What's the difference between PATA and IDE?

StrangerGuy

Diamond Member
May 9, 2004
8,443
124
106
Right here we use them interchangeably, but the exact definition of the two may differ from each other.
 

Matthias99

Diamond Member
Oct 7, 2003
8,808
0
0
If you want to get really technical, "IDE" (Integrated Drive Electronics) was at one point a descriptor for drives with some of the controller logic integrated into the drive itself (as opposed to some older drives that were driven entirely by the controller card, rather than the controller just requesting blocks from the drive and managing data transfer to/from the host).

The "IDE Bus" protocol is the same thing now referred to as "Parallel ATA" (Advanced Technology Attachment), or just "PATA" or "ATA". There are a number of versions of this, sometimes called things like Enhanced IDE (EIDE), Ultra ATA, and the like. The new high-speed serial version of this protocol is Serial ATA ("SATA"). This is usually what people are referring to when they say "ATA" or "IDE".

In practice, "ATA", "PATA" and "IDE" are used interchangably to refer to devices that use the Parallel ATA bus.

Link with some more info
 

Tsaico

Platinum Member
Oct 21, 2000
2,669
0
0
Originally posted by: Matthias99
If you want to get really technical, "IDE" (Integrated Drive Electronics) was at one point a descriptor for drives with some of the controller logic integrated into the drive itself (as opposed to some older drives that were driven entirely by the controller card, rather than the controller just requesting blocks from the drive and managing data transfer to/from the host).

The "IDE Bus" protocol is the same thing now referred to as "Parallel ATA" (Advanced Technology Attachment), or just "PATA" or "ATA". There are a number of versions of this, sometimes called things like Enhanced IDE (EIDE), Ultra ATA, and the like. The new high-speed serial version of this protocol is Serial ATA ("SATA"). This is usually what people are referring to when they say "ATA" or "IDE".

In practice, "ATA", "PATA" and "IDE" are used interchangably to refer to devices that use the Parallel ATA bus.

Link with some more info

Wow, I feel like a learned somethign new... I did not know this. Thanks!
 

JimPhelpsMI

Golden Member
Oct 8, 2004
1,261
0
0
Hi, Pata just stands for PARALLEL ATA/IDE drive the old standby. Same as SATA stands for SERIAL ATA. Parallel transfer 8 bits of data simultaniously. Serial only one bit. Hope this helps a little, Luck, Jim
 

Zepper

Elite Member
May 1, 2001
18,998
0
0
PATA was created to simplify distinguishing between the 40-pin drives (parallel because 8 or 16 bits at a time are sent down the cable) ATA and the new Serial (one bit at a time goes down the cable) ATA drives as both types are actually IDE and ATA in the technical sense.

.bh.
 

rocketman123

Junior Member
Feb 24, 2006
7
0
0
PATA and IDE are the same thing,they are actually PC IDE PATA HDDs. PATA is actually an old name for it SATA HDD's are in a league of they're own. They use am Serial connector rather than a Parallel connector hence the name.