A SATA drive, also known as a Serial ATA drive, is a storage device that connects to a computer’s motherboard via a SATA interface. SATA drives are one of the most common types of storage drives found in desktop and laptop computers today.
What does SATA stand for?
SATA stands for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. It is an interface specification that allows for the connection of storage devices like hard drives and solid-state drives to a computer’s motherboard. The SATA interface replaces the older Parallel ATA (PATA) interface and provides faster data transfer speeds.
Key features of SATA drives
Here are some of the key features of SATA drives:
- High speed serial interface – SATA drives support signaling rates starting from 1.5 Gbit/s up to 16 Gbit/s for the latest SATA versions. This allows for fast data transfer from the drive to the computer.
- Point-to-point connectivity – Each SATA drive connects directly to a SATA host adapter on the motherboard rather than sharing a data cable with other devices. This helps eliminate bottlenecks and improves performance.
- Hot swapping support – SATA drives can be connected and disconnected without shutting down the system, providing plug-and-play functionality.
- Thinner cables – SATA cables are much thinner and more flexible compared to bulky PATA cables, allowing improved airflow and less clutter inside the computer case.
- Native command queuing – SATA implements native command queuing which allows the drive to internally optimize the order of commands it receives, improving performance.
Common types of SATA drives
There are two common types of SATA drives found in computers today:
Hard Disk Drives (HDDs)
HDDs have spinning platters inside and magnetic heads that read/write data. They provide large storage capacities at affordable prices but are slower than SSDs. Common SATA HDD capacities range from 500GB to 6TB for desktop models.
Solid State Drives (SSDs)
SSDs use integrated circuit assemblies and flash memory to store data. They are much faster than HDDs and more expensive per gigabyte. SATA SSD capacities range from 120GB to 8TB.
Uses and applications of SATA drives
Here are some of the most common uses and applications of SATA drives in computers:
Primary storage drive
The primary boot drive in a computer where the operating system and applications are installed is typically a SATA SSD or HDD. SATA provides the performance and connectivity required for a primary drive.
Secondary data drive
Additional SATA HDDs and SSDs can be added to a computer as secondary data drives to expand storage. These can be used for storing files, backups, media etc.
Media storage
High capacity SATA HDDs are ideal low-cost solutions for storing large media files like photos, videos, music etc. Applications like photo/video editing can utilize fast SATA SSDs for scratch disks to improve performance.
Gaming storage
Gaming computers require fast storage to load games quickly. SATA SSDs are commonly used as primary storage for installing games, while additional HDDs provide extra space for large games and media.
NAS/RAID storage
SATA HDDs are used extensively in Network Attached Storage (NAS) devices and RAID arrays to provide shared storage on a network.
Laptop drives
Laptops almost exclusively use 2.5″ SATA SSDs/HDDs as storage drives due to their compact sizes. High performance SATA SSDs help provide the fast boot and load times expected of modern laptops.
SATA interface generations and speeds
There have been several iterations of the SATA interface over the years, each providing faster theoretical transfer speeds than the previous generation:
| SATA Version | Speed | Year Introduced |
|---|---|---|
| SATA 1.0 | 1.5 Gbit/s | 2003 |
| SATA 2.0 | 3 Gbit/s | 2004 |
| SATA 3.0 | 6 Gbit/s | 2009 |
| SATA 3.1 | 16 Gbit/s | 2016 |
While each new SATA generation increases the maximum possible interface bandwidth, real-world speeds depend on the drive’s controller and type of flash/platter storage used. Nonetheless, the interface enhancements allow SATA drives to take advantage of increasing storage technologies over time.
SATA data and power connectors
SATA drives use dedicated data and power connectors that plug into the computer’s motherboard. These are the characteristics of SATA data and power connectors:
SATA Data Connectors
- The thin SATA data cable connects to a 7-pin SATA data connector on the drive side.
- SATA cables can be up to 1 meter long.
- Locking latches are sometimes used to securely attach SATA cables.
- SATA supports hot swapping so drives can be connected/disconnected without shutting down the PC.
