A Question about hard drives

[FreshFish]

What is the difference between ATA, SATA, UltraDMA and what is IDE? What's the connection between all of the HDD keywords I keep hearing? I am trying to figure out compatibility of a HDD to my mobo and none of the terms seem to match. My mobo's IDE connectors are: 2x UltraDMA 133 up to 4 Devices, and the HDD I want is Ultra ATA/100 interface. I am still a newb and confused. Thanks!

 

[mwmorph]

they're transmission speed and interface specs.
dma is 16mb/s
UDMa is 33mb/s
ata66 is 66mb/s
ata100 is 100mb/s
SATA is up to 133mb/s
dma,ata use ide cables(the big thick flat ones)
sata use sata cables(round ones, sort like your mouse cable.)

 

[Dragonbate]

Quick answer: The drive you want will work but theoretically not at the fastest speed your computer can handle.

 

[FreshFish]

Thankyou!!! My questions are answered!

Edit:
If UDMA is 33mb/s then why does the mobo say UDMA 133?

 

[SNM]

Terms like IDE and (P)ATA are often used interchangeably, even though at one time they meant different things. UDMA is apparently an earlier version of IDE, so that's why.

 

[akugami]

NOTE: SATA cables are not round but rather small and slightly flat. It's roughly the thickness of two dimes and about the same with as the diameter of a dime as well. The smaller size is to help promote airflow and reduce clutter within a computer case.

 

[LED]

Originally posted by: FreshFish
Thankyou!!! My questions are answered!

Edit:
If UDMA is 33mb/s then why does the mobo say UDMA 133?

Actually 1st Gen SATA is 150 MBps and the reason why the Motherboard supports UDMA 133 (133MBps) is because Maxtor has HD's that are PATA in the flavor.