[reggie_da_man]

Does anybody know how SATA is different IDE? I'm not talking about the form of it or anything like that. I'm talking about the actual technology, or if anyone knows of a link where I can read up on it please paste it into your relpy.

THX

[brady]

Often abbreviated SATA or S-ATA, an evolution of the Parallel ATA physical storage interface. Serial ATA is a serial link -- a single cable with a minimum of four wires creates a point-to-point connection between devices. Transfer rates for Serial ATA begin at 150MBps. One of the main design advantages of Serial ATA is that the thinner serial cables facilitate more efficient airflow inside a form factor and also allow for smaller chassis designs. In contrast, IDE cables used in parallel ATA systems are bulkier than Serial ATA cables and can only extend to 40cm long, while Serial ATA cables can extend up to one meter.
Serial ATA supports all ATA and ATAPI devices.

[reggie_da_man]

That helped a lot

a single cable with a minimum of four wires creates a point-to-point connection between devices

That's what I was looking for.

[FghtinIrshNvrDi]

I've got another added bonus for SATA drives. You see, it's a little more advanced in how it communicates to the rest of the computer. IDE drives always withdrew information in the predictable order. Serial ATA will actually go in the order C-A-D-E-B, providing it's the most efficient way of doing it.

Ryan

[alsyed]

that predictable order is only in NCQ enabled drives though isn't it?