Storage hard drives are connected to the motherboard through four different types of connectors: PATA, SATA, SCSI, and NVMe.
So, connections and hard drive cables differ based on the type of hard drive you have at hand. For instance, you will need a converter to connect a hard drive with a PATA port through a SATA cable. SATA almost replaces PATA and is hardly found in today’s PCs.
Most modern-day hard drives have SATA ports and cables to connect. Hard drives on servers are still using advanced versions of SCSI. Solid State Drives or flash drives use NVMe, the most recently created connection type.
Contents
Hard Drive Connection Types: Explained
Connector | No. of Pins | Significance |
---|---|---|
PATA | 40 pins or 80 pins | Storage Capacity: Up to 80 GB Data Transfer Rate: 133 MB/s Connections Capacity: Up to 2 devices |
SATA | 7 or 15 pins | Storage Capacity: Up to 16TB Data Transfer Rate: 600 MB/s Connections Capacity: Up to 15 devices |
SCSI | 68 pins | Storage Capacity: Up to 80 GB Data Transfer Rate: 133 MB/s Connections Capacity: Up to 15 devices |
NVMe | Up to 67 pins | Storage Capacity: Up to 2TB Data Transfer Rate: 3500 MB/s Connections Capacity: Up to 4 devices |
1. PATA (Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment)
PATA is also known as Integrated Device Electronics (IDE). Another name for the IDE hard drive interface is ATA (Advanced Technology Interface).
It uses a parallel ribbon-like hard drive interface to connect the hard drives. The transfer of data in a PATA hard drive simultaneously happens through parallel signaling technology. Another name for the ide hard drive interface is data.
Types of PATA
- 40-conductor PATA cable: it can connect up to two devices with a 33 MB/S data transfer speed.
- 80-conductor PATA cable: it can connect up to two devices with a data transfer speed of 133 MB/S.
Pros
- Compatible with devices other than storage
- Low rate of data loss during transfer
- Plug and play
Cons
- Limited cable length
- Slower speed
- Limited connectivity of devices
2. SATA (Serial Advanced Technology Attachment)
SATA can only connect one device at a time. Instead of parallel signaling, it uses serial signaling with data transferred as one bit at a time.
A SATA hard drive uses thinner SATA cables that can transfer this data at a much higher speed of up to 300 MB/S.
Types of SATA
- SATA: The standard SATA cables that have 3 generations
- SATA I: data transfer speed of 150 MB/S
- SATA II: data transfer speed of 300 MB/S
- SATA III: data transfer speed of 600 MB/S
- eSATA: external SATA that connects to the external part of a device
- Micro SATA: as the name suggests, they are used to connect micro SATA hard drives
- Low Profile SATA: these are ultra-thin cables with low-profile connectors
Pros
- Higher data transfer speed
- Narrower cables
- Longer wire length
- Easy to plug in and out
Cons
- Lower bandwidth
- Dedicated cables are needed for each device
3. SCSI (Small Computer System Interface)
SCSI connectors are based on the bus technology. This means that all the devices connected through SCSI connectors are centrally controlled by a host controller.
Apart from a SCSI drive, these connectors can also connect printers, scanners, and other devices.
Due to its support of multiple devices on a single port, SCSI ports are widely used in network servers.
Types of SCSI
- SCSI-1
- Fast SCSI (SCSI-2)
- Fast Wide SCSI
- Ultra SCSI
- Ultra SCSI
- Wide Ultra SCSI (SCSI-3)
- Wide Ultra SCSI (SCSI-3)
- Wide Ultra SCSI (SCSI-3)
- Ultra2 SCSI
- Ultra2 SCSI
- Wide Ultra2 SCSI
- Wide Ultra2 SCSI
- Ultra 160
- Ultra 320
Pros
- Robust
- Uses very little processor time
- Higher data transfer rate
- Multi-device support
Cons
- Lower storage capacity
- Longevity
- Costly
4. NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express)
NVMe is among the latest types of external hard drive connectors. In terms of ease of connectivity, they are a big upgrade over all the previous standards. They work very well with Solid State Drives. Like SCSI, NVMe also uses a host controller technology.
Pros
- 2 to 7 times faster data transfer rate than SATA
- Better form factor
- Lower power consumption
- Smaller latency
Cons
- Not supported by older or most recent motherboards
- Costly
- Limited drive selection with the M.2 format
Which Interface is Used for Hard Drive to Motherboard Connection?
SATA is most commonly used to connect hard drives to the motherboard and the power supply. It has higher compatibility with other peripherals like PSUs, and they are very cost-effective. SATA III is the most recent of its standards.
Frequently Asked Questions
SATA, since its introduction in 2003, has been one of the most common hard drive connection types for a very long time. Its present standard SATA III continues to provide connections to hard drives even today.
A connector that connects different types of Hard Drives (HDDs) to the motherboard and the power supply is an HDD cable connector. SATA is the most commonly found HDD cable connector.
The most common way to differentiate is the form factor. PATA cables are like flat ribbons, and SATA cables are round wires with slot-type connectors at the end.
Conclusion
That’s all about the hard drive connector types. Compatibility plays a big role in choosing the connector for your hard drives. SATA is the most commonly available and compatible connector in today’s time.
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