PATA Device Cables - CompTIA A+ 220-1101 - 3.1
Summary
TLDRThis script discusses the PATA (Parallel AT Attachment), a legacy storage device connectivity standard, originally known as IDE. It covers the evolution from IDE to EIDE, the various speed improvements, and the ability to connect not only hard drives but also CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs. The differences between 40 and 80 wire PATA cables are highlighted, explaining how the latter reduces crosstalk at higher speeds. The script also contrasts the size and orientation features of PATA connectors with the newer SATA technology.
Takeaways
- πΌ PATA (Parallel AT Attachment) is a legacy connectivity standard used for storage devices, connected via ribbon cables.
- π» The term 'AT Attachment' originates from IBM's PC/AT, one of the original personal computers.
- π PATA is also known as Parallel ATA or simply ATA, and was previously called IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics).
- π§ Enhanced IDE (EIDE) was an updated version of IDE, developed by Western Digital.
- π PATA speeds have evolved over time, ranging from 16 MB/s to 133 MB/s in total throughput.
- πΎ PATA supports not just hard drives but also other devices like CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs.
- π There are two main types of PATA cables: a 40-wire cable and an 80-wire cable, with differences in wire count to reduce crosstalk.
- π The 80-wire PATA cable was introduced to support higher data transfer speeds by minimizing interference.
- π PATA connectors are large compared to modern SATA connectors and have a missing pin for proper orientation.
- π°οΈ PATA is now considered legacy technology and is not commonly used in modern systems, replaced by more efficient standards like SATA.
Q & A
What is PATA and what are its alternative names?
-PATA stands for Parallel AT Attachment, also known as Parallel ATA or simply ATA. It is a type of storage device connectivity used in older computers.
What does the term 'AT Attachment' refer to in the context of PATA?
-The term 'AT Attachment' originates from the IBM PC/AT, which was one of the original PCs created by IBM, and the AT attachment standard was used to connect drives within that system.
What was the original name for PATA before it was called PATA?
-Before being called PATA, it was known as IDE, which stands for Integrated Drive Electronics, a name created by Western Digital.
What is the updated version of IDE known as?
-The updated version of IDE is called Enhanced IDE or EIDE.
What is the range of speeds for different versions of PATA?
-PATA speeds range from 16 megabytes per second to 133 megabytes per second as a total throughput.
Besides hard drives, what other types of drives can connect to PATA?
-Besides hard drives, CD-ROMs or DVD-ROMs may also have a PATA connection.
What are the two types of PATA cables shown in the script, and how do they differ?
-The two types of PATA cables are the 40 wire PATA cable and the 80 wire PATA cable. The 80 wire cable has twice the number of wires inside the ribbon cable to minimize crosstalk at higher speeds, while keeping the number of pins on the connectors the same.
What is the significance of the missing pin in the 40 pin PATA connector?
-The missing pin in the 40 pin PATA connector makes the connector symmetrical, which helps in properly orienting the cable when plugging it into the connector.
How do the PATA connectors on the motherboard and storage device differ from SATA connectors in size?
-PATA connectors are quite large compared to the smaller SATA connectors, which take up much less space inside systems.
What is the purpose of the notch at the bottom of the PATA connector?
-The notch at the bottom of the PATA connector, along with the missing pin, helps in orienting the cable correctly to ensure it is plugged in the right way.
Why was the number of wires in the PATA cable doubled when increasing speeds?
-The number of wires in the PATA cable was doubled to decrease the amount of crosstalk between the wires, which is crucial for maintaining signal integrity at higher speeds.
What does the acronym 'ATA' stand for in the context of storage devices?
-In the context of storage devices, 'ATA' stands for AT Attachment, which is a standard interface for connecting storage devices like hard drives and optical drives to a computer.
Outlines
π Introduction to PATA (Parallel ATA)
This paragraph introduces the concept of PATA, or Parallel AT Attachment, a legacy storage device connectivity standard used in older computers. It explains that PATA, also known as ATA or IDE, was named after the PC/AT, an early IBM computer. The paragraph outlines the evolution of PATA, from its origins as IDE to Enhanced IDE (EIDE), and discusses the various speed improvements over the years, ranging from 16 MB/s to 133 MB/s. It also mentions that PATA was not only used for hard drives but also for CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs. The paragraph concludes with an image comparison of two types of PATA cables, a 40-wire and an 80-wire, explaining the difference in their design and purpose.
Mindmap
Keywords
π‘PATA
π‘Ribbon cable
π‘IDE
π‘EIDE
π‘Data transfer speed
π‘CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs
π‘40 wire PATA cable
π‘80 wire PATA cable
π‘Crosstalk
π‘40 pin connector
π‘SATA
Highlights
Legacy equipment may contain storage devices connected with a ribbon cable, known as PATA or Parallel AT Attachment.
PATA is also referred to as Parallel ATA or simply ATA, originating from the PC/AT standard used by IBM.
