Tuesday 3 July 2012

Drive Interface

Drive interfaces are used to connect the drives (hard drive and optical drive) with motherboard and power supply (SMPS). The drive interface is used for both power supply and data transfer. The three types of drive interfaces are:
  • PATA - Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment
  • SATA - Serial Advanced Technology Attachment
  • SCSI - Small Computer System Interface

Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment (PATA)

            PATA is used to connect the hard drive with the motherboard. The maximum data transfer rate achieved in PATA is 133 Mbps. PATA contains two channels in a single cable. They are called as Master and Slave.






Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA)
         
         SATA is also used to connect hard drive with the motherboard. SATA is used to carry both the power and the data in a single cable. SATA replaced PATA technology. The maximum data transfer rate in SATA is 600Mbps. SATA has only one channel in a single cable.




Small Computer System Interface (SCSI)

           SCSI is a drive interface which is additionally included in thee system. by default, SCSI will not present in a system. It should be added using adapters for using SCSI. It is a buffered, peer-to-peer interface connection). Upto 16 devices can be connected in a single port. The data transfer rate in SCSI is 80 MBps.




Differences between PATA & SATA
  • SATA consumes lesser power than PATA.
  • SATA has higher data transfer rate than PATA.
  • 2 channels can be connected in a single cable in PATA whereas only one channel can be connected in SATA.
  • SATA's cable length is longer than PATA and PATA's cable is wider than SATA.
  • SATA allows dull duplex communication and it is not possible in PATA.
  • PATA is incompatible with many devices, SATA is compatible with all the devices.

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