Editing SATA (section)

== Cables, connectors, and ports <span class="anchor" id="CONNECTORS"></span> ==
[[File:2.5-inch SATA drive on top of a 3.5-inch SATA drive, close-up of data and power connectors.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|2.5-inch SATA drive on top of a 3.5-inch SATA drive, close-up of data and power connectors. Also visible are [[#Additional pins|8 jumper pins]] on the 3.5-inch drive.]]

Connectors and cables present the most visible differences between SATA and parallel ATA drives. Unlike PATA, the same connectors are used on 3.5-inch<!-- No unit conversion: this is a nominal size class and not a measurement. --> SATA hard disks (for desktop and server computers) and 2.5-inch<!-- No unit conversion: this is a nominal size class and not a measurement. --> disks (for portable or small computers).<ref>
{{cite web
 |url         = http://superuser.com/questions/2086/can-i-install-a-laptop-2-5-sata-drive-on-a-desktop-without-any-adapters
 |title       = Can I install a laptop 2.5" SATA drive on a desktop without any adapters?
 |year        = 2009
 |access-date  = 2013-12-04
 |website     = superuser.com
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20131202041211/http://superuser.com/questions/2086/can-i-install-a-laptop-2-5-sata-drive-on-a-desktop-without-any-adapters
 |archive-date = 2013-12-02
}}</ref>

Standard SATA connectors for both data and power have a conductor pitch of {{Convert|1.27|mm|in|abbr=in|sp=us}}. Low insertion force is required to mate a SATA connector. A smaller mini-SATA or mSATA connector is used by smaller devices such as 1.8-inch SATA drives, some DVD and Blu-ray drives, and mini SSDs.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://techreport.com/discussions.x/17624 |title=Get ready for mini-SATA |publisher=The Tech Report |date=2009-09-21 |access-date=2010-01-26 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090925002619/http://www.techreport.com/discussions.x/17624 |archive-date=2009-09-25 }}</ref>

A special eSATA connector is specified for external devices, and an optionally implemented provision for clips to hold internal connectors firmly in place. SATA drives may be plugged into [[Serial Attached SCSI|SAS]] controllers and communicate on the same physical cable as native SAS disks, but SATA controllers cannot handle SAS disks.

Female SATA ports (on motherboards for example) are for use with SATA data cables that have locks or clips to prevent accidental unplugging. Some SATA cables have right- or left-angled connectors to ease connection to circuit boards.
{{Clear}}

=== Data connector <span class="anchor" id="DATACONN"></span> ===
{{See also|SATA Express#CONNECTORS|l1=SATA Express connectors}}

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-right:0; margin-top:0;"
|+ Standard connector, data segment, host side signal naming
|-
! colspan="2"| Pin # !! Mating !! Function
|-
| style="background:black;" |
| 1
| style="text-align:left;" | 1st
| Ground
|-
| rowspan="2" style="background:blue;" |
| 2
| style="text-align:right;" | 2nd
| A+ (transmit)
|-
| 3
| style="text-align:right;" | 2nd
| A− (transmit)
|-
| style="background:black;" |
| 4
| style="text-align:left;" | 1st
| Ground
|-
| rowspan="2" style="background:blue;" |
| 5
| style="text-align:right;" | 2nd
| B− (receive)
|-
| 6
| style="text-align:right;" | 2nd
| B+ (receive)
|-
| style="background:black;" |
| 7
| style="text-align:left;"| 1st
| Ground
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;" | &nbsp;— || Coding notch
|}

The SATA standard defines a data cable with seven conductors (three grounds and four active data lines in two pairs) and 8&nbsp;mm wide wafer connectors on each end. SATA cables can have lengths up to {{convert|1|m|ft|sp=us}}, and connect one motherboard socket to one hard drive. PATA [[ribbon cable]]s, in comparison, connect one motherboard socket to one or two hard drives, carry either 40 or 80 wires, and are limited to {{convert|45|cm|in|sp=us}} in length by the PATA specification; however, cables up to {{convert|90|cm|in|sp=us}} are readily available. Thus, SATA connectors and cables are easier to fit in closed spaces and reduce obstructions to [[air cooling]]. Some cables even include a locking feature, whereby a small (usually metal) spring holds the plug in the socket.

SATA connectors may be straight, upward-angled, downward-angled, leftward-angled, or rightward-angled. Angled connectors allow lower-profile connections. Downward-angled connectors lead the cable immediately away from the drive, on the circuit-board side. Upward-angled connectors lead the cable across the drive towards its top.

One of the problems associated with the transmission of data at high speed over electrical connections is described as ''noise'', which is due to electrical coupling between data circuits and other circuits. As a result, the data circuits can both affect other circuits and be affected by them. Designers use a number of techniques to reduce the undesirable effects of such unintentional coupling. One such technique used in SATA links is [[differential signaling]]. This is an enhancement over PATA, which uses [[single-ended signaling]]. The use of fully shielded, dual [[coaxial cabling|coax]] conductors, with multiple ground connections, for each differential pair<ref>Serial ATA Revision 3.0 ''6.1.8 Internal single-lane cable''</ref> improves isolation between the channels and reduces the chances of lost data in difficult electrical environments.

