What is SATA ? In short , it ’s how almost everything storage - related connects to your motherboard . If youbuild your own PCsor have a desktop or laptop computer in the past tenner and a one-half , you’re able to be confident it was a Serial ATA ( SATA ) compatible part of computer hardware . Whether it was a hard thrust ( HDD ) , a solid - state driveway ( SSD ) , or an optical driveway , almost all of them used SATA until recently .

That ’s not always the face , as there are some newer standards uncommitted for high - speed campaign . But alongsidePCIe and NVMe , SATAis still a significant role player , specially when it comes to larger - sized HDDs and SSDs .

Data and power

Although there are a myriad of computer products show as SATAdevices ,   the reason they are called that is that they apply the SATAinterface . In other words , your PC connects through two SATA ports , one on the driving ( typically asolid - state drive ) and another onthe motherboard .

Although SATA connection are described as a individual porthole or connexion , SATA encompasses two ports : The data connector and the major power connective . The former is the unforesightful , L - shaped , seven - pin connector , while the latter is the more extended 15 - pin connecter — the tall “ L ” of the two .

Both connexion are typically reversed on the drive they let connections for , with the base of their respective “ L ” shapes facing one another . Beyond length , they can be differentiated by the cables that connect to them . Where the SATA data line is usually made up of firm plastic , which extends into a monotonous , unmarried - band cable , the SATA power connective will carry on from its headway to multiple , thin , rounded wires of different colors .

Both cable are require for SATA twist to work , and both do different jobs . The information cable provides the gamy - speed association to the rest of the computing machine , transfer information back and forth as requested , while the power cable is what launch the drive the electrical energy to pass in the first place .

SATA generations

Although most PCs in late years have used SATA devices , there are a few unlike type that are worth noting . SATA was first introduced in 2000 , replacing the senior PATA ( Parallel ATA ) ribbon cables . It was revised in 2003 and again in 2004 and 2008 , bringing SATA to version three , commonly have-to doe with to as SATA III or 3.0 . These standards increased speed and added additional feature to allow for immobile and more reliable memory drives , but did n’t transfer the strong-arm look of the SATA connector itself . SATA III is the most common SATA interface used today , though there have been five revisions since its introduction , namely 3.1 through 3.5 .

In Revision 3.1 , SATA focused on ameliorate the performance of SSDs , allowing host microcomputer to identify the capability of their hardware devices and the port that made USBs potential , the Universal Storage Module ( USM ) . betterment for Revision 3.2 included slimming down the USM , incorporating micro SSD to shrivel the size of storage components , add USB 3.0 larboard , and reducing power requirements for devices in constant operation . revise 3.3 provide users greater choice and flexibility , with staggered startup selection and an natural action indicator , as well as amend data center maintenance and intemperate drive disk blank space .

SATA, mSATA, and M.2

SATA ’s 2018 update , Revision 3.4 , added improvements like SATA gimmick temperature monitoring , compose critical cache data , and enhance compatibility with producer , all while minimizing the wallop on how your PC operates . The 2020 update to revision 3.5 gives the host equipment in force command of the rescript in which command are processed and quash reaction time to hike up carrying out . All of thebest SSDscurrently uncommitted use this or the interim revision , 3.5a , from 2021 .

There have been a few alternate SATA interfaces over the twelvemonth , like mSATA for laptop drive , which debut in 2011 . The latest generation of that applied science was the M.2 standard . presently , the fastest drives have move beyond the mSATA interface and now take vantage of PCI Express ports for higher performance .

First introduced with SATA 3.2 in 2013 , SATA Express allowed for cross - compatibility with SATA III and PCI Express drives . Still , it was n’t a popular choice while eSATA provide SATA - same f number for extraneous drives . Today , mosthigh - speed international drivesuse USB 3.0 connections , commonly with the Type - C standard of the connector .

How vital is SATA today?

In2008SATA was the standard for PC and laptop heavy drives and SSDs however we are now moving beyond SATA . Of particular interest are M.2 drives that sustain the latest NVMe protocol . These SSDS offer the maximal storey of functioning and hence they attract to enthusiasts who value performance above everything else .

M.2 and NVMe drive are not restricted by those skinny SATA data cable television and as a result , they are able to deliver better performance . Add in the benefit of a PCI Express 4.0 interface and you see the current crop of SSDs , such as the Samsung 990 Pro , have a data transference speed of 7GBps . That is equivalent to more than 50Gbps which outperforms thehard SATA III limitof 6Gbps by a Brobdingnagian margin .

Buying SATA cables

When you buy a new motherboard , you’re able to be confident it will be furnish with a handful of SATA cable television that will control the dissipated SATA III connection . However , if you find you are connecting a SATA drive to an exisiting personal computer you might end up using aPCIe to SATA transcriber cableof one sort or another , which can be a nice glide path . On the other hand , if you use aSATA adapter that connects to USByou may well feel your connection amphetamine is restricted , so we strongly recommend you habituate a native SATA III cable whenever potential .

Frequently Asked Questions

What is SATA on a computer?

SATA digest for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment and it ’s how almost everything storage - related connects to the motherboard in your computer . SATA is the class of ironware the serves this function .

What is the SATA port used for?

The SATA interface is used for connecting reposition components ( SSDs , etc . ) to your computer ’s motherboard . SATA uses two port : The data connector and the business leader connector .

Which is better, SATA or SSD?

presently , the profligate drives have move beyond the mSATA interface and now take reward of PCI Express ports for higher performance . While PCIe SSD drives may transfer data faster , their barrage life history is inferior to SATA SSDs .

Now you fuck what storage you necessitate for your PC , take a look at ourSSD buying guideto aid you choose the right equipment .