1. Personal Computer Hard Drive ATA Interface
4/21/2017
Personal Computer Hard Drive ATA Interface
©Richard Goldman
August 7, 2001
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman

2. ATA ATA, Advanced Technology Attachment Marketed as:
ATA Interface
ATA
4/21/2017
ATA, Advanced Technology Attachment
Marketed as:
IDE, Integrated Device Electronics.
Originally developed for the IBM PC/AT in the mid-1980s.
Adopted as an industry standard in 1994
Provides a standard interface between HDD and computer system board. (ANSI X )
Integrates the HDD, Hard Disk Drive, and controller PCB, Printed Circuit Board, into one device.
Later became know as ATA-1
Supports up to 2 devices on one channel.
The ATA standard was withdrawn in 1999.
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman

3. ATA Interface
ATA-2
4/21/2017
Adopted in 1996
The ATA-2 specification was expanded to support two channels, 4 devices in total. (ANSI X )
Allowed faster transfer rates than ATA.
Marketed as:
EIDE, Enhanced Integrated Device Electronics.
Fast ATA
Fast ATA-2
Ultra ATA
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman

4. ATA Interface
ATA-3
4/21/2017
Adopted in 1997
The ATA-3 specification has a few new features. (ANSI X )
No increase in transfer rates.
Added S.M.A.R.T. technology.
Self-Monitoring Analysis and Reporting Technology
Added Security
Allows drives to be read/write locked with a password.
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman

5. ATA Interface
ATA/ATAPI-4
4/21/2017
Adopted in 1998
The ATA/ATAPI-4 specification has many new features (ANSI NCITS )
Added ATAPI interface to the specification.
ATA Packet Interface
Provides support for CD-ROM drives, Tape backup devices, and PC (PCMCIA) devices
Also known as:
Ultra ATA/33
Ultra DMA/33
UDMA/33
Ultra DMA Mode 2
Added new faster transfer protocols
Transfers data on both positive and negative side of data-latching signal.
Improved data integrity with data CRC included in new transfer protocols. (Commands are not checked)
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman

6. ATA Interface
ATA/ATAPI-5
4/21/2017
Adopted in 2000
The ATA/ATAPI-5 specification is primarily a speed improvement. (ANSI NCITS )
Also known as:
Ultra ATA/66
Ultra DMA/66
UDMA/66
Ultra DMA Mode 4
Requires a special 80 wire cable with 40 pin connectors.
Additional ground wires between signal wires reduces crosstalk.
Requires additional capacitor on system board (pin 34) to detect 80 wire cable.
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman

7. ATA Interface
ATA/ATAPI-6
4/21/2017
Adopted in 2001
The ATA/ATAPI-6 specification is another a speed improvement. (ANSI NCITS ???-2001)
Also known as:
Ultra ATA/100
Ultra DMA/100
UDMA/100
Requires a special 80 wire cable with 40 pin connectors.
Additional ground wires between signal wires reduces crosstalk.
Requires additional capacitor on system board to detect 80 wire cable.
Reduced signal voltage from 5.0V to 3.3V.
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman

8. “Fast Drives” Introduced in 2001
ATA Interface
“Fast Drives”
4/21/2017
Introduced in 2001
The Fast Drive specification is another speed improvement. (Maxtor Corporation specification – No ANSI specification)
Also known as:
Ultra ATA/133
Requires a special 80 wire cable with 40 pin connectors.
Requires additional capacitor on system board to detect 80 wire cable.
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman

9. ATA Interface
Serial ATA
4/21/2017
The Serial ATA/1500 specification is a major speed improvement coupled with a new serial cable design.
ATA/1500 Draft Specification 1.0 – Nov 21, 2000
Also known as:
SATA
Provides faster data transfer
Provides much lower voltage signals (Dropped to 0.5V)
Provides more robust data transfer (Includes error checking and correction of data and commands)
Smaller cable allows better circulation inside of computer
Smaller connector provides smaller footprint on system board and devices.
Allows longer cable lengths (1m) - easier more flexible design, manufacture, and service.
Software is backwards compatible with parallel ATA.
Requires new cable, and circuitry and connectors on devices and on system board.
All Serial ATA devices act as “Master” devices.
Dongles and/or adapter cards may be used to adapt Serial ATA to older computers or devices.
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman

10. Serial ATA-1 First-generation Serial ATA
ATA Interface
Serial ATA-1
4/21/2017
First-generation Serial ATA
Projected shipping date
150MB/sec, 1.5Gb/sec, (1X)
Also know as:
SATA
SATA-1
Ultra SATA
Ultra SATA/1500
Serial Gen-1
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman

11. Serial ATA-2 Second-generation ATA 300MB/sec (2X) Also know as: SATA-2
ATA Interface
Serial ATA-2
4/21/2017
Second-generation ATA
300MB/sec (2X)
Also know as:
SATA-2
Ultra SATA-2
Serial Gen-2
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman

12. Serial ATA-3 Third-generation Serial ATA 600 MB/sec (4X) Also know as:
ATA Interface
Serial ATA-3
4/21/2017
Third-generation Serial ATA
600 MB/sec (4X)
Also know as:
SATA-3
Ultra SATA-3
Serial Gen-3
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman

13. PIO PIO, Programmed Input Output
ATA Interface
PIO
4/21/2017
PIO, Programmed Input Output
PIO is a protocol used to communicate over the ATA, and ATA-2 interfaces.
PIO data transfers are controlled by the CPU.
ATA and ATA-2 supported 5 different PIO modes:
PIO Mode Interface Transfer Rate
0 ATA MB/sec
ATA MB/sec
ATA MB/sec
3 ATA MB/sec
4 ATA MB/sec
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman

14. Single-word DMA DMA, Direct Memory Access
ATA Interface
Single-word DMA
4/21/2017
DMA, Direct Memory Access
Single-word DMA allows 8bit data transfers between the device and memory without CPU intervention.
Transfers are controlled by the DMA Controller.
Also know as:
DMA
Singleword DMA
Single Word DMA
ATA and ATA-2 supported 3 different Single-word DMA modes:
Single-word Interface Transfer Rate
DMA Mode
0 ATA MB/sec
ATA MB/sec
ATA MB/sec
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman

15. ATA Interface
Multiword DMA
4/21/2017
Multiword DMA allows 16bit data transfers between the device and memory without CPU intervention.
Multiword DMA, transfers are controlled by the devices themselves (Called Busmastering).
Also know as:
Multi Word DMA
Multi-word DMA
Bustmaster DMA
Bustmaster IDE
ATA and ATA-2 supported 3 different Multiword DMA modes:
Multiword Interface Transfer Rate
DMA Mode
0 ATA MB/sec
ATA MB/sec
ATA MB/sec
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman

16. ATA Interface
Ultra DMA
4/21/2017
Transfers data on both positive and negative side of data-latching signal.
Also know as
UDMA
Ultra ATA
ATA-4 through ATA-6 supported 5 different Ultra DMA modes:
Ultra DMA Interface Transfer Rate
Mode
0 ATA/ATAPI MB/sec
ATA/ATAPI MB/sec
ATA/ATAPI MB/sec
ATA/ATAPI MB/sec
ATA/ATAPI MB/sec
ATA/ATAPI MB/sec
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman

17. ATA Modes of Transfer ATA Interface 4/21/2017 Richard L. Goldman

18. Setting Jumpers on ATA/ATAPI Devices
ATA Interface
Setting Jumpers on ATA/ATAPI Devices
4/21/2017
Devices must be set (jumpered) as either:
Single (Stand-alone)
Used when the device is the only device on the cable.
Master (Master with Slave)
Used for the first device after a second device (a slave) is added to the cable.
Sometimes used when the device is the only device on the cable.
Slave
Used for the second device added to the cable.
Cable Select
Used with a special cable. The position on the cable determines the Master or Slave designation.
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman

19. Sample Jumper settings
ATA Interface
Sample Jumper settings
4/21/2017
Cable
Single
Master
Slave
Select
Maxtor
Western Dig.
Seagate
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman

20. Line 28 cut between device connectors
ATA Interface
4/21/2017
ATA
Single, Master, or Slave
40 conductor cable
40 pin connectors
Cable Select
Master
Slave
Line 28 cut between device connectors
40 conductor cable
40 pin connectors
Master
“Master”
“Master”
Slave
80 conductor cable
40 pin connectors
18 inch max. length
7 pin connectors
2 Transmit
2 Receive
3 Ground
1 meter max. length
ATA Cables
ATA/66/100/133
Serial ATA
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman

21. Serial ATA Device Signal Connector
Device (HDD, etc.)
ATA Interface
4/21/2017
Power Connector
Signal Connector
Pin 6 - Trans (+)
Serial ATA Device Signal Connector
Pin 5 - Trans (-)
Pin 3 - Rec (-)
Pin 2 - Rec (+)
Note: All contacts not labeled are ground contacts
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman

22. Serial ATA Device Power Connector
Device (HDD, etc.)
ATA Interface
4/21/2017
Power Connector
Signal Connector
Pins VDC
Serial ATA Device Power Connector
Pins VDC
Reserved
Pins VDC
Note: All contacts not labeled are ground contacts
©Richard L. Goldman 2001
Richard L. Goldman