Term of the Moment
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Definition: SATA
(Serial ATA) A standard hardware interface for connecting storage and CD/DVD drives to the computer. Introduced in 2001, many new computers still employ SATA. However, servers and high-end workstations may use SCSI (see serial attached SCSI), and solid state drives (SSDs) increasingly employ the NVMe interface (see NVMe). See hardware interface.
SATA, PATA and IDE
SATA is the faster serial version of the earlier parallel ATA (PATA) interface. Both SATA and PATA are "integrated drive electronics" (IDE) devices, which means the controller is in the drive, and only a simple circuit is required on the motherboard. See IDE, mSATA and SATA Express.
SATA and PATA Sockets
Even in 2025
SATA and PATA Cables
External eSATA Drives
External eSATAp Drive
SATA, PATA and IDE
SATA is the faster serial version of the earlier parallel ATA (PATA) interface. Both SATA and PATA are "integrated drive electronics" (IDE) devices, which means the controller is in the drive, and only a simple circuit is required on the motherboard. See IDE, mSATA and SATA Express.
SATA Data Transfer Version Year (MB/sec) 1.0 I 2001 150 2.0 II, 3G 2004 300 3.0 III, 6G 2009 600 3.2 Express 2013 600 3.3 2016 600 3.4 2018 600 3.5 2020 600 3.5a 2021 600
SATA sockets are much smaller than their PATA counterpart. When SATA came out, transition motherboards (bottom) supported both interfaces.
Computers still use the SATA interface, witness this set of specs for a Lenovo tower computer.
PC builders were happy to say goodbye to cumbersome PATA cables, which took up lots of room inside a desktop case.
Some computers have eSATA ports for external SATA drives. The hybrid port (right) supports both SATA and USB devices (see eSATA USB Hybrid Port).
This external eSATA drive is opened up to show both data and power interfaces. The "p" in eSATAp drives means power is derived from the eSATA port and not a separate AC outlet.