Computer Harddrive: ATA vs IDE?

MikeVic · 12-15-2005, 11:12 AM

I was wondering what the difference between the two types of harddrives is?

Also, would my motherboard need to support ATA? Or if my case has some ATA cables, is that good enough?

Thanks FOFC!

dacman · 12-15-2005, 11:19 AM

They use different connectors. The power connectors are usually different too. SATA is a little faster.

Your motherboard must support SATA (or you could buy a seperate controller, but that's not the best route unless you already have the hard drive).

MikeVic · 12-15-2005, 11:25 AM

My mobo is around 3 years old... looks like it's IDE then. :P Thanks.

Pumpy Tudors · 12-15-2005, 12:52 PM

I thought IDE and ATA were the same thing. SATA is a completely different animal, but I didn't see any mention of SATA in the original post.

jeff061 · 12-15-2005, 01:11 PM

Yeah, its IDE/ATA and SATA I believe. SATA being faster with much thinner cables, you need your motherboard to support it though.

MikeVic · 12-15-2005, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jeff061

Yeah, its IDE/ATA and SATA I believe. SATA being faster with much thinner cables, you need your motherboard to support it though.

Oh yeah, I meant ATA... not SATA. I thought SATA was for RAID or something?

Is there a difference between ATA and IDE? My case has some ATA cables.. but my mobo has nothing different.

dacman · 12-15-2005, 01:39 PM

I didn't read very close. I assumed IDE vs. SATA because that's a fairly common question.

IDE uses Parallel ATA which is usually mentioned without the P (ATA100, ATA133, Ultra ATA133, etc)

SATA or Serial ATA (SATA150) is the one with different connectors.

Look for "IDE" mentioned anywhere and you should be safe (I'm assuming you were looking to purchase a new hard drive).

jeff061 · 12-15-2005, 02:02 PM

Yeah, like Dacman said

.

SATA isn't used for RAID anymore than IDE/ATA. SATA is to IDE like the Pentium 4 is to the Pentium 3, to put it really simple.

MikeVic · 12-15-2005, 02:40 PM

Ok, so if IDE uses parallel ATA that means it's better... right? So maybe my case is saying serial ATA and I just read the ATA part. There are different looking power connectors, so that would make sense. And since my mobo is 3 years old, I'll just go with IDE. It'll be a year or so until I upgrade everything else anyway.

DanGarion · 12-15-2005, 02:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeVic

Ok, so if IDE uses parallel ATA that means it's better... right? So maybe my case is saying serial ATA and I just read the ATA part. There are different looking power connectors, so that would make sense. And since my mobo is 3 years old, I'll just go with IDE. It'll be a year or so until I upgrade everything else anyway.

IDE/ATA is the older and slower format. SATA is what they are trying to transition to.

Airhog · 12-15-2005, 04:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MikeVic

Ok, so if IDE uses parallel ATA that means it's better... right? So maybe my case is saying serial ATA and I just read the ATA part. There are different looking power connectors, so that would make sense. And since my mobo is 3 years old, I'll just go with IDE. It'll be a year or so until I upgrade everything else anyway.

Actually the reverse is true. When you send a parellel signal, you have to make sure the timing is correct so that all lines of the signal reach their destination at the same time. Serial transfers do not need to worry about timing since the data is sent sequentially. In the early days, it was easier to send a quantity of data at a slow speed, then it was to send a few bits of data fast. Technology has caught up, and now we have the capability to send serial data much faster than we can send the same data parallel

MikeVic · 12-15-2005, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airhog

Actually the reverse is true. When you send a parellel signal, you have to make sure the timing is correct so that all lines of the signal reach their destination at the same time. Serial transfers do not need to worry about timing since the data is sent sequentially. In the early days, it was easier to send a quantity of data at a slow speed, then it was to send a few bits of data fast. Technology has caught up, and now we have the capability to send serial data much faster than we can send the same data parallel

Thanks, makes sense.

Dutch · 12-15-2005, 10:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airhog

Actually the reverse is true. When you send a parellel signal, you have to make sure the timing is correct so that all lines of the signal reach their destination at the same time. Serial transfers do not need to worry about timing since the data is sent sequentially. In the early days, it was easier to send a quantity of data at a slow speed, then it was to send a few bits of data fast. Technology has caught up, and now we have the capability to send serial data much faster than we can send the same data parallel

I never knew that, thanks!

12-15-2005, 11:19 AM	#2
dacman College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: speak to the trout	They use different connectors. The power connectors are usually different too. SATA is a little faster. Your motherboard must support SATA (or you could buy a seperate controller, but that's not the best route unless you already have the hard drive). __________________ No signatures allowed. Last edited by dacman : 12-15-2005 at 11:21 AM.

12-15-2005, 12:52 PM	#4
Pumpy Tudors Bounty Hunter Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: Pittsburgh, PA	I thought IDE and ATA were the same thing. SATA is a completely different animal, but I didn't see any mention of SATA in the original post. __________________ No, I am not Batman, and I will not repair your food processor.

12-15-2005, 01:11 PM	#5
jeff061 Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: MA	Yeah, its IDE/ATA and SATA I believe. SATA being faster with much thinner cables, you need your motherboard to support it though. __________________ Last edited by jeff061 : 12-15-2005 at 01:12 PM.

12-15-2005, 01:39 PM	#7
dacman College Benchwarmer Join Date: Oct 2000 Location: speak to the trout	I didn't read very close. I assumed IDE vs. SATA because that's a fairly common question. IDE uses Parallel ATA which is usually mentioned without the P (ATA100, ATA133, Ultra ATA133, etc) SATA or Serial ATA (SATA150) is the one with different connectors. Look for "IDE" mentioned anywhere and you should be safe (I'm assuming you were looking to purchase a new hard drive). __________________ No signatures allowed.

12-15-2005, 02:02 PM	#8
jeff061 Grizzled Veteran Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: MA	Yeah, like Dacman said . SATA isn't used for RAID anymore than IDE/ATA. SATA is to IDE like the Pentium 4 is to the Pentium 3, to put it really simple. __________________ Last edited by jeff061 : 12-15-2005 at 02:02 PM.

12-15-2005, 11:25 AM	#3
MikeVic Head Coach Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hometown of Canada	My mobo is around 3 years old... looks like it's IDE then. :P Thanks.

12-15-2005, 02:40 PM	#9
MikeVic Head Coach Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Hometown of Canada	Ok, so if IDE uses parallel ATA that means it's better... right? So maybe my case is saying serial ATA and I just read the ATA part. There are different looking power connectors, so that would make sense. And since my mobo is 3 years old, I'll just go with IDE. It'll be a year or so until I upgrade everything else anyway.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)