Whether an SSD is SATA or not is determined by the interface it uses to connect to the computer. SATA stands for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment and refers to a specific type of interface used for connecting storage drives like hard disk drives (HDDs) and solid state drives (SSDs) to a computer’s motherboard.
What is a SATA SSD?
A SATA SSD uses the SATA interface to connect to the computer. SATA has been the most common interface for connecting storage drives for many years. Most SSDs available today are SATA SSDs. A SATA SSD can plug directly into a SATA port on the motherboard or connect through a SATA cable just like a mechanical hard drive.
Some key characteristics of SATA SSDs:
- Use the SATA III interface which provides 6Gb/s data transfer speeds
- Compatible with SATA ports on motherboards and SATA cables
- Typically come in the 2.5-inch form factor
- Use the standard SATA data and power connectors
SATA has gone through several revisions but SATA III running at 6Gb/s is the version used by most modern SATA SSDs. SATA is a proven, reliable interface that allows SSDs to take advantage of the same infrastructure already in place for hard drives.
Other types of SSD interfaces
While SATA is the most common, there are other types of interfaces available for SSDs:
PCIe SSDs
PCIe or PCI Express SSDs connect directly to a PCIe slot on the motherboard. PCIe provides even higher bandwidth than SATA, up to 16Gb/s with the PCIe 4.0 specification. This allows PCIe SSDs to reach extremely fast speeds that saturate what even the fastest SATA SSDs can deliver. However, PCIe SSDs are more expensive than SATA drives.
M.2 SSDs
The M.2 form factor is a small, compact shape for SSDs. M.2 drives can use either the SATA or PCIe interface. There is no performance difference between a 2.5-inch SATA SSD and M.2 SATA SSD, the only difference is physical size. M.2 PCIe SSDs provide the full performance benefit of the PCIe interface in the convenient M.2 form factor.
U.2 SSDs
U.2 SSDs utilize the PCIe interface like M.2 drives but use a larger physical form factor. The extra space allows U.2 SSDs to hold more NAND flash chips and consequently higher capacities than M.2 drives.
Advantages of SATA SSDs
Although newer interfaces like PCIe offer faster speeds, SATA SSDs still have compelling advantages that make them a great choice for many applications:
- Cost – SATA SSDs are significantly less expensive per gigabyte compared to PCIe SSDs.
- Compatibility – SATA works with all modern motherboards and operating systems without any special requirements.
- Maturity – The SATA interface is mature and time-tested having been around for over 15 years.
- Good enough performance – While PCIe is faster, SATA SSD performance is still excellent for most everyday tasks and gaming.
- Easy installation – SATA works with existing HDD infrastructure so SATA SSDs are easy to install and set up.
For budget-focused builds or basic computing needs, SATA SSDs deliver great performance and value. The difference between SATA and PCIe SSD speeds is smaller in real-world use than raw bandwidth numbers would indicate.
When to choose a PCIe SSD over SATA
While SATA SSDs are adequate for most uses, there are some instances where stepping up to a PCIe SSD makes sense:
- Running professional applications that need fast storage like video editing, data analytics, 3D modeling, etc.
- Working with large files and datasets that benefit from higher sequential read/write speeds.
- Seeking the absolute fastest load times in games for a high-end gaming PC build.
- If your workflow is heavily storage constrained even on a SATA SSD.
In these situations, the extra performance of PCIe SSDs is more clearly felt. The much higher bandwidth removes storage bottlenecks and allows demanding workflows to run faster.
Cost is the main tradeoff – dollar for dollar, PCIe SSDs have lower capacities than SATA drives. You have to decide if paying a premium for more performance makes sense for your specific needs.
SATA interface generations
The SATA interface has gone through several iterations since its introduction in 2003:
| SATA Version | Year Introduced | Max Bandwidth |
|---|---|---|
| SATA 1.0 | 2003 | 1.5Gb/s |
| SATA 2.0 | 2004 | 3Gb/s |
| SATA 3.0 | 2009 | 6Gb/s |
Each new SATA version remains backwards compatible with prior ones. SATA 3.0 running at 6Gb/s is the fastest version in widespread use today.
SATA 3.0 (6Gb/s)
SATA 3.0, also referred to as SATA 6Gb/s, is the third generation of the SATA interface. Introduced in 2009, SATA 3.0 provides a maximum theoretical bandwidth of 6 gigabits per second, doubling the speed of the previous SATA 2.0 standard.
