PATA

Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment or PATA is the connection medium for storage devices like hard disk, floppy or optical disc in the computer. PATA connects hard drive and optical drive to the motherboard. PATA is available in 40 wire and 80 wire patterns. The standard of this device is regulated by the X3/INCITS committee. It is based on the AT Attachment and AT Attachment Packet Interface. The ATA interface has faced several developments to reach today’s refined state. After the arrival of Serial ATA in 2003, the basic ATA was named as Parallel ATA or PATA. Introduced by Western Digital, PATA was promoted by Control Data Corporation and Compaq Computer.

The maximum lengths of the cables are just 18 inches. The length of the cable limits it as internal computer storage. PATA is popular and cheap storage interface. They could transfer 16 bits at a given time. Since the cables and wires are aptly interleaved, capacitive coupling and cross talk are avoided. Higher transfer rates face capacitive coupling as a problem which is avoided by doubling the wires and maintaining the same 40 connector pins attached through a ribbon cable. This resulted in the evolution of Round Parallel ATA and had lesser effect on the computer cooling. One end termed IDE connects to the motherboard while the other end connects the hard drive. 80 wired PATA gives more speed than 40 wired PATA.

The 80 wire PATA is distinguished from one another by black, gray and blue cables while the 40 wire cable is all black. PATA is found in desktops, Notebooks, Consumer electronics and certain servers. Since it does not need a separate adaptor card, it is a significant step of advanced technology. Serial connections are slower than parallel ones. Though serial cables can be longer and up to one meter, they pose many problems. PATA cables avoid airflow. PATA cables use multiple wires for sending and receiving which enables the speed of data transfer in 26 wires. PATA transfers 100 MB per second and the burst rate would be 133 MB per second.

PATA helps a lot in situations where servers are absence like that of laptops and few desktops. PATA helps to keep in pace with the speed of data transfer that is gaining momentum through the day. Each invention is superseded by another for which PATA can be an instrument. CD and DVDs are highly benefitted through PATA.

Questions:

• What is the maximum length of PATA cables?
• What are the two types of PATA cables?