SATA Power Connectors
- 15-pin SATA power connectors provide the required voltage (5V/12V) to run the drive.
- Standard 4-pin Molex to SATA power adapters are available to convert older power supplies.
- 2.5″ laptop drives may only need 5V and use compact SATA power connectors.
Comparison between SATA and older PATA interface
SATA replaced the older PATA (Parallel ATA) interface that was commonly used in computers before SATA arrived. Here is a comparison between PATA vs SATA drives:
| PATA | SATA | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Parallel ATA | Serial ATA |
| Interface type | Parallel | Serial |
| Maximum speed | 133 MB/s | 16 Gbit/s |
| Cable thickness | Thick and bulky | Thin and flexible |
| Hot swapping support | No | Yes |
As seen from the table, SATA provides much better performance compared to PATA in terms of speed, cable design and hot swapping ability. SATA is also designed to support newer technologies like native command queuing.
Advantages of SATA drives
Here are some of the main benefits offered by SATA drives compared to older drive interfaces:
- High speeds – SATA supports up to 16 Gbit/s theoretical transfer speeds, fast enough for even the quickest modern SSDs.
- Thin cables – The compact SATA cables are more flexible making installation easier and improving internal airflow.
- Hot swapping – The ability to connect and disconnect SATA drives without shutting down makes maintenance and upgrades convenient.
- Native command queuing – This technology allows drives to optimize read/write speeds by scheduling commands efficiently.
- Backward compatibility – SATA hosts are backward compatible with legacy PATA devices using adapters.
Disadvantages of SATA drives
Here are some potential disadvantages to consider with SATA drives:
- The SATA interface has limited cable length of around 1 meter. This may require SATA extenders for larger cases.
- There are no provisions for locking SATA data connectors. They may come loose due to vibration in some environments.
- SATA ports are not hot pluggable. Drives should not be connected/disconnected when the host system is running.
- Boot support and BIOS configurations may need to be updated to support hot swapping SATA drives.
- The thin SATA cables lack the robustness of thicker PATA cables and may wear out over time.
Typical SATA use cases
Here are some of the most common use cases where SATA storage drives are utilized:
Desktop computers
SATA SSDs and HDDs are the default storage options in majority of desktop PCs, both for boot drives as well as secondary storage.
Laptops
The compact 2.5″ form factor makes SATA ideal for laptop storage. High performance SATA SSDs are used to enhance laptop performance.
Gaming consoles
Game consoles like PlayStations and Xboxes rely on fast SATA SSDs/HDDs to load games and media quickly.
Media centers
Home media centers and digital video recorders use SATA drives for storing media libraries and recording videos.
NAS and RAID
SATA HDDs are standard for NAS appliances and external direct-attached RAID arrays used for backups and shared storage.
M.2 and mSATA vs SATA drives
M.2 and mSATA drives provide an alternate compact form factor and connector compared to traditional SATA drives. However, here are some differences:
M.2 Drives
- M.2 drives use PCIe and SATA interfaces to connect to the motherboard slot.
- PCIe M.2 SSDs are much faster compared to SATA M.2 SSDs.
- M.2 is just the connector and does not define the drive’s interface.
- Mainly used in laptops and compact form factor desktops.
mSATA Drives
- Exclusively use the SATA interface to connect.
- Physically similar shaped connector as M.2 drives.
- Primarily designed for laptop drive upgrades.
- Not as widely used today as M.2 drives.
Conclusion
SATA drives have become ubiquitous as the primary storage device in computers today. The SATA interface provides significant improvements over older PATA drives – notably increased speed, hot swapping support, thinner cabling, and native command queuing.
Both HDDs and SSDs come in SATA variants, giving consumers choice between high capacity affordable HDDs and blazing fast SSDs. The most common applications of SATA drives are as boot drives, secondary storage, gaming drives, and for external enclosures.
While new form factors like M.2 have arrived, SATA drives continue to be the workhorse for storage thanks to their simplicity, performance and cost-effectiveness. The SATA interface has gone through incremental updates over the years to support newer drive technologies. SATA drives will likely remain highly popular for both desktop and laptop PCs for years to come.