Nearly all modern SSDs and hard drives use the SATA 3.0 interface. Although its theoretical max speed is 6Gb/s, real-world speeds for HDDs and SSDs are lower due to overhead. Still, SATA 3.0 provides significantly faster performance than previous SATA versions.
SATA 2.0 (3Gb/s)
SATA 2.0 or SATA 3Gb/s, released in 2004, was the second generation SATA interface. It doubled the max bandwidth of the original SATA 1.0 standard to 3 gigabits per second. SATA 2.0 was a huge leap forward in speed at the time.
While most new drives now use SATA 3.0, SATA 2.0 is still well supported and works with all modern PCs. However, for optimal performance with SSDs it is recommended to use the faster SATA 3.0 interface if available.
SATA 1.5 (1.5Gb/s)
The first generation of SATA, simply called SATA 1.5 or SATA 1.5Gb/s, was introduced in 2003. It delivered 1.5 gigabits per second of bandwidth, a major increase compared to theparallel ATA interfaces used previously.
SATA 1.5 is now obsolete. It does not provide enough bandwidth to take advantage of the speeds offered by modern HDDs or SSDs. Nearly all drives and host adapters now use either SATA 2.0 or the faster SATA 3.0 interface.
SATA vs PCIe SSDs
SATA and PCIe are the two main interfaces used by SSDs today. They have significant differences in performance and other factors:
| SATA SSD | PCIe SSD | |
|---|---|---|
| Max interface bandwidth | 6Gb/s | 16Gb/s (PCIe 4.0) |
| Lane configuration | 2 lanes | Up to 16 lanes depending on PCIe version |
| Real-world speeds | Up to ~550MB/s seq. read/write | Up to ~7000MB/s seq. read/write |
| Interface connector | SATA data and power connectors | PCIe edge connector (M.2) or U.2/U.3 connector |
| Hot swappable | Yes | No |
| Cost per GB | Lower | Higher |
In summary:
- PCIe SSDs have much higher bandwidth and maximum speeds compared to SATA SSDs.
- SATA uses a simpler interface and protocols than PCIe making it easier to implement.
- SATA SSDs generally cost less per gigabyte than PCIe SSDs.
- SATA is mature technology supported broadly whereas PCIe SSD support varies.
For most everyday computing, SATA provides a great balance of affordability and performance. But PCIe is the interface of choice when money is no object and the utmost speed is demanded.
M.2 and U.2 SSDs
M.2 and U.2 are form factors that SSDs can come in. They don’t refer to specific interfaces like SATA or PCIe. M.2 and U.2 SSDs can utilize either SATA or PCIe interfaces just like traditional 2.5-inch SSDs.
M.2 SSDs
M.2 SSDs use the small, compact M.2 form factor. They are designed to plug directly into the motherboard via an M.2 slot. While the M.2 form factor can technically support either the SATA or PCIe interface, M.2 SATA drives are relatively uncommon since there is no advantage over 2.5-inch SATA SSDs. Most M.2 SSDs today use the PCIe interface to provide high speeds in the space-efficient M.2 form factor.
U.2 SSDs
U.2 SSDs utilize the PCIe interface like M.2 drives but use a larger physical form factor, more similar to traditional 2.5-inch SSD sizes. The extra space allows U.2 SSDs to fit more NAND flash chips and consequently very high capacities that exceed most M.2 drives. U.2 does not support the SATA interface.
In summary, M.2 and U.2 simply refer to physical form factors – they can both support either SATA or PCIe interfaces depending on the specific SSD model. Most M.2 SSDs are PCIe-based while all U.2 SSDs use PCIe.
Conclusion
Whether an SSD is SATA or not depends entirely on the interface it uses to connect to the PC. SATA and PCIe are the two main interfaces used by SSDs today. SATA is the older, more universal interface that delivers decent speeds at a low cost. PCIe SSDs are significantly faster but also more expensive.
For most everyday users, a SATA SSD provides the best blend of performance, affordability and compatibility. But PCIe SSDs are the interface of choice for high-end workstations and gaming PCs that demand the absolute highest speeds.
It is also possible to utilize both SATA and PCIe SSDs in a system. Having a fast PCIe SSD as the primary drive for the operating system and applications, complemented by larger, more affordable SATA SSDs for data storage is a popular setup.
Ultimately, the interface used by the SSD – whether SATA, PCIe or something else – depends on the connector it uses to communicate with the host computer. Understanding the difference between SATA vs PCIe helps choose the right SSD for a system’s intended use case and budget.