Initially, PATA was called IDE or Integrated Drive Electronics, a term coined by Western Digital.
An updated version of IDE was named Enhanced IDE or EIDE, indicating improvements in PATA technology.
PATA speeds have evolved from 16 megabytes per second to 133 megabytes per second in total throughput.
Besides hard drives, PATA can also connect other devices like CD-ROMs or DVD-ROMs.
Modern references to ATA or IDE connections are generally understood as Parallel ATA or PATA.
Two types of PATA cables are identified: a 40-wire and an 80-wire cable, differing in wire count but maintaining the same 40-pin connectors.
The 40-wire cable was the original PATA cable, with device 0 at the first connection and device 1 at the end.
The 80-wire cable was developed to reduce crosstalk at higher speeds, with device 1 at the first connection and device 0 at the end.
The increase to 80 wires in PATA cables helped minimize crosstalk without changing the number of pins on the connectors.
PATA connectors are noticeably larger compared to the newer SATA connectors.
A 40-pin symmetrical connector with a missing pin and a notch is characteristic of PATA, aiding in proper cable orientation.
PATA is considered a legacy technology and is not commonly found in newer systems.
The presence of a 40-pin ribbon cable is indicative of a PATA device.
SATA data cables are significantly smaller and less space-consuming compared to the older PATA technology.
Transcripts
If you're working with some legacy equipment,
you may find storage devices inside
of those computers that are connected with a ribbon cable
just like this one.
This is a connectivity called PATA or the Parallel AT
Attachment.
You might also see this referred to as Parallel ATA
or simply ATA.
The name AT Attachment comes from one
of the original PCs created by IBM, which
was the PC/AT and the AT attachment standard
was the one used to connect drives within that system.
There have been a number of different versions of PATA
through the years.
And originally we didn't even call it PATA.
We called it IDE or Integrated Drive Electronics.
This was a name created by the hard drive manufacturer Western
Digital.
They even had an updated version of IDE
called Enhanced IDE or EIDE.
Through the years, the speeds of PATA continued to improve
and you can find versions of PATA
that range from 16 megabytes per second
through 133 megabytes per second as a total throughput.
There are also other drives that can connect to PATA,
not just hard drives.
You may even find CD-ROMs or DVD-ROMs that have a PATA
connection on those as well.
So although you may find motherboards
and other equipment that are referring to an ATA
drive or an IDE connection, today we
refer to all of these as Parallel ATA or PATA.
Here's an image of two different types of PATA cables.
The one on the top is a 40 wire PATA cable
and the one on the bottom is an 80 wire PATA cable.
With both of these cables, there is a connection
on one end that is a 40 pin connector for the motherboard
and then there are two separate 40 pin connectors
later on down the ribbon cable.
On the 40 wire cable, the first device that you would connect
is referred to as device 0 in the PATA standard.
And the device connecting on the end of the cable is device one.
Those two are swapped on the 80 wire cable.
Device one is the first interface on the cable
and device 0 is at the end.
The 40 wire cable was the original PATA cable.
And then as we increase the speeds for PATA,
we needed some way to decrease the amount of crosstalk
between all of these wires, so we doubled the number of wires
while keeping the number of pins on the connectors exactly
the same.
And this minimizes the crosstalk over these higher speeds
that are used over 80 wire cables.
This is a 40 wire cable.
And if we put an 80 wire cable right next to it,
you can see visually they're quite different, because the 80
wire cable obviously has twice the number of wires
inside of the ribbon cable.
The PATA connectors are also quite large
relative to the SATA connectors you
might already be familiar with.
This motherboard has a PATA connector right at the bottom
and it's quite large compared to the other connectors.
If we zoom up, we can see all 40 pins inside of that connector.
And you'll notice that one of the pins is missing.
That's because this 40 pin connector is symmetrical.
So that missing pin allows us to properly
orient the cable into the right format
when we're plugging it into that connector.
You might also notice there's a notch at the bottom
as well, which also helps when orienting the cable.
If you look at the end of the cable,
you'll see how this works.
There's a notch built into the PATA cable.
And you can see in all of these PATA connectors
that we are missing that hole that's in the connection
so that you couldn't possibly plug it
in in the wrong orientation.
Here's a better look at the interface on the motherboard.
You can easily see that there is a notch at the bottom.
And there's your missing pin right
in the middle of the PATA connector.
The connector that you would find on a storage device
is identical to the connector that you
would find on a motherboard.
It's this 40 pin symmetrical connector.
You can see the notch in the bottom and the missing pin
right in the middle of the PATA connector.
As I mentioned earlier, PATA is a legacy technology.
It's not one you'd commonly find in our newer systems.
But if you do run into one of these 40 pin ribbon cables,
then it's probably a PATA device that you're working with.
Next to this PATA data cable is a SATA data cable.
And you can see that it is much smaller than this very
large ribbon cable used for PATA,
and it takes up much less space inside
of our systems than this older PATA technology.
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