SATA vs. SATAII

[asintu]

what's the differences that really matter? is SATAII really faster, more quieter than SATA?

 

[jaqie]

sata and sata 2 are a data transfer and cable design protocol, nothing more nothing less.

sata has a 150MB/s transfer rate and does not have NCQ (performance enhancement feature).
sata2 has a 300MB/s transfer rate and has NCQ.
they are interchangeable, as in a sata2 drive can run at sata1 and a sata2 controller can handle a sata1 drive - at the slower speed in both occasions.

Drive speed is where the only real end-user benefeit is. If the drive itself can transfer data off-platter sustained at over around 120MB/s then sata starts showing its limitations, and sata2 starts becoming an advantage. Under that point, sata is just as good.
Other posters: keep in mind I am speaking of end user benefeit here, something that can change the user experience, not a tiny mathematical change with drive cache transfers et al.

 

[Davegod]

I'd suggest if you're getting a new motherboard to have SATAII support but if you have to ask then it'll make no difference to you as to whether the drive says it supports it or not.

 

[Ratman6161]

Just one more thing to factor in: Generally speaking, SATAII drives will be newer and based on newer technology. So the drive itself will be faster but because its newer/better - not because its SATA2. If you hook that drive up to an SATA1 controller it probably wont matter in any way that you would notice.

 

[asintu]

Originally posted by: Davegod
I'd suggest if you're getting a new motherboard to have SATAII support but if you have to ask then it'll make no difference to you as to whether the drive says it supports it or not.

ouch.