SATA and SAS connections are used to interconnect computer parts to baseboards, such as hard disks and multimedia drives. Although SAS-based hard drives are quicker and more dependable than SATA-based storage devices, SATA devices offer significantly higher storage capacity. SAS disks are used for servers because they are fast and dependable, whereas SATA drives are less expensive and are used for home computers.
Now, many people are confused about what to choose over what, and hence this article is here to help. Make sure to go through the entire article and choose the best connector according to your needs.
SAS vs SATA
The main difference between SAS and SATA is that SAS stands for Serial Attached SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) whereas SATA stands for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. SAS and SATA are two methods for transferring data first from motherboards to storage as well as vice versa in systems. Both systems are essentially the same, however, they are constructed on distinct hardware.SAS consumes more power than SATA, allowing for server power supply support and lengthier connections. The signaling voltage used by a SAS drive is at least double that of a SATA disk.
SAS is a progression of concurrent SCSI, resulting in a distinctive point-to-point serial port metaphase that aids in the connection of devices within the system. As a result of SAS’s utilization, various devices may be connected to the network, with up to 128 separate devices potentially allowed to join. As connections develop shorter and faster, all 28 devices can be linked at the same time.
SATA connections are characterized as a specific port or connection, however, SATA has two: a data connection and a supply junction box. The first is a seven-pin connection that is short and L-shaped, whereas the latter is a longer 15-pin connection that is the taller “L” of the two. On the devices for which they enable connection, both connections are normally inverted, with the terminals of their respective “L” forms opposite each other.
Comparison Table Between SAS and SATA
| Parameters of Comparison | SAS | SATA |
| Full Form | SAS stands for Serial Attached SCSI (Small Computer System Interface). | SATA stands for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment. |
| Length of Cable | The length of the cable is about 7 to 8 meter. | Upto 1 meter in length. |
| Identification | Recognized and identified by world wide names. | The port number attached to the host broadband adapter or the globally unique identification are used to identify these devices. |
| Performance | Higher performance and efficiency than SATA drives. | Lower performance than SAS drives but usually comes with a bigger storage. |
| Mode of Transfer | Full Duplex mode. | Half Duplex mode |
What is SAS?
Serial Attached SCI is an abbreviation for SAS. This is a bus which has been used in many systems for a long period. Another emerging option is the usage of serial or sequential ATA, which stands for SATA These two are mostly employed in the transferring of information within a system from one place to another. Because SAS SSD may spin up to 15 times faster (up to 15K RPM) over SATA drives (usually 7.2K RPM), search times can be roughly two times quicker.
As a result of SAS’s utilization, various devices may be interconnected, with up to 128 separate units being allowed to connect. As connections develop thinner and faster, all 28 units can be linked at the same time. Because SAS uses full-duplex communication capability, transmitting speeds can peak up to 3.0 GB per second are possible. Another interesting characteristic of SAS is that it allows for hot plugging, allowing for the attachment of additional devices.
Any cross-site port necessitates a few initial principles: growth is often open and standard. Typically, connecting ports are built by trade groups with the help of major industrial players. The goal is to create a single connectivity system that can be used by anybody and is simple to install and commercialize.
This is true of SAS as well. The SCSI Trade Association was founded in 1996 with the goal of developing a high-speed connecting port. In December 2001, the organization released SAS Port Necessities and specs, kicking off the industry’s advocacy of this technology.
What is SATA?
The parallel ATA physical form storing interface is the source of SATA. Any single SATA connection has at least four connections that can form a robust serial juncture link that allows devices to function and maintain the relationship.
SATA is unquestionably the SCSI’s replacement, albeit SAS provides faster data transfer rates. In another manner the drive solves the problem that parallel connections have had for a long time, namely the restriction on the range of devices that may be connected to a specific port. SAS devices work well with SATA devices.
SATA disc drives would be without a doubt the much more popular choice on the market. SATA drives in commerce have a maximum capacity of about 3 TB. SAS drives, on the other hand, are no rival for SATA devices, with the greatest capacities ranging from 600 to 900 GB. Considering the pricing, this translates to a great extent towards the cost per GB. A good analogy reveals that the SATA disc is more cost-effective per GB than a standard SAS.
Main Differences Between SAS and SATA
- SAS full form is Serial Attached SCSI (Small Computer System Interface) whereas SATA full form Serial Advanced Technology Attachment.
- SAS devices are costlier by 25% when compared to the cheaper SATA devices.
- SAS runs faster than SATA but offers limited storage whereas SATA offers immense storage with lower speed.
- The mode of transfer in SAS is full-duplex whereas the mode of transfer in SATA is half-duplex.
- SAS supports cable lengths of up to 7 to 8 meters whereas SATA supports cables only of length 1 meter at most.
Conclusion
To conclude, when it comes to performance and overall reliability, the SATA disc appears to be inferior to the SAS disc. The Bit Error Rate (BER) and also the Mean Time Before Failure (MTBF) are two dependability indicators. MTBF and BER are two metrics for determining how long a disc can last before it fails. SATA drives have an MTBF of 1.2 million hours or longer, whereas SAS drives have an MTBF of 1.6 million hours. When the mean timings are compared, it is clear that the SAS drive is more reliable and stable than the SATA drives.
References
- https://www.digitaltrends.com/computing/what-is-sata/
- https://hardwaresfera.com/en/articulos/hardware-articulos/conector-sas/