New PC SATA cable problems

andygb

I have a new PC (Zoostorm) which ran perfectly for one week, then would not boot up.
I phoned their support and he advised me to take off and then replace the SATA cable between the hard drive and motherboard, which I did, and then the PC booted up OK again.
However, it has just happened again, and I have used the same fix on it which has again worked.
I don't want to keep doing this obviously, and looking online it seems that poor quality SATA cables/connections can cause a lot of problems similar to mine.
Can anyone recommend a good make of cable please, because this is getting a bit ridiculous.
Cheers.

AndyPix

This doesnt sound right ..


Why should you keep having to replace cables in a new machine.
Surely it is their responsibility to provide a cable that is fit for purpose ..


The next point is, these cables dont just fail in a week .. The chances of that happening twice are almost none existant.


I dont think buying a "better quality" cable will fix your problem here, as i suspect the issue may be with the contacts on either end of the sockets.


Either way, it is not (or shouldbt be) your problem. I would return it to the supplier


Sata cables are all the same inside .. Even ones with "gold plating" etc are just snake oil as although gold is a better conductor, the 1 or 2 microns of it on the outer surface of the core will do nothing for connectivity.


On the other hand, if you buy into all that, then get yourself one of these bad boys ..
http://www.bit-tech.net/news/hardware/2012/03/26/wiredream-silver-sata/1

andygb

Wow! That is a pricy SATA cable Andy:eek:

I haven't actually replaced the cable yet, just refitted it, and although I do agree that it shouldn't be happening, the PC itself is blindingly fast (except when it stops completely - this is the second time in three weeks).
I don't want to return it and go through the unbelievable hassle of waiting in dor deliveries which didn't happen (not Zoostorm's fault).
Ironically, I think that exactly the same problem may have caused my old PC to become very slow, unresponsive, and fail to boot up.

AndyPix

Lol i know its ludicrous isnt it !!


Well you may aswell try a new sata cable then, but like i said, as long as its not a bargain basement one from the pound shop then they are all pretty much of a muchness ..


Oh, and if you think that SATA cable was expensive, its mere peanuts compared to the £42,000 you would have to shell out for a pair of these speaker wires !!!


http://www.alphr.com/blogs/2011/02/08/the-most-expensive-cable-in-the-world

andygb

Blimey, a bit pricier than the flat stuff I used to biwire my hifi system from Richer Sounds then.

googler

Order a couple of half-decent standard cables from Amazon, Maplin or similar (maybe one of each) and plug one of those in to see if the problem goes away.

Probably not worth getting the supplier to send a replacement cable, because they'll most likely send the same make/type ....

AndyPix

My thoughts were more towards it being a problem with the connectors on the motherboard or the hdd .


If the cable were faulty, then i dont see how unplugging it and plugging it back in would make any difference - but it did !!


As sata cables are so cheap - maybe give it one replacement - and if the issue persists, send the pc back

ARandomMiser

A new cable may help but from your description it sounds like a possible timing problem.

andygb

Just fitted a new braided SATA cable from Maplin (£7.99), and the PC seems to boot up and work even quicker than before - fingers crossed it stays this quick. The connectors on this new cable seem a lot more secure.

AndyPix

Brilliant, glad you got this sorted ..