<gallery widths="250" heights="150">
File:SATA-cable.jpg|SATA data cable
File:2.5-inch SATA drive on top of a 3.5-inch SATA drive, close-up of data and power connectors.jpg|SATA connectors on 2.5 and 3.5-inch hard drives, with data pins on the left and power pins on the right. The two different pin lengths ensure a specific mating order; the longer lengths are ground pins and make contact first. (The cable side has similar variations to achieve three levels of mating order.)
File:SATA3-TwinAxCable.jpg|SATA cable showing the two foil shielded differential pairs
</gallery>

{{Clear}}

=== SATA Power connectors <span class="anchor" id="SATA power"></span> ===

==== Standard power connector (15 pins) ====
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-right:0; margin-top:0;"
|+ Standard connector, power segment
|-
! colspan="2"| Pin # !! Mating !! Function
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"|&nbsp;— || Coding notch
|-
| rowspan=3 style="background:orange;" |
| 1
| align=right| 3rd
| rowspan=2| 3.3&nbsp;V power
|-
| 2 ||align=right| 3rd
|-
| 3 ||align=center| 2nd
| Enter/exit Power Disable (PWDIS) mode<br />(3.3&nbsp;V power, pre-charge prior to SATA 3.3)
|-
| rowspan=3 style="background:black;" |
| 4
| align=left| 1st
| rowspan=3| Ground
|-
| 5 ||align=center| 2nd
|-
| 6 ||align=center |2nd
|-
|rowspan=3 style="background:red;" |
| 7
|align=center| 2nd
| 5&nbsp;V power, pre-charge
|-
| 8 ||align=right| 3rd
|rowspan=2| 5&nbsp;V power
|-
| 9 ||align=right| 3rd
|-
| style="background:black;" |
| 10
|align=center| 2nd
| Ground
|-
| style="background:gray;" |
| 11
|align=right |3rd
| [[Staggered spinup]] / activity signal /<br /> direct head unload / vendor specific
|-
| style="background:black;" |
| 12
| 1st
| Ground
|-
|rowspan=3 style="background:yellow;" |
| 13
|align=center| 2nd
| 12&nbsp;V power, pre-charge
|-
| 14 ||align=right| 3rd
|rowspan=2| 12&nbsp;V power
|-
| 15 ||align=right| 3rd
|}

[[File:SATA power cable.jpg|thumb|left|200px|A fifteen-pin SATA power connector (This particular connector is missing the orange 3.3&nbsp;V wire.)]]

SATA specifies a different [[DC connector|power connector]] than the four-pin [[Molex connector]] used on [[Parallel ATA]] (PATA) devices (and earlier small storage devices, going back to [[ST-506]] hard disk drives and even to floppy disk drives that predated the IBM PC). It is a wafer-type connector, like the SATA data connector, but much wider (fifteen pins versus seven) to avoid confusion between the two. Some early SATA drives included the four-pin Molex power connector together with the new fifteen-pin connector, but most SATA drives now have only the latter.

