Computer Hardware
SATA
Definition
Serial ATA (SATA) is a computer bus interface that connects host bus adapters to mass storage devices such as hard disk drives, optical drives, and solid-state drives.
Why It Matters
SATA was the long-standing standard for connecting storage drives in PCs, replacing the older, slower PATA standard. It provided a faster, simpler, and more reliable connection.
Contextual Example
Most desktop PCs have multiple SATA ports on the motherboard, which use thin SATA cables to connect to 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch SSDs and HDDs.
Common Misunderstandings
- The latest version, SATA III, has a maximum theoretical speed of 6 Gbps (about 600 MB/s).
- The much faster NVMe interface, which uses the PCIe bus, is now replacing SATA for high-performance SSDs.