Parallel ATA
Hard Drive Recovery - Parallel ATA
Parallel ATA (PATA) is an interface standard used for connecting storage devices such as hard disks, solid state drives (SSDs) and CD-ROM drives to a computer. As the name suggests, PATA is based on parallel signaling technology, unlike serial ATA (SATA) devices that use serial signaling technology.
PATA is based on the AT Attachment and AT Attachment Packet Interface (ATA/ATAPI) standards, which is evolved from Western Digital’s original Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE) interface.
Original ATA dates back to the 1980s. It was retroactively renamed Parallel ATA after Serial ATA (SATA) was introduced in 2003.
PATA devices were originally connected using 40-conductor ribbon cables. They were later supplanted by 80-conductor cables, with each conductor grounded to avoid mutual cross-talk between them. The maximum cable length allowed is 18 inches. Because of this, PATA cables are used in internal computer storage interface.
Parallel ATA had been the cheapest interface for many years. However, since the beginning of 2007, it has been largely replaced by SATA. SATA cables has seven conductors, so chances of cross-talk are less likely to happen. Also, SATA cables are more flexible and longer, allowing for more latitude in the physical layout of a system. Signal voltage is also lower in SATA (250 mV for SATA as compared with 5 V for PATA).
Though both PATA and SATA are derived from IDE standards, PATA cables and connectors are often mistakenly referred as IDE cables and connectors.
