The pictures above show a disturbing occurrence that is the product of simply using the product. It's pretty evident that using just about any IDE cable you're going to have to bend the cables at least once, but more likely 2-3 times to get them into place in your system. These cables do not like to bend. They should in fact "flex" smoothly across the diameter of the cable as you position them into your case. Instead they bend, or KINK, into the desired shape!

   I noticed the second I removed them from their packaging that they felt "stiff". So of course the first thing you do is bend them. Well, it was like tearing off a turkey leg on thanksgiving. You could just feel the mesh inside crushing into itself. When I tried to re-straighten the cables there was obvious permanent damage to the inner mesh and I hadn't even USED the product yet! Pretty disheartening to say the least.

   The last picture above is the product of simply bending the product back and forth a few times. And I'm not talking completely bending and squishing the bend, I'm talking just bending the ends together each way. Something a typical IDE cable we've all come to know and love would have no problem with doing.

   Bottom Line: WAY TOO STIFF!... Moving on....

  This next scenario is an interesting one. I'm currently between cases right now since I just bought a new X2 system, meaning I'm using the HSPC Tech Station  as my main rig and test bench right now and I tell ya what, it's a good thing! Otherwise I would not have been able to connect this roundcable2-fx at all! Remember when I asked earlier if the connections were "too close?", well they are without a doubt too close together.

   I have a standard Pioneer slot-DVD drive and a new Sony 720-A DVD+RW in this setup. That's not a crazy setup and lots of you guys out there probably have the same drive setup. They're very popular choices in todays market. Well, the IDE ports on the two drives are not EXACTLY lined up vertically, therefore the Roundcable2-FX cable simply would not fit.

  Take a close look at the pictures above and notice the drives are staggered on the test bench. I could not physically line up the drives as they would be in a real case. Trying to flush the sides of the drives together was a lost cause, there simply was NOT enough distance between the IDE connections on the FX cable. Trying to flush the front of the drives was also an impossible mission because the slot load DVD drive was a good bit longer than the DVD-RW pictured below it. Once again, no where near enough cable. That is just totally unacceptable. I guess these are "use if you have the right drive setup" cables, and should subsequently say so on the packaging.

  As you can see here, a typical dual hard drive setup is what these cables are ideally suited for, other than the cables stiffness. You'll pretty much have to pre-bend the cables to somewhere near your desired position before you install them.

Conclusion:

  What an unforeseen ending to a highly anticipated product. I was quite anxious to get my hands on them thinking "now that's a great idea". Well, it IS a great idea, but badly executed.

   I simply can not recommend the Roundcable2-FX series at this point in time. Even if your drives DO match both depth and rear IDE port location it still comes down to that horribly stiff mesh that damages almost immediately.

   Softer mesh, better materials and an extra inch or two between the IDE connections and these would be a winner. Unfortunately right now though, they're just an "good idea gone bad".

Pros:

• Good "looks"

• Cleans up stacked IDE HDD connections easily

Cons:

• CD drives rear IDE sockets must line up perfectly

• CD drives must be same length to be used together

• Inner mesh damages far too easily

• Overall cable stiffness a bit much

• Forced to make pre-bends when routing cable in system