Computer and Software Support


Sata Cable

   
   

The newest cable to connect the hard drive to the motherboard. This is a faster connection then using a regular IDE cable. Not all systems have SATA. The systems will have either IDE, SATA, or both SATA and IDE.

IDE cables have two channels. This allows to devices to be plugged into it. SATA cables only allow one. Because SATA will only allow one device on the cable, you do not have to mess with jumpers. With IDE drives, you have to set them to Cable Select, Master or Slave by setting a jumper.

Motherboards have more than one SATA connection. Check the manual for the motherboard to see which connector is the primary.  If you want the drive to be primary drive connect it to the primary.

One word of caution. The SATA cables break easy. Be careful handling them.