuz i always get beat by the last increment no matter how much i bid and wait...ive actually been trying to get a screen for a few months....i have all my computer parts....

 

you mind if i ask what you're doing with the cdrom? i think looking for this nonexistant cable is a lost cause, and it's probably better to just invest in a slot load USB cdrom...

 

um im putting the computer in the cubby behind the seats...and extending the cd rom cabel to go to my dash so itll be near the headunit for conveience...

my advice is take your time and think it out...no matter what direction you choose itll be custom..so you might as well make it to your liking...

edit
wait i reread your other post....its a riser card? can it be removed?

 

nope. it's not a "real" riser card, as it's permanent, but it serves the same function, and it's not a real 44-pin connector, looking at it closely. it's some proprietary piece of garbage (unfortunately).

i want to use what equipment i have already, and what i've got for a CDROM is a dvd reader and cdrom reader/writer, slot-load (nice and slick). in order to use it, i've got to convert it to USB (IDE won't work in this case). i found the following ebay auction that has, more or less, what i'm looking for:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=190108061710

i'm not able to find anything else like this anywhere else... so unless you know of one, i asked the seller to see the connector inside to make sure it's what i want. dunno if i'll hear from them, but we'll see!

thanks for the info/help so far...

 

hmm tell you the truth tahts the first time ive ever seen an enclosure like that...good find...esp since it fits your needs...

gl with the project

 

seriously. i didn't know it existed until i saw that, and it makes me wonder if it's complete garbage, considering it's the only one i can find, and doesn't have a manufacturer name.

thanks again! i'll be sure to post tons of pics when it's all done.

 

yep, IDE to USB, then, just make up a power cable extension with 4 wires the the 2 x -grounds and +12v and +5v