What is Cable Select (CSEL)?

Cable Select (CSEL) is an optional feature according to the ANSI ATA specification. It is an alternative method of identifying the difference between device 0 and device 1 on an IDE interface cable. Hard drives configured in a multiple drive system are identified by CSEL's value: If CSEL is grounded, then the drive address is 0. If CSEL is open, then the drive address is 1. Additionally, CSEL requires a specialized (and more expensive) 40-pin IDE interface cable, unlike the standard EIDE interface cable that is far more commonly used. This feature is rarely used.

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