The new SATA power connector contains many more pins for several reasons:<ref name="allpinouts-sata">
{{cite web
 |url=http://www.allpinouts.org/index.php/Serial_ATA_%28SATA,_Serial_Advanced_Technology_Attachment%29 
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081108043955/http://www.allpinouts.org/index.php/Serial_ATA_%28SATA%2C_Serial_Advanced_Technology_Attachment%29 
 |title=Serial ATA (SATA, Serial Advanced Technology Attachment) 
 |access-date=2016-07-05 
 |archive-date=2008-11-08 
 |website=allpinouts.org 
 |url-status=dead 
}}</ref>
* 3.3&nbsp;V is supplied along with the traditional 5&nbsp;V and 12&nbsp;V supplies. However, very few drives actually use it.
* Pin 3 in SATA revision 3.3 has been redefined as PWDIS and is used to enter and exit the POWER DISABLE mode in line with SAS-3.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Chu |first1=Frank (HGST) |last2=Frank |first2=James (Seagate) |last3=Cox |first3=Alvin (Seagate) |title=SATA3.2 TPR056 Enable new Power Disable feature on standard SATA connector P3 |url=https://sata-io.org/sites/default/files/TPR056r13_SATA32_EnableNewPowerDisableFeatureOnStandardSATA.pdf |access-date=17 June 2023 |date=3 March 2014}}</ref> If Pin 3 is driven HIGH (2.1–3.6&nbsp;V max), power to the drive circuitry is cut. Drives with this feature enabled do not power up in systems designed to SATA revision 3.1 or earlier, because Pin 3 driven HIGH prevents the drive from powering up.<ref name="power-disable" /> Workarounds include using a Molex adapter without 3.3&nbsp;V or putting insulating tape over the PWDIS pin. 
* To reduce resistance and increase current capability, each voltage is supplied by three pins in parallel, though one pin in each group is intended for precharging (see below). Each pin should be able to carry 1.5&nbsp;A.
* Five parallel pins provide a low-resistance ground connection.
* Two ground pins and one pin for each supplied [[voltage]] support [[hot swapping|hot-plug]] precharging. Ground pins 4 and 12 in a hot-swap cable are the longest, so they make contact first when the connectors are mated. Drive power connector pins 3, 7, and 13 are longer than the others, so they make contact next. The drive uses them to charge its internal bypass capacitors through current-limiting resistances. Finally, the remaining power pins make contact, bypassing the resistances and providing a low-resistance source of each voltage. This two-step mating process avoids glitches to other loads and possible arcing or erosion of the SATA power-connector contacts. 
* Pin 11 might be used (often by chassis or backplane hardware independent from SATA host controller and its data connection) for [[staggered spinup]], activity indication, emergency head parking, or other vendor defined functions in various combinations. It is an [[open-collector]] signal, which may be pulled down by the connector or the drive.
** Host signaling: If pulled down at the connector (as it is on most cable-style SATA power connectors), the drive spins up as soon as power is applied. If left floating, the drive waits until it is spoken to. This prevents many drives from spinning up simultaneously, which might draw too much power.
** Drive signaling: The pin is also pulled low by the drive to indicate drive activity. This may be used to give feedback to the user through an [[LED]]. Relevant definitions of pin operation have changed multiple times in published revisions of SATA standard, so the observed behavior may be dependent on device version, host version, firmware and software configuration.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Samsung Electronics |title=Device Activity Signal (DAS) Application Note |url=https://semiconductor.samsung.com/resources/others/Samsung_SSD_845DC_01_Device_Activity_Signal_DAS.pdf |access-date=27 April 2023 |date=26 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=SATA-IO |title=Serial ATA Revision 3.2 Technical Proposal #058: DAS/DSS/DHU Changes |url=https://sata-io.org/sites/default/files/TPR058v3_SATA32_DAS%2BDSS%2BDHU_Changes.pdf |access-date=27 April 2023 |date=2 June 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author1=SATA-IO |title=Serial ATA Revision 3.2 Error Correction #089: DAS/DSS support clarifications |url=https://sata-io.org/sites/default/files/ECN089v6_SATA32_DSS_DAS_SupportClarifications.pdf |access-date=27 April 2023 |date=11 August 2015}}</ref> There is also a specification for transmission of drive temperature and other status values with activity signal pulses routinely used to make LED blink.<ref>{{cite web |author1=SNIA SFF TWG |title=SFF-8609: Management Interface for Drive Conditions |url=https://members.snia.org/document/dl/27389 |access-date=27 April 2023 |date=7 July 2017}}</ref>

Passive adapters are available that convert a four-pin [[Molex connector]] to a SATA power connector, providing the 5&nbsp;V and 12&nbsp;V lines available on the Molex connector, but not 3.3&nbsp;V. There are also four-pin Molex-to-SATA power adapters that include electronics to additionally provide the 3.3&nbsp;V power supply.<ref>[http://www.akasa.com.tw/update.php?tpl=product/product.detail.tpl&no=181&type=Cables&type_sub=SATA%20Cable%20Adapters&model=SATA2-20-PW Example of active power adapter] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170712125222/http://www.akasa.com.tw/update.php?tpl=product%2Fproduct.detail.tpl&no=181&type=Cables&type_sub=SATA%20Cable%20Adapters&model=SATA2-20-PW |date=2017-07-12 }}.</ref> However, most drives do not require the 3.3&nbsp;V power line.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pinouts.ru/Power/sata-power_pinout.shtml |title=Serial ATA (SATA) power connector pinout and connections @ |website=pinouts.ru |date=2013-05-31 |access-date=2013-06-14 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130628184420/http://pinouts.ru/Power/sata-power_pinout.shtml |archive-date=2013-06-28 }}</ref>

Just like SATA data connectors, SATA power connectors may be straight, upward-angled, or downward-angled. 
{{Clear}}

==== Slimline power connector (6 pins) ====
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-right:0; margin-top:0;"
|+ Slimline connector, power segment
|-
! colspan="2"| Pin # !! Mating !! Function
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| &nbsp;—
| Coding notch
|-
| style="background:gray;" |
| 1
|align=right| 3rd
| Device presence
|-
| style="background:red;" |
| 2
|align=center| 2nd
|rowspan=2| 5&nbsp;V power
|-
| style="background:red;" |
| 3
| align="center" | 2nd
|-
| style="background:gray;" |
| 4
|align=center| 2nd
| Manufacturing diagnostic
|-
| style="background:black;" |
| 5
|align=left| 1st
|rowspan=2| Ground
|-
| style="background:black;" |
| 6
|align=left| 1st
|}

<gallery widths="200">
SATA Slimline Powercable.jpg|A six-pin slimline SATA '''power''' connector
SATA connector Slimline CD-ROM.jpg|The back of a SATA-based slimline optical drive
</gallery>The power connector is reduced to six pins so it supplies only +5&nbsp;V (red wire), and not +12&nbsp;V or +3.3&nbsp;V.<ref name="sata26" /><ref>{{cite web |title=Press release: SATA-IO ADVANCES TECHNOLOGY WITH THE SATA REVISION 2.6 SPEC |url=https://sata-io.org/system/files/member-downloads/SATA-IOAdvancesTechnologyWithTheSATARevision2.6Spec.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829210356/https://www.sata-io.org/system/files/member-downloads/SATA-IOAdvancesTechnologyWithTheSATARevision2.6Spec.pdf |archive-date=2017-08-29 |access-date=2017-11-10 |publisher=SATA}}</ref>

Pin 1 of the slimline power connector, denoting device presence, is shorter than the others to allow hot-swapping.

