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    Question about hard drives

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Cathryes, Mar 24, 2007.

  1. Cathryes

    Cathryes Notebook Guru

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    Any noticeable difference between EIDE or SATA drives?
     
    Cathryes, Mar 24, 2007
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  2. Greg

    Greg Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    Yes...almost no currently manufactured computer offers IDE.

    If you want to upgrade your notebook, you need to find out which type of drive you have. You cannot switch between the two as the interfaces are different. You have a SATA drive, you must stick with SATA. Same with IDE computers.

    If you're upgrading a desktop, you need to look and see what your motherboard supports. Some come with IDE, some SATA, and some both. Research before you buy.

    As far as performance between the two goes, I'm not too sure on that one. SATA allows for multiple I/O requests and higher bandwidth for the drive, but I'm not sure if current drives take advantage of that yet. Based on my experience, SATA drives are faster...but obviously a comparison between one SATA and one IDE isn't representative of the entire industry.

    However, the bottom line: If you're getting something new, get SATA as IDE is now "older" technology. Upgrading, you need to stick with what you have.
     
    Greg, Mar 24, 2007
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  3. Cathryes

    Cathryes Notebook Guru

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    Sorry I ment performance wise.
     
    Cathryes, Mar 24, 2007
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  4. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    You can draw your own conclusions from the HDD charts at Tom's Hardware. Some models with both types of interface were tested. In general, SATA gives better performance although notebook HDDs internal transfer rate is still within the IDE ceiling. The performance gap is more noticeable for desktop HDDs. However, you will also note that SATA tends to come with the penalty of increased idle power consumption. I hope someone is working to eliminate this drawback.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Mar 24, 2007
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  5. ZaZ

    ZaZ Super Model Super Moderator

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    A notebooks biggest performance factor is the rotational speed.
     
    ZaZ, Mar 24, 2007
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  6. Zero

    Zero The Random Guy

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    The difference between the two is small. That because the limiting factor is the hard disk itself, and not the interface. Hard disks still have a limit on how much data they can transfer per minute or second, and it usually never exceeds to interface limit. Even the 7200 RPM with large capacities can transfer up to around 70 to 80 MB/s, but they interface they use normally allows them 133 MB/s (Most IDE interfaces) or (150 MB/s for SATA).
     
    Zero, Mar 24, 2007
    #6