SATA (a little off topic, but...)

[Mephistopheles]

Sorry for posting this on the CPU forum, but I kind of need a quick answer...

Is there any noticeable performance gain for current SATA drives over PATA drives? For instance, Barracuda 7200.7 SATA or 7200.7 Plus? I mean, I know the theoretical advantages of SATA over PATA, but are they for real?

(I'm thinking they aren't, or SATA would be much more widespread than it currently is...)

 

[Mr5oh]

No in general there isn't a difference. The problem is that current drives can't use all the bandwidth that PATA offers, much less the extra bandwidth that SATA offers.

So if you are comparing exact same drives, SATA and IDE will be the same.

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[endyen]

I am running a pata barracuda. According to S. Sandra, it is faster than any other single drive solution except some scsi drives. Raptors not included of course

 

[ZER0]

the only advantage to sata currently is if you're using raid or if u want thinner cables for increased airflow.

 

[Mephistopheles]

Maybe, but it still costs more... which basically means that, as of now, I'd be reluctant to recommend SATA...

 

[Crashman]

The price difference between otherwise identicle drives (same cache size, same mechanicals, same warranty) is as little as $5.

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[endyen]

I still cant bring myself to use a $5. bill to light a cigar.

 

[Crashman]

Could be usefull for upgrades, some newer boards are only comming with 1 PATA header.

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[ChipDeath]

I'd gladly pay $5 just to avoid the ol' ribbon cables, and all that master/slave/single drive/etc nonsense. The sooner everything uses SATA the better, IMO.

Those rounded IDE cables are a very half-assed solution - I've used them but I've since gone back to classic ribbons as they seem more reliable (interference from having all the wires bunched together maybe? no idea).


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[trooper11]

actauly sata have gotten better tot the point of outperforming pata drives. for example, check out reivew for the hitachi 4k250 series of drives in 80gb-400gb models. they all show the best performance out of other sata drives next to the raptors, and in some cases the new maxtor 16mb cache models.

 

[endyen]

The standard ide cables are easy enough to tuck out of the way, the rounded cables are less flexable.
Sata cables are nice, but that's not a good enough reason to change a standard imho.

 

[trooper11]

now remember its not the sata intereface in particular thats making the drives better. for example, the hitachi 7k250 series is the better performing drive, sata or pata, but its not the sata intereface, thats just a bonus lol. thats why id say go for sata now if you can. at least you know your more likely to be able to drop it into any new system without worrying about wether there are enough ide connections.