Note: The '''data''' connector used is the same as the non-slimline  version.

Low-cost adapters exist to convert from standard SATA to slimline SATA.

SATA&nbsp;2.6 is the first revision that defined the '''slimline''' power connector targeted for smaller form-factors drives, such as laptop [[Optical disc drive|optical drives]].

{{Clear}}

==== Micro connector ====
{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; margin-left:1em; margin-right:0; margin-top:0;"
|+ Micro connector, power segment
|-
! colspan="2" | Pin # !! Mating !! Function
<!-- The spec says that hot plugging isn't supported for micro cables, so mating is only important for backplane use. -->
|-
| style="background:orange;" |
| 1
| align=right | 3rd
| rowspan=2 | 3.3&nbsp;V power
|-
| style="background:orange;" |
| 2
| align=center | 2nd
|-
| style="background:black;" |
| 3
| align=left | 1st
| rowspan=2 | Ground
|-
| style="background:black;" |
| 4
|align=left| 1st
|-
| style="background:red;" |
| 5
|align=center| 2nd
|rowspan=2| 5&nbsp;V power
|-
| style="background:red;" |
| 6
|align=right| 3rd
|-
| style="background:gray;" |
| 7
|align=right| 3rd
| Reserved
|-
| colspan="3" style="text-align:center;"| &nbsp;—
| Coding notch
|-
| style="background:gray;" |
| 8
|align=right| 3rd
|rowspan=2| Vendor specific
|-
| style="background:gray;" |
| 9
|align=center| 2nd
|}
<gallery widths="200">
Micro SATA pin-out on Toshiba MK1216GSG 20131114.png|A 1.8-inch<!-- No unit conversion: this is a nominal size class and not a measurement. --> micro SATA hard drive with numbered data and power pins on the connector
2008 Intel Developer Forum Taipei Showcae Samsung muSATA 128GB SSD.jpg|[[Samsung]] 128 GB micro SATA [[solid-state drive]]
</gallery>

The micro SATA connector (sometimes called uSATA or μSATA<ref name="amazon-msata">{{cite web
 | url = https://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/RBX0KM9DMNFEJ
 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130802043631/http://www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/RBX0KM9DMNFEJ
 | title = Understand the difference: micro-SATA vs. mSATA
 | date = 2013-02-23 | access-date = 2013-11-06 | archive-date = 2013-08-02
 | website = amazon.com
}}</ref>) originated with SATA&nbsp;2.6, and is intended for 1.8-inch<!-- No unit conversion: this is a nominal size class and not a measurement. --> hard disk drives. There is also a micro data connector, similar in appearance but slightly thinner than the standard data connector.

{{Clear}}

=== Additional pins <span class="anchor" id="EXTRAPINS"></span> ===

Some SATA drives, in particular mechanical ones, come with an extra 4 or more pin interface which isn't uniformly standardized but nevertheless serves similar purpose defined by each drive manufacturer. As IDE drives used those extra pins for setting up Master and Slave drives, on SATA drives, those pins are generally used to select different Power modes for use in USB-SATA bridges or enables additional features like Spread Spectrum Clocking, SATA Speed Limit or Factory Mode for Diagnostics and Recovery, by the use of a jumper.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.seagate.com/www-content/support-content/samsung/internal-products/spinpoint-m-series/en-us/docs/100772113c.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201206224112/https://www.seagate.com/www-content/support-content/samsung/internal-products/spinpoint-m-series/en-us/docs/100772113c.pdf|title=Seagate® Laptop HDD SATA 2.5" Product Manual|date=January 2016|website=seagate.com|archive-date=2020-12-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.howtogeek.com/347878/what-do-the-electrical-pins-on-the-back-of-your-hard-drive-do/|title=What Do The Jumper Pins On The Back Of Your Hard Drive Do?|date=5 April 2018|website=howtogeek.com}}</ref>

{{Clear}}

=== eSATA ===
{{distinguish|SATAe}}
<!-- linked to from redirects -->
[[File:ESATA Logo.svg|upright|thumb|The official eSATA logo]]
[[File:SATA2 und eSATA-Stecker.jpg|thumb|upright|SATA (left) and eSATA (right) connectors]]
[[File:Connector esata IMGP6050 wp.jpg|thumb|upright|[[SATA#eSATA|eSATA]] ports]]

