Hard (to understand) Drives

[Yon]

What is the difference between SATA and IDE/ATA? Also, what is the the number after the ATA? eg: ATA-133

 

[ag3]

All HDDs are based on ATA.

The one's you attach to the IDE controller is a Parallel. It is called ATA-133 because the interface (and drive itself) has the potential to reach 133 Mb/s. But in reality, they don't even reach 100 Mb/s.

Serial ATA is somewhat new. Because of the new interface, they theoreticaly can reach 150 Mb/s. But once again, they don't even reach 133 Mb/s half the time. They use a Serial connector instead of a Parallel, so your case has more room the breathe. You also have the choice of using a Molex or a SATA connector for the power.

 

[Yon]

So, as the SATA harddrives are slightly more expensive than the IDE, and they both rarely reach their potential, would it be a waste of money (all be it a few pounds/dollars)?

 

[ag3]

No... I'd say it is definatly worth buying a SATA HDD. It is only a few dollars more, and it is (slightly) faster than PATA/ATA-133. Plus, if you have a case window it makes things look so much neater!

Parallel is dead. Everything is going serial... Even optical drives!

 

[koldapu]

yep just like the upcoming BenQ DW1650

16XDVD+R WITH 4x OR 8x dual layer!

 

[koldapu]

i also agree with agex . . .

on newegg, a comparable PATA (parallel ata) and SATA are only $3-4 apart . . .

same drive, but different interface

if your mobo can handle it, then get a sata

 

[Lone Wolf]

WalnutMon, a Moderator will be w/ you shortly to deal w/ your short-term mushroom brain.

Yon, only recent motherboards can support the newer SATA HDDs. If you have an older MB that does not have a SATA connection, you can still install a SATA drive, but w/ the cable converter, you will not see the full benefit (speed wise) of a SATA drive.

 

[Yon]

Asus P4C800-E Deluxe, which does support SATA

 

[Lone Wolf]

Well then if you have the budget for it, then why not? It's the latest technology in HDDs and you could even learn a few things about computers. Try it for shits and giggles... compare the speed of your current system w/ the new SATA drive. Take some very large files or several smaller ones and do some copy/paste methods. See how much faster it is.

 

[Blind_Arrow]

just adding one more thing, S-ATA's are Hot swappable ( means that you can unplug/re-plug data cables while system is running.

also, not all S-ATA's coem with both power connectors, I have WD (with S-ATA Power conenctor only) wehere as Seagate came with both.