PATA vs SATA?

RussianSensation

Elite Member
Sep 5, 2003
19,458
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Some explanation

- at this point in the game I'd go with SATA because the HDD often have fluid-ball bearings and are quieter, support NCQ (you'd need nforce 4 or 915/925/945/955 intel chipsets though to utilize the specific feature for increased speed), more motherboards are leaving only 2 ATA slots for old HDDs, suggesting in the future ATA will disappear and you'll be stuck with it. Real world difference wont be that much but SATA should be slightly faster. Also WD RAptor HDD is SATA and is considered the fastest so if you want that SATA is the only choice (unless SCSI etc). Sometimes SATA impedes overclocking, but most good motherboards arent affected by this. So go with SATA.
 

Vegito

Diamond Member
Oct 16, 1999
8,329
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nothing besides the p and s...

jk, adapter.. s is suppose to be better but that has yet been proven except for available faster rotation speed.. other than that.. you can't really tell..
 

MobiusPizza

Platinum Member
Apr 23, 2004
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SATA transmit data serially; less noise; uses less voltage; suppose to be faster; Support hot-plugging; Slimer cable and interface
 

Matthias99

Diamond Member
Oct 7, 2003
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Originally posted by: AnnihilatorX
SATA transmit data serially;

Which, to the end-user, is irrelevant. :p

less noise; uses less voltage

This depends more on the drive than the interface. "Voltage" used is the same; perhaps you meant less "power" or "wattage"? Most newer drives (PATA or SATA) are more efficient than older ones.

; suppose to be faster;

At the same RPMs, performance difference is negligible. NCQ (with SATA2 drives/controllers that support it) can help somewhat, but mostly in multi-user situations with heavy disk access (ie, NOT most desktop systems).

Support hot-plugging

With an appropriate controller and drive cage, yes. Not all motherboards support this, and I find it unlikely most users would bother trying to hotswap their drives unless they are building a server.

Slimer cable and interface

This is probably the most useful change from most people's perspective.

Basically, performance (unless you get a 10KRPM SATA "Raptor" drive from WD) will be the same. As noted, PATA may not be around on motherboards forever. But other than that, I wouldn't worry much about it.
 

bjc112

Lifer
Dec 23, 2000
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This is probably the most useful change from most people's perspective.

Basically, performance (unless you get a 10KRPM SATA "Raptor" drive from WD) will be the same. As noted, PATA may not be around on motherboards forever. But other than that, I wouldn't worry much about it.


That's the only thing that benefits me!

:D
 

MobiusPizza

Platinum Member
Apr 23, 2004
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Originally posted by: Matthias99
Originally posted by: AnnihilatorX
less noise; uses less voltage

This depends more on the drive than the interface. "Voltage" used is the same; perhaps you meant less "power" or "wattage"? Most newer drives (PATA or SATA) are more efficient than older ones.
I meant the singaling voltage
; suppose to be faster;

At the same RPMs, performance difference is negligible. NCQ (with SATA2 drives/controllers that support it) can help somewhat, but mostly in multi-user situations with heavy disk access (ie, NOT most desktop systems).
That's why I put "suppose" :p
Support hot-plugging

With an appropriate controller and drive cage, yes. Not all motherboards support this, and I find it unlikely most users would bother trying to hotswap their drives unless they are building a server.
Nevertheless it's what the specification claims
Slimer cable and interface

This is probably the most useful change from most people's perspective.

Basically, performance (unless you get a 10KRPM SATA "Raptor" drive from WD) will be the same. As noted, PATA may not be around on motherboards forever. But other than that, I wouldn't worry much about it.
Yeah
 

fstime

Diamond Member
Jan 18, 2004
4,382
5
81
No real big differance.

NCQ = garbage.

I'd go with Sata because of the cables but most of these cheap hard drive deals are PATA.

Even if its pata, cant go wrong with 160 gb seagate for 70 bucks.
 

wchou

Banned
Dec 1, 2004
1,137
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Originally posted by: AnnihilatorX
SATA transmit data serially; less noise; uses less voltage; suppose to be faster; Support hot-plugging; Slimer cable and interface

serial is cool, i'd like serial com ports too very fast! 115kbps is awesome! /sarcasm
 

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
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Not much right now unless you're willing to pay for Raptors or equivalent.

.bh.
 

Arcanedeath

Platinum Member
Jan 29, 2000
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The only advantage is you can get the Raptor for SATA but not PATA and it has thiner cables, otherwise their is no advantage as PATA drives perform the same as SATA drives assuming only the interphase is different.
 

eelw

Lifer
Dec 4, 1999
10,232
5,348
136
Originally posted by: wchou
Originally posted by: AnnihilatorX
SATA transmit data serially; less noise; uses less voltage; suppose to be faster; Support hot-plugging; Slimer cable and interface

serial is cool, i'd like serial com ports too very fast! 115kbps is awesome! /sarcasm

As speeds are ramped up to SATA300 and faster, we won't need to worry about crosstalk with a serial connection. So don't be knocking serial communications.