Serial ATA, is another connection type. (sata is newer and better than the EIDE type) The cable's width is about 1cm. On your hard drive you can either look at the connection slots on the back, or try reading the lable on the hard drive.
I'm not sure about the writing on the ide cable, but it sounds like the 40 wire one. The 40 wire one has Black,black,black connection slots.(the plastic part to plug to the hard drive.) while the 80 is black, grey, blue.