Difference between SATA and IDE
The continued advancement of information and technology has indeed brought with it unimaginable advancement in computers particularly in terms of the way we store our files in electronic systems. One of the most basic uses of any personal computer is to by many accounts store retrievable information that is relevant to its user or users. The introduction of the integrated drive electronics and the serial Advanced Technology Attachments better known as IDE and SATA respectively is just a perfect epitome of modern information system linkage adapters that are used to connect to efficient and relatively larger storage devices.
As we have already pointed out, the IDE is a unique connection device that links a PC or personal computer to a storage medium by simply attaching the CPU systems path to the hard drives. The connection created by the IDE is popularly known as a bus. The efficiency of IDE was enhanced by the increase in the number of data transmitting wires it had to up to 40 and 80 wires and was later called the Enhanced Integrated Drive Electronics or simply the EIDE.
The primary role of the EIDE was to connect computer hard drives with the circuit board and the computer control unit. It was also called the PATA or parallel ATA. In the face of voltage tolerance and cabling challenges not to mention overall under performance of parallel ATAs, it was imperative that a more advanced and modern method be developed to counter this challenges. This is what sparked the invention of a more advanced version that was called the serial ATA or simply SATA.
In terms of operation, SATA was generally crafted to work in the same manner as the PATA and its primary role of serving as the connection to hard drives similar to that of PATA was maintained. The distinction however was based on efficiency and performance where SATA cables which were thin and long showed extraordinary speeds and durability. The SATA cables have indeed been endorsed by technology lovers and are nowadays the most common types of connection devices used with personal computers.
The differences between the two are basically down to the performance and efficiency of each. SATA cables are faster and efficient as compared to their predecessors IDE. The two also have different types of connectors and cannot be used interchangeably unless an adapter is utilized. In the SATA, the 7-pin cable only will provide for one drive connection while the 40-pin ribbon cables associated with the IDEs can provide the connection of dual hard drives.
The fact that the IDE surface is basically parallel and that of SATA in series is another observable difference between the two, when it come to the amount of data that can be transferred at a given time, SATA cables have shown profound efficiency by being able to transfer 60GB of data in a single second. As for the IDE, the limitation has been it is slow and relatively inefficient hence in most cases it will only transfer 33MB per second.
In other words the main point that we are trying to show is that, SATA cables are by many respects more advanced than the IDE which are relatively inefficient and slow.