Resolved Serial Data Cable

When I recently bought my computer, in the motherboard bo was a cable with 2 identical ends (4 silver prongs).
From the manual it appears to be a serial data cable and that either end can be connected to the SATA/SATA11 hard disk or the SATA11 connector on the motherboard. ( I have no idea what any of that means!).
Can anyone tell me if this cable should be attached and what the other end should be attached to; and in fact, whether I need to attach it at all.

 

Are we talking about the system in your profile? If so how are you connecting your DiamondMax HD?

BTW it's SATA II (2) not 11 (eleven)

 

Thanks Wildfire, yes it's the system in my profile. As to how I'm connecting, I have no idea, I have not examined the interior of the tower at all.
By the way I'm only guessing its a SATA data cable, which is shown in the instructional booklet as an optional extra.
I'm afraid what connects to what is usually something of a mystery to me!

 

If it ain't broke don't fix it. The cable is for connecting to SATA drives, since yours is working then whoever put the system together has done all he/she needs.

Keep the cable in case you add a second drive to your system.

 

No Pete it's not like that one, just a black cable with 4 pin attachments at either end. As Wildfire says maybe it's an "if it ain't broke..." situation.
Thanks guys.

 

Either that or USB,

Cozzie, don't mark the thread as resolved just yet... I'm going to dig out your manual and have a look to see if I can find out what we're talking about. It doesn't seem to be a SATA cable after all.

 

OK just had a look, your onboard USB's are the normal 9 pin connectors so we can rule them out.

The only four pin connectors I can see are (case) Speaker, CD audio (as pete mentioned) and CPU fan.

We can rule out speaker and fan (the other end of the cable would already be connected) but with cd audio in you'd expect female connectors not male as you have described. It's possible you've just got a redundant cable that just found its way into your box.

 

Well thanks for your help guys, I hadn't expected such an in depth response. The computer is working fine, so it suggests that as you say it it probably just a redundant cable.
I am however curious to know the difference between a male and female connector, unless of course an explanation might be too delicate for the younger members of this forum.
In the meantime I'll mark this thread as solved.

 

Male connectors are usually considered plugs whereas female ones are sockets, the wiki link I provided explains it fairly well and without straying too far the difference in gender is fairly obvious if you think about it.

 

Thanks Wildfire