Standardized in 2004, eSATA (''e'' standing for external) provides a variant of SATA meant for external connectivity. It uses a more robust connector, longer shielded cables, and stricter (but backward-compatible) electrical standards. The protocol and logical signaling (link/transport layers and above) are identical to internal SATA. The differences are:
* Minimum transmit amplitude increased: Range is 500–600&nbsp;mV instead of 400–600&nbsp;mV.
* Minimum receive amplitude decreased: Range is 240–600&nbsp;mV instead of 325–600&nbsp;mV.
* Maximum cable length increased to {{convert|2|m|ft|sp=us}} from {{convert|1|m|ft|sp=us}}.
* The eSATA cable and connector is similar to the SATA 1.0a cable and connector, with these exceptions:
** The eSATA connector is mechanically different to prevent unshielded internal cables from being used externally. The eSATA connector discards the L-shaped key and changes the position and size of the guides.
** The eSATA insertion depth is deeper: 6.6&nbsp;mm instead of 5&nbsp;mm. The contact positions are also changed.
** The eSATA cable has an extra shield to reduce [[Electromagnetic interference|EMI]] to FCC and CE requirements. Internal cables do not need the extra shield to satisfy EMI requirements because they are inside a shielded case.
** The eSATA connector uses metal springs for shield contact and mechanical retention.<!-- SATA might also do this -->
** The eSATA connector has a design-life of 5,000 matings; the ordinary SATA connector is only specified for 50.

Aimed at the consumer market, eSATA enters an external storage market served also by the USB and FireWire interfaces. The SATA interface has certain advantages. Most external hard-disk-drive cases with FireWire or USB interfaces use either PATA or SATA drives and "bridges" to translate between the drives' interfaces and the enclosures' external ports; this bridging incurs some inefficiency. Some single disks can transfer 157&nbsp;MB/s during real use,<ref name="Tom2010HardDrives"/> about four times the maximum transfer rate of USB 2.0 or [[IEEE 1394a|FireWire 400 (IEEE 1394a)]] and almost twice as fast as the maximum transfer rate of FireWire 800. The S3200 [[FireWire]] 1394b specification reaches around 400&nbsp;MB/s (3.2&nbsp;Gbit/s), and [[USB 3.0]] has a nominal speed of 5&nbsp;Gbit/s. Some low-level drive features, such as [[Self-Monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology|S.M.A.R.T.]], may not operate through some USB<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sourceforge.net/apps/trac/smartmontools/wiki/USB |title=USB – smartmontools |website=sourceforge.net |access-date=2012-01-13 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207000458/http://sourceforge.net/apps/trac/smartmontools/wiki/USB |archive-date=2012-02-07 }}</ref> or FireWire or USB+FireWire bridges; eSATA does not suffer from these issues provided that the controller manufacturer (and its drivers) presents eSATA drives as ATA devices, rather than as [[SCSI]] devices, as has been common with [[Silicon Image]], [[JMicron]], and [[Nvidia]] nForce drivers for Windows Vista. In those cases SATA drives do not have low-level features accessible.

The eSATA version of SATA&nbsp;6G operates at 6.0&nbsp;Gbit/s (the term "SATA&nbsp;III" is avoided by the [[SATA-IO]] organization to prevent confusion with SATA&nbsp;II 3.0&nbsp;Gbit/s, which was colloquially referred to as "SATA&nbsp;3G" [bit/s] or "SATA&nbsp;300" [MB/s] since the 1.5&nbsp;Gbit/s SATA&nbsp;I and 1.5&nbsp;Gbit/s SATA&nbsp;II were referred to as both "SATA&nbsp;1.5G" [bit/s] or "SATA&nbsp;150" [MB/s]). Therefore, eSATA connections operate with negligible differences between them.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hddlife.com/eng/faq.html |title=Questions about the indicators of health/performance (in percent) |website=hddlife.com |access-date=2007-08-29 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070924055228/http://www.hddlife.com/eng/faq.html |archive-date=2007-09-24 }}</ref> Once an interface can transfer data as fast as a drive can handle them, increasing the interface speed does not improve data transfer.

There are some disadvantages, however, to the eSATA interface:
* Devices built before the eSATA interface became popular lack external SATA connectors. 
* For small form-factor devices (such as external 2.5-inch<!-- No unit conversion: this is a nominal size class and not a measurement. --> disks), a PC-hosted USB or FireWire link can usually supply sufficient power to operate the device. However, eSATA connectors cannot supply power, and require a power supply for the external device. The related [[eSATAp]] (but mechanically incompatible, sometimes called ''eSATA/USB'') connector adds power to an external SATA connection, so that an additional power supply is not needed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sata-io.org/documents/External%20SATA%20WP%2011-09.pdf|title=External Serial ATA|publisher=Silicon Image, Inc|access-date=8 August 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100613100125/http://sata-io.org/documents/External%20SATA%20WP%2011-09.pdf|archive-date=13 June 2010}}</ref>

{{As of|2017|8}} few new computers have dedicated external SATA (eSATA) connectors, with USB3 dominating and USB3 Type C, often with the [[Thunderbolt (interface)|Thunderbolt]] alternate mode, starting to replace the earlier USB connectors. Still sometimes present are single ports supporting both USB3 and eSATA.

