Sata Hard Drives

By Author: Harry Spencer
Total Articles: 20
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The serial advanced technology attachment or SATA is a computer bus that connects the host bus adapters to the mass storage devices like hard disk drives and optical drives. They are the most popular hard drives being sold today. It can be found in the newly purchased computers. In cases where SATA hard drives is not compatible with the older computer models, SATA adaptor cards are made available ready-to-be plugged in one of the expansion slots on the computer motherboard.

SATA has successfully taken over the older Parallel ATA (PATA) interface. SATA gives far better data transfer and hot swapping (disconnecting and reconnecting without shutting down the computer) along with reduced cable-bulk and cost. They are the best option today for high bandwidth applications like video editing and multiplayer gaming. SATA cables are convenient to plug in without causing damage to the fragile connecting ports on drive.

We also have an option of connecting an external SATA (eSATA) to enhance the speed of SATA and allow exterior storage solutions. However, USB is the most popularly used for storing data externally, eSATA is ...
... a more efficient version of USB that increases usability and speed to a considerable extent. It forms a direct channel with the internal SATA drives allowing for the transfer of data at speeds corresponding to the SATA drives mounted internally.

While eSATA has triple the speed of data transfer compared to the USB, it does have one drawback, which is, it requires a separate power connector. While many might use external hard drives to transfer high bandwidth information like videos, with standard USB's transfer of large files or streaming videos directly from the drive may be hampered because of the lower speed of data transfer through the USB. eSATA on the other hand, covers up the USB flaw by avoiding the USB data channel to perform the transfer and using the same channel that the computer's internal hard drives use.

A SATA hard drive can be transformed into an eSATA portable drive by the use of a special eSATA enclosure. The inclusion of eSATA ports on newer computers can also prove beneficial for the Flash Memory.

Currently eSATA enclosures are selling at almost double the cost of the older style. eSATA cables max out at 2 meters as compared to USB cables at 5 meters.

With the formation of the SATA-IO organization and the consummation of the eSATA specification, a new logo is now being introduced to identify eSATA hosts and drives that are SATA spec compliant products. Since the limited availability of eSATA in various countries, it can be readily enabled though, by the addition of an eSATA HBA or bracket connector for desktops and with a Cardbus or Express Card for notebooks.

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