SATA (Serial ATA) connectors are an interface technology that connects storage drives like hard disk drives, solid-state drives, and optical drives to a computer’s motherboard. They provide a high-speed serial link for data transfer between the drives and the computer.
SATA connectors come in different shapes and sizes depending on their purpose. The most common SATA connectors are the L-shaped SATA data cables that connect storage drives to the motherboard, and the 15-pin SATA power connectors that provide power to the drives. There are also mini-SATA, micro-SATA, eSATA, and other variants for specialized applications.
Overall, SATA connectors play a crucial role in modern computer builds by enabling fast and reliable connections between storage devices and the motherboard. This article will provide an overview of the main types of SATA connectors.
SATA Data Connectors
SATA data connectors are used to connect storage devices like hard drives and solid state drives to a computer’s motherboard. SATA stands for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. SATA data connectors evolved from the older Parallel ATA (PATA) standard to a serial design that provides higher transfer speeds.
There are several types of SATA data connectors, with each newer version providing faster maximum transfer speeds:
- SATA 1.0 – 150MB/s
- SATA 2.0 – 300MB/s
- SATA 3.0 – 600MB/s
- SATA 3.1 – 16Gb/s
- SATA 3.2 – 22Gb/s
The most common SATA data connectors are the 7-pin connectors used by SATA 1.0 to SATA 3.0. SATA 3.1 and 3.2 use thinner connectors to achieve faster speeds. All SATA data connectors use a locking tab design for secure connections. Cables can be straight or L-shaped.
SATA Power Connectors
SATA power connectors are used to provide power to SATA storage devices like hard drives and solid-state drives. They come from the computer’s power supply unit and connect to the device’s power receptacle. The most common type of SATA power connector is 15 pins, though there are variants with fewer pins for smaller devices.
The 15-pin SATA power connector can deliver up to 54 watts of power at three different voltages – 3.3V, 5V, and 12V. 12V is the primary voltage used by hard drives, with the lower voltages used for electronics on the drive circuitry. SATA specifies that a single power connector can support up to 4 drives, but in practice 2-3 drives per connector is more common.
While the 15-pin connector is standard, some smaller drives like those in laptops may use smaller connectors. Examples include the 4-pin Molex Micro-SATA connector and the 5-pin SATA Micro connector. However, standard 15-pin SATA power connectors are backward compatible and can connect to these smaller drives with an adapter.
Overall, the widespread adoption of the 15-pin SATA power connector has helped standardize power delivery to modern storage devices. This allows components like power supplies, drives, and cables to be interchangeable between different manufacturers.
https://www.lifewire.com/sata-15-pin-power-connector-pinout-2624584
eSATA Connectors
eSATA (external SATA) connectors are used to connect external hard drives and optical drives to a computer. They provide a variant of the standard SATA connectors designed for external devices. eSATA connectors resemble traditional SATA connectors in appearance but have a number of differences:
– eSATA connectors are ruggedized to withstand more frequent connecting and disconnecting than internal SATA devices. They have stronger clasping mechanisms and more durable connectors.
– eSATA connectors support hot-swapping, meaning drives can be connected and disconnected while the computer is running. Regular SATA connectors do not.
– eSATA connectors have longer cables, typically around 2 meters, while regular SATA cables are usually less than 1 meter. This allows positioning external devices further away from the computer.
– eSATA connectors provide higher speeds than USB 2.0 and FireWire 400, with throughputs of up to 6Gbps, the same maximum speed as SATA revision 2. This allows external disks to obtain internal SATA levels of performance.
– eSATA does not transmit power to connected devices, unlike USB and FireWire which power external devices. eSATA devices require a separate power adapter to operate.
By providing a fast external interface without performance compromises, eSATA connectors help external drives and optical drives achieve similar speeds as if they were installed internally. This makes them preferable for tasks that require high disk performance.
Mini-SATA Connectors
Mini-SATA connectors, also known as mSATA, are a compact version of the standard SATA connector. As the name suggests, mini-SATA connectors are smaller in size compared to regular SATA connectors. This allows them to be used in smaller devices where space is limited, like netbooks, tablets, and some laptops.
The mini-SATA specification was introduced in 2009. It uses the same SATA protocol and signaling as standard SATA, but in a much smaller physical footprint. The connector itself is about 1/3 the height of a standard SATA connector, allowing it to fit into thinner devices.
Some key characteristics of mini-SATA connectors:
- Compact size – 30x50mm
- Same 6Gb/s SATA III bandwidth as standard SATA
- Often used for SSD drives in smaller devices like laptops and tablets
- Not compatible with standard SATA ports – require a mini-SATA port
While mini-SATA is being superseded by formats like M.2 in newer devices, it is still commonly found in laptop drive upgrades and some smaller Industrial PC designs.
