PATA Device Cables - CompTIA A+ 220-1101 - 3.1

Summary

This 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

• 📼 PATA (Parallel AT Attachment) is a legacy connectivity standard used for storage devices, connected via ribbon cables.
• 💻 The term 'AT Attachment' originates from IBM's PC/AT, one of the original personal computers.
• 🔄 PATA is also known as Parallel ATA or simply ATA, and was previously called IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics).
• 🔧 Enhanced IDE (EIDE) was an updated version of IDE, developed by Western Digital.
• 🚀 PATA speeds have evolved over time, ranging from 16 MB/s to 133 MB/s in total throughput.
• 💾 PATA supports not just hard drives but also other devices like CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs.
• 🔌 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.
• 📏 The 80-wire PATA cable was introduced to support higher data transfer speeds by minimizing interference.
• 🔍 PATA connectors are large compared to modern SATA connectors and have a missing pin for proper orientation.
• 🕰️ 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

00:00

🔌 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.

Keywords

💡PATA

PATA, or Parallel AT Attachment, is a legacy data connection standard used for storage devices in older computers. It is integral to the video's theme as it discusses the evolution and characteristics of this technology. In the script, PATA is mentioned as the original way to connect drives within IBM's PC/AT system, indicating its historical significance.

💡Ribbon cable

A ribbon cable is a type of flat and wide cable used for data transmission in older computer systems. It is central to the video's narrative as it visually represents the physical connection method of PATA. The script describes a ribbon cable connecting storage devices, highlighting its practical application in legacy systems.

💡IDE

IDE, or Integrated Drive Electronics, is a term from the video that refers to an older method of hard drive design where the controller is integrated into the hard drive itself. It is relevant to the video's theme as it represents an early stage in the development of PATA. The script mentions that Western Digital created the term IDE, showing its role in the history of data storage technology.

💡EIDE

EIDE, which stands for Enhanced IDE, is an updated version of the IDE standard mentioned in the script. It is related to the video's theme as it represents an advancement in the PATA technology. The script explains that EIDE was an improvement over the original IDE, indicating a progression in data transfer speeds and capabilities.

💡Data transfer speed

Data transfer speed is a measure of how fast data can be moved from one place to another, and it is a key aspect discussed in the video concerning PATA. The script provides examples of PATA speeds ranging from 16 megabytes to 133 megabytes per second, illustrating the performance evolution of this technology.

💡CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs

CD-ROMs and DVD-ROMs are types of optical storage devices that can utilize the PATA interface, as mentioned in the script. They are relevant to the video's theme as they represent additional devices that could be connected via PATA, showcasing the standard's versatility in older systems.

💡40 wire PATA cable

A 40 wire PATA cable is the original type of cable used for PATA connections, as described in the script. It is significant to the video's theme as it represents the initial design of PATA cabling. The script explains that this cable has a 40 pin connector for the motherboard and two separate 40 pin connectors for devices, illustrating its structure and usage.

💡80 wire PATA cable

An 80 wire PATA cable is an enhanced version of the 40 wire cable, designed to reduce crosstalk at higher speeds. It is pertinent to the video's theme as it shows an adaptation of the PATA standard to improve performance. The script describes how the 80 wire cable has twice the number of wires but the same number of pins, demonstrating a technical refinement of the PATA standard.

💡Crosstalk

Crosstalk refers to the interference between signals in a cable, which can degrade the quality of the transmission. In the context of the video, it is mentioned as a reason for the development of the 80 wire PATA cable. The script explains that increasing the number of wires helped to minimize crosstalk at higher data transfer speeds, showing an engineering solution to a technical challenge.

💡40 pin connector

A 40 pin connector is the interface used in PATA for connecting storage devices to the motherboard. It is central to the video's theme as it represents the physical interface standard for PATA. The script describes the connector's design, including a missing pin for orientation and a notch for alignment, which are important for the correct installation and function of PATA devices.

💡SATA

SATA, or Serial ATA, is a newer data connection standard that has replaced PATA in modern computers. It is relevant to the video's theme as it contrasts with the older PATA technology. The script shows a SATA cable next to a PATA cable, highlighting the differences in size and design, and indicating the advancement in data storage connectivity.

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.