SATA
Serial ATA
Invented in
2003
Invented by
The Serial ATA Working Group
Availability
Very common
The flat, L-keyed connector that links hard drives and SSDs to a computer’s motherboard. Its slim cable replaced the wide ribbon cables of the IDE era.
Technical specifications
Introduced2003
SignalStorage data
Speedup to 6 Gb/s (SATA III)
Connector7-pin L-keyed
Found on
an external drive
Recommended brands
01DeLOCK
02StarTech
03Lindy
Where to buy
Europe-focused retailer searches. Some links are affiliate links and may earn a commission.
Common adapters and cables
Molex to SATA power adapter
Fun fact
The L-shaped notch makes it impossible to plug in upside-down, a small design mercy after decades of fiddly ribbon cables.
Tips & tricks
The L-notch only fits one way; right-angle plugs save room in tight cases.
Philosophy
The connector that finally tidied the inside of the PC. One thin cable per drive, and never the wrong way round.
Applications
Data
