Motherboard has 3 sata ports, how do i tell which one is sata 2?

[shynepo3]

so i have an optiplex 990 DT, and on the motherboard there are 3 SATA ports. The manual says that 2 are Sata 3.0, and 1 is Sata 2.0. But it doesn't say which is which. So how do i tell?

 

[EasyLover]

Care to share the link of the manual. Usually, different color schemes are used to identify the different sata ports or the manual mentions it by using number scheme.

 

[EasyLover]

Checked the manual. The middle SATA port is the SATA 2 and other two are SATA 3.

 

[shynepo3]

thanks, that was QUICK!

 

[i7Baby]

They'll probably be different colours. 2 of one and one of the other. It should show where they are in your motherboard manual - they'll have a diagram with numbers and a legend.

 

[shynepo3]

Checked the manual. The middle SATA port is the SATA 2 and other two are SATA 3.

actually, are you are sure? you aren't going by the color scheme are you? because the MT model, in the book, it has 2 of each, but on the motherboard, 3 are one color and 1 is another...

for the usff model, it says 1 of each (sata 2.0 and sata 3.0), but each port uses a diff color. so it doesnt seem to relate to the colors.

 

[EasyLover]

Then it is not DT model. You mentioned DT and now saying MT. Plz confirm

 

[i7Baby]

So there are 4 sata ports? I thought you said 3.

 

[shynepo3]

it is the DT model. sorry. but in the manual, it shows all 4 models (dt, mt, usff, and sff). they are have different combinations of 2.0 and 3.0, but dont follow the color scheme:

dt - one sata 2.0, two sata 3.0 (2 light, 1 dark ports)
mt - two sata 2.0, two sata 3.0 (3 light, 1 dark)
usff - no sata 2.0, two sata 3.0 (1 light, 1 dark)
sff - one sata 2.0, two sata 3.0 (2 light, 1 dark ports)

so it doesnt follow a light color port is sata 3.0, and dark is sata 2.0

 

[EasyLover]

Here is complete technical guide from Dell. Strange though on mobo layout three sata ports on MT model have same color while the one is in different color but in table below it is mentioned as two sata 2 ports and 2 sata 3 ports.

http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/optix/en/optiplex-990-customer-brochure.pdf

 

[EasyLover]

It is clear in DT model, the middle port is SATA 2 while the others are SATA 3 ports.

 

[Emerald]

does it tell you in the BIOS?

 

[shynepo3]

So I posted on dell forum and was advised that any port that is 0 or 1 is sata3.0 and anything above is 2.0 .

Thanks for the help all

 

[EasyLover]

So I posted on dell forum and was advised that any port that is 0 or 1 is sata3.0 and anything above is 2.0 .

Thanks for the help all

That would mean, tech guide from Dell is incorrect.

 

[i7Baby]

Another reason to stay away from Dell.

 

[EasyLover]

May be it is time for OP to contact Dell and ask from them directly.