SATA Hard Drives

[jacqui01]

Hi All
I'm about to buy a new external hard drive and I'm finding references to having SATA, being best, what is this and is it something I should consider important to have on an External Drive, is it anything like Firewire or USB?
I was considering a Western Digital as these seem to come out best on all the reviews I've seen.
Any Advice appreciated

Jacqui

[jford]

Most computers these days use Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA). Previously, you had ATA (or Parallel ATA), which was marketed as either IDE or EIDE drives. SATA is the new technology that allows for a thinner 4-wire cable connection (rather than a 40- or 80-pin ribbon cable), which allows for (among other things) greater airflow in the computer.

Many new computers also have an external Serial ATA connector (in addition to the ones on the motherboard that you normally connect your hard drives to inside the computer), so that you can use external SATA drives. Many of these SATA external drives also have USB and Firewire connections as well, so as long as you have one of those, you should be okay. If it is strictly external SATA, then you would need the external SATA connector on your computer.

Hope that helps.

[levi2]

plus its faster

[jacqui01]

Thanks for your help
I went into Maplins yesterday and they told me you don't have External Hard Drives with SATA, would that be correct.
Is is needed do you think for an External Drive
Jacqui

[bri]

Hiya Jacquie
FREECOM HARD DRIVE PRO 500
In the latest Computer Active, in "Hot New Products," there's something called an eSata external hard drive (name above). The one they're reviewing is a 500GB at £140, but they do smaller ones for cheaper.
Now I don't know if the eSata is different to a Sata, but the review calls it "the upcoming eSata standard for connecting external disks" (so possibly e=external?). However, this particular model didn't get a very good review, as apparently it's difficult to set up, but once running, it's fine.
It does seem to work from a new type connection though for the best performance, as the review also states (after the new standard bit) that it is 6x faster than the current fastest USB2. Having said this, if your computer doesn't work with eSata, you'll find either USB2 or Firewire included...DEPENDING ON WHICH MODEL YOU BUY.
Hope this helps (a bit???) Way beyond me!!!!!!!!!!!
Take care
Bri

[levi2]

have a look here halfway down page these are only the caddies you put your own sata harddrive in

www.allcam.biz/products/usb525.html

[jacqui01]

Hmmm
This is all getting very interesting, and Technical!!
But the advice is helping, I think
Thanks Guys
Jacqui (my head hurts!!)

[levi2]

if you shpp around i you can get pata harddrives with enclosure 500gig for under £70

www.ebuyer.com/UK/store/2/cat/Hard-Drives