Desktop computers without a built-in eSATA interface can install an eSATA [[host bus adapter]] (HBA); if the motherboard supports SATA, an externally available eSATA connector can be added. Notebook computers with the now rare [[Cardbus]]<ref name="addonics_cardbus">{{cite web |url=http://www.addonics.com/products/adcb2sa-e.php |title=CardBus SATA adapter |website=addonics.com |access-date=2010-01-26 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111104205549/http://www.addonics.com/products/adcb2sa-e.php |archive-date=2011-11-04 }}</ref> or [[ExpressCard]]<ref name="addonics_expresscard">{{cite web |url=http://www.addonics.com/products/adexc34-2e.php |title=ExpressCard SATA adapter |website=addonics.com |access-date=2010-01-26 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111129201348/http://www.addonics.com/products/adexc34-2e.php |archive-date=2011-11-29 }}</ref> could add an eSATA HBA. With passive adapters, the maximum cable length is reduced to {{convert|1|m|ft|sp=us}} due to the absence of compliant eSATA signal-levels.

==== eSATAp <span class="anchor" id="eSATAp"></span> ====
{{Main|eSATAp}}
[[File:Esatap port.JPG|thumb|upright|[[eSATAp]] port]]

eSATAp stands for powered eSATA. It is also known as Power over eSATA, Power eSATA, eSATA/USB Combo, or eSATA USB Hybrid Port (EUHP). An eSATAp port combines the four pins of the USB&nbsp;2.0 (or earlier) port, the seven pins of the eSATA port, and optionally two 12&nbsp;V power pins.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.addonics.com/technologies/euhp.php |title=Addonics Technology: Hybrid eSATA (eSATA USB hybrid) interface |website=addonics.com |access-date=2011-10-30 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111030192542/http://www.addonics.com/technologies/euhp.php |archive-date=2011-10-30 }}</ref> Both SATA traffic and device power are integrated in a single cable, as is the case with USB but not eSATA. The 5&nbsp;V power is provided through two USB pins, while the 12&nbsp;V power may optionally be provided. Typically desktop, but not notebook, computers provide 12&nbsp;V power, so can power devices requiring this voltage, typically 3.5-inch disk and CD/DVD drives, in addition to 5&nbsp;V devices such as 2.5-inch drives.

Both USB and eSATA devices can be used with an eSATAp port, when plugged in with a USB or eSATA cable, respectively. An eSATA device cannot be powered via an eSATAp cable, but a special cable can make both SATA or eSATA and power connectors available from an eSATAp port.

An eSATAp connector can be built into a computer with internal SATA and USB, by fitting a bracket with connections for internal SATA, USB, and power connectors and an externally accessible eSATAp port. Though eSATAp connectors have been built into several devices, manufacturers do not refer to an official standard.

==== Pre-standard implementations ====
* Prior to the final eSATA 6&nbsp;Gbit/s specification many add-on cards and some motherboards advertised eSATA 6&nbsp;Gbit/s support because they had 6&nbsp;Gbit/s SATA 3.0 controllers for internal-only solutions. Those implementations are non-standard, and eSATA 6&nbsp;Gbit/s requirements were ratified in the July 18, 2011 SATA 3.1 specification.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sata-io.org/sites/default/files/documents/SATA-Revision-3.0-FAQ-FINAL.pdf |title=Frequently Asked Questions About SATA 6&nbsp;Gbit/s and the SATA Revision 3.0 Specification |date=May–June 2009 |access-date=2011-10-30 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222150446/https://www.sata-io.org/sites/default/files/documents/SATA-Revision-3.0-FAQ-FINAL.pdf |archive-date=2014-02-22 }}</ref> Some products might not be fully eSATA 6&nbsp;Gbit/s compliant.

=== Mini-SATA (mSATA) <span class="anchor" id="mSATA"></span> ===
{{See also|PCI Express#MSATA|l1=PCI Express § Mini-SATA (mSATA) variant}}
[[File:Intel 525 mSATA SSD.jpg|thumb|upright|An mSATA SSD]]
Mini-SATA (abbreviated as mSATA), which is distinct from the micro connector,<ref name="amazon-msata" /> was announced by the Serial ATA International Organization on September 21, 2009.<ref>{{cite news|title=mSATA Press Release|url=http://www.sata-io.org/documents/mSATA-press%20release-v9.pdf|access-date=11 March 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726065816/http://www.sata-io.org/documents/mSATA-press%20release-v9.pdf|archive-date=26 July 2011}}</ref> Applications include [[netbook]]s, [[laptop]]s and other devices that require a [[solid-state drive]] in a small footprint.

The physical dimensions of the mSATA connector are identical to those of the [[Mini-PCIe#PCI Express Mini Card|PCI Express Mini Card]] interface,<ref>{{cite web |title=Intel 310 SSD |url=http://download.intel.com/design/flash/nand/324042.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110112092850/http://download.intel.com/design/flash/nand/324042.pdf |publisher=[[Intel]] |access-date=11 March 2011 |archive-date=12 January 2011}}</ref> but the interfaces are electrically incompatible; the data signals (TX±/RX± SATA, PETn0 PETp0 PERn0 PERp0 PCI Express) need a connection to the SATA host controller instead of the [[PCI Express]] host controller.

