In computer hardware, Serial ATA (SATA, is a computer bus technology primarily designed for transfer of data to and from a hard disk. It is the successor to the legacy Advanced Technology Attachment standard (ATA, also known as IDE). This older technology was retroactively renamed Parallel ATA (PATA) to distinguish it from Serial ATA.
The Serial ATA [SATA] bus is defined over two separate connectors, one connector for the data lines and one for the power lines. A Serial ATA Hard drive may also have a third connector for legacy PATA power connections. The PATA power connector may be used in instead of the SATA power to supply a connection which is more rugged and reliable then the SATA-1 power connection.
The Serial ATA interface [SATA] is the serial version of the IDE [ATA] spec. SATA uses a 4 conductor cable with two differential pairs [Tx/Rx], plus an additional 3 grounds pins and a separate power connector. Data runs at 150MBps [1.5GHz] using 8B/10B encoding and 250mV signal swings, with a maximum bus length of 1 meter. SATA enhancements move the data transfer speed to; 300MBps [3.0Gbps], and then 600MBps [6.0Gbps]. The current speed for SATA is 300Mbps [3Gbps]. Shielded external SATA [eSATA] data cable runs out to a maximum of between 3 feet and 6 feet. eSATA cables are used external to the chassis or case.
SATA Data pinout
SATA PinOut, Data
Pin #
Signal Name
Signal Description
1
GND
Ground
2
A+
Transmit +
3
A-
Transmit -
4
GND
Ground
5
B-
Receive -
6
B+
Receive +
7
GND
Ground
SATA Power pinout
SATA PinOut, Power
Pin #
Signal Name
Signal Description
1
V33
3.3v Power
2
V33
3.3v Power
3
V33
3.3v Power, Pre-charge, 2nd mate
4
Ground
1st Mate
5
Ground
2nd Mate
6
Ground
3rd Mate
7
V5
5v Power, pre-charge, 2nd mate
8
V5
5v Power
9
V5
5v Power
10