What Is SATA?

Date First Published: 22nd July 2023

Topic: Computer Systems

Subtopic: Computer Hardware

Article Type: Computer Terms & Definitions

Difficulty Level: 5/10

Learn about what SATA is in this article.

Stands for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment or Serial ATA. SATA is a wired standard used to connect storage devices, such as hard disk drives (HDDs), solid-state drives (SSDs), and optical drives to a computer. SATA allows the devices to communicate with the motherboard using a serial cable over two pairs of conductors. It uses a thin, small cable to make routing easier and provide better airflow in the computer compared to the earlier cables used with ATA drives.

SATA is most commonly used internally in a computer to connect the storage devices it needs to store data and is the most widely used standard. However, external storage devices can be connected by eSATA (external SATA). If the hard drive supports USB input, it is also possible to connect an external drive to a computer using a SATA to USB adapter.

Note:

SATA is pronounced 'sah-tuh', or 'serial ah-tuh', not 'serial ay tee ay'.

Components

The two main components of a SATA cable are the data connector and the power connector. The data connector consists of 7 horizontal pins and is most commonly used to connect a hard drive to the motherboard. Four pins are arranged in two pairs for data and there are 3 ground pins. The power connector consists of 15 pins and is often paired with a 4-pin Molex LP4 connector, which connects to the power supply of a computer.

Advantages and Disadvantages Of SATA

• It is a very fast connection type. SATA III can transmit data at 6 Gb/s, faster than USB 3.0.
• Compared to parallel ATA cables, SATA cables are thinner in size, allowing for better airflow and reduced build-up of heat.
• It is compatible with most modern internal storage devices as they usually have a SATA connector.
• It is simple to connect and handle. They also do not require users to install any software to use them as the drivers are installed together on the operating system.
• It is not usually very expensive. This makes them a cost-effective choice for connecting storage devices.

• Compared to USB 3.0, the cable length is shorter and limited to 1 metre, making it unsuitable for connecting devices that are located far apart. However, this is not usually a problem because SATA cables are often only used internally in a computer.
• Unlike USB, SATA does not supply power to the device. This means that a hard drive connecting to a computer using a SATA cable will require an extra power connector.
• The SATA standard only supports a maximum of two devices per cable. This is a disadvantage if more than two devices need to be connected.
• Although it is compatible with most modern storage devices, older devices that use a parallel ATA connection do not support it. This means that a SATA to PATA converter may need to be used to connect older devices.

Versions

Below are the three major versions of SATA along with the bandwidth and maximum data transfer rate.

History

SATA was released in August 2001 and replaced the previous standard, parallel ATA. It provided several advantages over the original standard, including a reduced cable size and cost, a faster data transfer rate through higher signalling rates, and native hot swapping. SATA is backwards-compatible with ATA.

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