The [[M.2]] specification has superseded both mSATA and [[mini-PCIe]].<ref name="snia-webcast">
{{cite web
 | url = http://snia.org/sites/default/files/SSSI%20M%202%20Webcast%20Slides%20v10fnl.pdf
 | title = SNIA Webcast: All About M.2 SSDs
 | date = September 20, 2014 | access-date = July 15, 2015
 | author1 = Jim Handy | author2 = Jon Tanguy | author3 = Jaren May
 | author4 = David Akerson | author5 = Eden Kim | author6 = Tom Coughlin
 | publisher = [[Storage Networking Industry Association|SNIA]]
}}</ref>

{{Clear}}

=== SFF-8784 connector <span class="anchor" id="SFF-8784"></span> ===
{| class="wikitable floatright" style="margin-left: 1.5em;"
|+ SFF-8784 connector<ref name="wdc-sff-8784" />
|-
! colspan="4" | Bottom !! colspan="4" | Top
|-
! Pin !! Function !! Pin !! Function !! Pin !! Function !! Pin !! Function
|-
| 1 || Ground || 6 || {{n/a|Unused}} || 11 || Ground || 16 || +5&nbsp;V
|-
| 2 || Ground || 7 || +5&nbsp;V || 12 || B+ (transmit) || 17 || Ground
|-
| 3 || Ground || 8 || {{n/a|Unused}} || 13 || B− (transmit) || 18 || A− (receive)
|-
| 4 || Ground{{Efn|Drive present}} || 9 || {{n/a|Unused}} || 14 || Ground || 19 || A+ (receive)
|-
| 5 || LED || 10 || Ground || 15 || +5&nbsp;V || 20 || Ground
|}

Slim 2.5-inch SATA devices, {{Convert|5|mm|in|abbr=in|sp=us}} in height, use the twenty-pin ''SFF-8784'' [[edge connector]] to save space. By combining the data signals and power lines into a slim connector that effectively enables direct connection to the device's [[printed circuit board]] (PCB) without additional space-consuming connectors, SFF-8784 allows further internal layout compaction for portable devices such as [[ultrabook]]s.<ref name="wdc-sff-8784">
{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/library/SpecSheet/ENG/2579-771981.pdf
 |title       = SFF-8784 Edge Connector Pin Definitions: Information Sheet
 |year        = 2013
 |access-date  = February 26, 2015
 |publisher   = [[Western Digital]]
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20150226113204/http://www.wdc.com/wdproducts/library/SpecSheet/ENG/2579-771981.pdf
 |archive-date = February 26, 2015
}}</ref>

Pins 1 to 10 are on the connector's bottom side, while pins 11 to 20 are on the top side.<ref name="wdc-sff-8784" />

{{Clear}}

=== SATA Express <span class="anchor" id="SATA-EXPRESS"></span> ===
[[File:SATA Express connectors on a computer motherboard.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|Two SATA Express connectors (light gray) on a [[computer motherboard]]; to the right of them are common SATA connectors (dark gray).]]
{{Main|SATA Express}}

[[SATA Express]], initially standardized in the SATA 3.2 specification,<ref>
{{cite web
 |url         = https://www.sata-io.org/sata-revision-32
 |title       = SATA Revision 3.2
 |publisher   = SATA-IO
 |access-date  = 2013-10-02
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://archive.today/20130809202201/https://www.sata-io.org/sata-revision-32
 |archive-date = 2013-08-09
}}</ref> is an interface that supports either SATA or [[PCI Express]] storage devices. The host connector is backward compatible with the standard 3.5-inch SATA data connector, allowing up to two legacy SATA devices to connect.<ref>
{{cite web
 |url         = https://www.sata-io.org/sites/default/files/documents/MM_Nereus_Signage_Print_0719.pdf
 |title       = Connector Mating Matrix
 |access-date  = 2013-10-02
 |publisher   = [[SATA-IO]]
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20131004231134/https://www.sata-io.org/sites/default/files/documents/MM_Nereus_Signage_Print_0719.pdf
 |archive-date = 2013-10-04
}}</ref> At the same time, the host connector provides up to two [[PCI Express&nbsp;3.0]] lanes as a pure PCI Express connection to the storage device, allowing bandwidths of up to 2&nbsp;GB/s.<ref name="sata-3.2-announcement" /><ref name="sata-io-sata-express">
{{cite web
 |url         = https://www.sata-io.org/sata-express
 |title       = Enabling Higher Speed Storage Applications with SATA Express
 |year        = 2013
 |access-date  = 2013-10-02
 |publisher   = [[SATA-IO]]
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20140207141458/https://www.sata-io.org/sata-express
 |archive-date = 2014-02-07
}}</ref>

Instead of the otherwise usual approach of doubling the native speed of the SATA interface, PCI Express was selected for achieving data transfer speeds greater than 6&nbsp;Gbit/s. It was concluded that doubling the native SATA speed would take too much time, too many changes would be required to the SATA standard, and would result in a much greater power consumption when compared to the existing PCI Express bus.<ref>
{{cite web
 |url         = https://www.sata-io.org/sites/default/files/documents/SATA%20Express%20-%20CS%202013.pdf
 |title       = SATA Express: PCIe Client Storage
 |date        = 2013-06-25
 |access-date  = 2013-10-02
 |author      = Paul Wassenberg
 |publisher   = [[Serial ATA International Organization|SATA-IO]]
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20131004222635/https://www.sata-io.org/sites/default/files/documents/SATA%20Express%20-%20CS%202013.pdf
 |archive-date = 2013-10-04
}}</ref>

