Tech: From PATA to SATA I and II

"SATA has a wider data path from hard drive to processor which doesnt necessarily mean faster. PATA is max 133MB/sec, SATA 1 is 150MB/sec, and SATA 2 is 300MB/sec. Now thats the max the bus can handle, doesnt mean a hard drive can deliver it. For the most part PATA and SATA 1 drives can only deliver the same amount of data (somewhere around 25MB/sec - give or take). The wider data path means more hard drives can simultaneously transfer data. If you use 25MB/sec as what a typical hard drive can deliver, then PATA (133MB/sec) can utilize 5+ drives, SATA 1 (150MB/sec) can utilize 6+ drives, and SATA 2 (300MB/sec) can utilize 12 drives ...give or take.

Now SATA 2 has what is called NCQ which allows a hard drive to deliver more than 25MB/sec ... it's not too complicated ...the analogy I like is an elevator. PATA and SATA 1 can only take 1 person at a time to the floor they want, were as SATA 2 can take multiple people and stop at floors along the way, before returning to the bottom to pick up more peole ..something like that.

Oh by the way, like a computer parts, the SATA 2 spec doesn't require a maker to built a drive with 300MB/sec bus width or NCQ, so be sure to check the specs.

Now RAID is a great way of increasing your hard disk speed. I am personally looking to create a RAID array with two SATA 2 drives(300MB/sec and NCQ).

Oh ya, remember that to use SATA 2 (300MB/sec bandwidth and NCQ) your motherboard must support it.

Lastly, i think hardware RAID ..meaning motherboard...is better than software RAID."