Thursday, April 7, 2011

The Maximum Length of a SATA Cable and eSata Cable

The Maximum Length of a SATA Cablethumbnail
SATA cables connect high-speed peripherals to a computer.

Serial Advanced Technology Attachment cables connect peripherals such as hard drives or DVD recorders to acomputer. The maximum usable cable length depends on whether a device is installed internally with a standard SATA cable, or externally with an eSATA cable.

  1. Internal Use

    • Standard SATA cables, intended for internal use, have a maximum length of 39 inches, allowing installation of devices as much as three feet from the motherboard. Users require cables of this length when installing SATA devices into a full-size ATX computer case.

    External Use

    • Connecting an external device to a computer requires an eSATA cable. Designed for maximum range, eSATA cables come up to 78 inches in length, allowing users to position external devices up to six feet away from the computer.

    Cable Identification

    • Although similar in appearance, subtle differences exist between SATA and eSATA cables. In particular, the ends of SATA cables have a recessed groove that resembles a backwards "L," while eSATA cables have a thin, rectangular groove. Additionally, eSATA cables have a locking mechanism at both ends, to ensure they stay in place

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