In addition to supporting legacy [[Advanced Host Controller Interface]] (AHCI), SATA Express also makes it possible for [[NVM Express]] (NVMe) to be used as the logical device interface for connected PCI Express storage devices.<ref>
{{cite web
 |url         = https://www.sata-io.org/sites/default/files/documents/NVMe%20and%20AHCI%20as%20SATA%20Express%20Interface%20Options%20-%20Whitepaper_.pdf
 |title       = AHCI and NVMe as Interfaces for SATA Express Devices – Overview
 |access-date  = 2013-10-02
 |author      = Dave Landsman
 |publisher   = SanDisk
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20131005000700/https://www.sata-io.org/sites/default/files/documents/NVMe%20and%20AHCI%20as%20SATA%20Express%20Interface%20Options%20-%20Whitepaper_.pdf
 |archive-date = 2013-10-05
}}</ref>

As M.2 form factor, described below, achieved much larger popularity, SATA Express is considered as a failed standard and dedicated ports quickly disappeared from motherboards.

{{Clear}}

=== M.2 (NGFF) <span class="anchor" id="M.2"></span> ===
[[File:M.2 and mSATA SSDs comparison.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.3|Size comparison of mSATA (left) and M.2 (size 2242, B+M keyed, right) SSDs]]
[[File:M.2 2242 SSD connected into USB 3.0 adapter.jpg|thumb|An [[M.2]] (2242) solid-state-drive ([[SSD]]) connected into [[USB]] 3.0 adapter and connected to computer]]
{{Main|M.2}}

[[M.2]], formerly known as the [[Next Generation Form Factor]] (NGFF), is a specification for computer [[expansion card]]s and associated connectors. It replaces the mSATA standard, which uses the PCI Express Mini Card physical layout. Having a smaller and more flexible physical specification, together with more advanced features, the M.2 is more suitable for [[Solid-state drive|solid-state]] storage applications in general, especially when used in small devices such as ultrabooks or tablets.<ref name="sata-io-m.2">
{{cite web
 |url         = https://www.sata-io.org/sata-m2-card
 |title       = SATA M.2 Card
 |access-date  = 2013-09-14
 |publisher   = [[Serial ATA International Organization|SATA-IO]]
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20131003103042/https://www.sata-io.org/sata-m2-card
 |archive-date = 2013-10-03
}}</ref> 

A M.2 SSD is "[[M.2 keying|keyed]]" to prevent insertion of a card connector (male) to an incompatible socket (female) on the host. Typically, M.2 SSDs with a [[M.2 keying|B key]] or [[M.2 keying|B+M key]] are SATA, while M.2 SSDs with [[M.2 keying|M key only]] are mostly [[NVM Express|NVMe]] only and incompatible with SATA.

The M.2 standard is designed as a revision and improvement to the mSATA standard, so that larger [[printed circuit board]]s (PCBs) can be manufactured. While mSATA took advantage of the existing PCI Express Mini Card form factor and connector, M.2 has been designed to maximize usage of the card space, while minimizing the footprint.<ref name="sata-io-m.2" /><ref>
{{cite web
 |url         = http://wccftech.com/intel-ssd-530-series-arriving-august-2013-feature-ngff-m2-interface/
 |title       = Intel SSD 530 Series Arriving Next Week – Feature NGFF M.2 Interface
 |date = 2 July 2013
 |access-date  = 2013-09-14
 |publisher   = WCCF Tech
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20130905063322/http://wccftech.com/intel-ssd-530-series-arriving-august-2013-feature-ngff-m2-interface/
 |archive-date = 2013-09-05
}}</ref><ref>
{{cite web
 |url         = http://www.te.com/commerce/DocumentDelivery/DDEController?Action=srchrtrv&DocNm=1-1773702-1NGFFQRG-EN&DocType=DS&DocLang=EN
 |title       = M.2 (NGFF) Quick Reference Guide
 |access-date  = 2013-11-16
 |publisher   = Tyco Electronics
 |format      = PDF
 |url-status     = live
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20130810182247/http://www.te.com/commerce/DocumentDelivery/DDEController?Action=srchrtrv&DocNm=1-1773702-1NGFFQRG-EN&DocType=DS&DocLang=EN
 |archive-date = 2013-08-10
}}</ref>

Supported host controller interfaces and internally provided ports are a superset to those defined by the SATA Express interface. Essentially, the M.2 standard is a small form factor implementation of the SATA Express interface, with the addition of an internal [[USB]]&nbsp;3.0 port.<ref name="sata-io-m.2" />

{{Clear}}

=== U.2 (SFF-8639) <span class="anchor" id="U.2"></span> ===

[[U.2]], formerly known as SFF-8639. Like M.2, it carries a PCI Express electrical signal, however U.2 uses a PCIe 3.0 ×4 link providing a higher bandwidth of 32&nbsp;Gbit/s in each direction. In order to provide maximum backward compatibility the U.2 connector also supports SATA and multi-path SAS.<ref>{{cite web|title=U.2 connector SATA, SAS, PCI-e signals assignments|url=http://pinoutguide.com/HD/U.2_SATA_connector_pinout.shtml|website=pinoutguide.com}}</ref>

{{Clear}}