Overall, the mini-SATA connector format allows SATA drives to be used in thinner and more compact devices, while retaining the same SATA protocol and performance.
[1] https://www.kingston.com/en/blog/pc-performance/ssd-form-factors
Micro-SATA Connectors
Micro-SATA connectors are a thinner variation of mSATA connectors designed for use in ultra-compact devices such as thin laptops and tablets.
Micro-SATA connectors are usually used in 1.8 or 2.5-inch storage devices to save internal space in these compact form factors (source). They are nearly half the height of a standard SATA connector, allowing them to fit into small spaces inside portable devices.
Some key uses of micro-SATA connectors include their application in ultrabooks like the MacBook Air to connect the internal solid state drives. They can achieve the same SATA speeds as full-size connectors despite the decreased dimensions. However, due to their compact size, they have somewhat limited compatibility and are typically only used in miniaturized computing devices where internal space is highly constrained.
SATA Express Connectors
SATA Express connectors, also known as SATAe, combine the high speed of PCIe connections with the ubiquity of SATA connections. As referenced from TechTarget, SATA Express includes two SATA data connectors and a PCI Express connector, supporting both protocols to increase speed and throughput compared to standard SATA connectors.
By combining PCIe and SATA, as stated on Lifewire, SATA Express is able to reach speeds up to 16 gigatransfers per second (GT/s), which is twice the speed of the fastest SATA revision. This makes SATA Express well-suited for connecting high speed storage devices like solid state drives. The backwards compatibility of SATA Express also allows for connecting legacy SATA devices.
U.2 Connectors
U.2 connectors, formerly known as SFF-8639, are designed for use in enterprise and data center applications that require very high performance storage. They provide a direct connection from the SSD to the PCIe interface and are most commonly found in server and rackmount storage systems.
Some key highlights of U.2 connectors include:
- High bandwidth – U.2 supports up to PCIe 3.0 x4 bandwidth for transfer speeds up to nearly 4GB/s.
- Hot pluggable – U.2 connectors allow drives to be removed and installed without shutting down the system.
- Enterprise reliability and manageability – U.2 SSDs typically have capacitors to safely flush cached data on sudden power loss. They also support remote monitoring and management.
- 2.5 inch form factor – U.2 drives use the same 2.5 inch form factor as standard SSDs for easy integration into storage enclosures.
While U.2 drives deliver excellent performance, the connectors have seen more limited adoption compared to alternatives like M.2. They require specific U.2 ports on the motherboard or a PCIe add-in card. However, they remain a top choice for mission critical applications that can benefit from the best combination of high capacity and low latency storage.
M.2 Connectors
M.2 connectors are a type of SSD form factor that was designed to fit a wide variety of small form factor devices (M.2 Connector Guide on Keys and Sockets for SSDs). The key benefits of M.2 connectors include:
- Small size – M.2 modules are very tiny, allowing them to fit into thin mobile devices like ultrabooks and tablets.
- Interface flexibility – A single M.2 slot can support SATA or PCIe interfaces, providing flexibility for device manufacturers.
- Speed – M.2 SSDs that use PCIe can provide very fast data transfer speeds compared to traditional SATA drives.
- Easy installation – M.2 slots allow SSDs to be plugged directly into the motherboard without any cables.
The small footprint is the standout feature that made M.2 popular for ultrathin computing devices. M.2 modules come in various lengths, typically 30mm, 42mm, 60mm, 80mm, or 110mm (M.2). The different length allow manufacturers to choose the best combination of size and storage capacity needed.
Conclusion
There are several different types of SATA connectors that enable devices to connect to computer systems internally or externally:
- SATA data connectors are used to connect storage drives like hard disk drives and solid-state drives inside a computer case to the motherboard. Common interfaces are SATA 3Gb/s, SATA 6Gb/s, and SATA 12Gb/s.
- SATA power connectors supply power from the computer’s power supply unit to internal SATA storage drives.
- eSATA connectors allow external SATA devices like external hard drives to connect to a computer system for added storage capacity and data backups.
- Mini-SATA connectors are a smaller version used in smaller devices like laptops and netbooks.
- Micro-SATA connectors are an even smaller connector for tiny devices like tablets and ultrabooks.
- SATA Express combines SATA and PCI Express interfaces for faster data transfer speeds.
- U.2 and M.2 connectors allow PCIe solid-state drives to connect using the NVMe protocol for ultra-fast data access.
As technology advances, SATA continues to evolve with new connector types, increased speeds, and support for advanced features to meet growing data storage and transfer demands.