Does a motherboard come with SATA cables? Yes, 2 to 3 SATA cables come with most motherboards. Almost all of us have computers in our homes and offices. And in all computers, there is something called a hard drive that contains all of our files, movies, songs, etc.; it’s called storage. It connects to the motherboard via SATA cable, which stands for Serial Advanced Technology Attachment.
So before purchasing a motherboard, ensure whether it comes with a motherboard or not. If it doesn’t come with a SATA cable, you will have to purchase one as, without a SATA cable, you won’t be able to add storage to your computer, and without storage, you won’t be able to use a computer.
What is SATA Cable Used For?
SATA cables are most commonly used to connect optical drives, hard drives, and SSDs to a motherboard. They are also used in some high-end audio applications.
SATA cables are available in two different lengths: standard and extended. Standard SATA cables are 1 meter long and have a data transfer rate of up to 600 MB/s. Extended SATA cables are 2 meters long and have a data transfer rate of up to 1200 MB/s.
When choosing a SATA cable, it is important to select one that is compatible with your devices. For example, if you are connecting an SSD to a motherboard, you will need to use an SSD-specific cable.
Alternatives for SATA Cable
SATA cables are the standard for connecting computer components, but there are a few alternatives available.
First, there are eSATA cables. These have the same basic connector as SATA cables, but they are thicker and have a different pinout. eSATA cables can be used with SATA devices, but they cannot be used with older PATA devices.
Second, there are USB 3.0 cables. These can be used to connect SATA devices to a USB 3.0 port on your computer. They are also backward-compatible with USB 2.0 ports.
Third, there are M.2 cables. These are used to connect M.2 SSDs to your motherboard or another device that supports M.2 connections.
Finally, there are mini-SAS cables. These are used to connect multiple SAS or SATA devices together in a daisy chain configuration.
Do motherboards come with SATA cables?
When buying a new computer, we all probably wonder about this question. The answer to this question is soft or ambiguous. That’s because many motherboards don’t come with SATA cables in the market, and many high-end expensive motherboards come with two or four SATA cables.
While buying a motherboard, you will notice many types of cable. And to know which one is a SATA cable, just look for the length and the pins. These cables have seven pins, which can be easily recognized because they are flat at a 90-degree angle. They are built in this way to help with easy storage.
If your motherboard doesn’t come with a SATA cable, don’t worry because they are very cheap and can be found in every computer store. Also, they come with a hot swab ability, so you can swab them whenever you require. So basically, you can swab cable without shutting the whole system down.
However, they have some downsides. You can’t connect an external hard drive because SATA can only transfer data, not power, and a hard drive requires the ability to work. So before purchasing a motherboard, ensure whether the SATA cable comes with a motherboard.
What types of SATA cables do we get with the motherboard?
Whether you will get a SATA cable depends on which motherboard you purchase. These days almost all motherboards come with SATA cable. However, there are still many motherboards that don’t come with SATA cables. So make sure that you ask the seller whether it comes with a SATA cable or not.
There are many types of SATA cables that you might get when you purchase your motherboard. It depends on the manufacturer. There are a couple of different types of SATA cables: SATAII, SATAIII, ESATA, MSATA, etc., and every one of them has a different specification.
SATAII has a transfer speed of up to 3GB/S, the second generation of SATA. This support bandwidth is up to 300MB/S, and a cable length of up to one meter. SATAIII is the third generation of SATA, and it can transfer files at a speed of 6GB/s. It supports bandwidth up to 600MB/s, and a cable length is up to one meter.
ESATA or External SATA is a robust connector that supports a cable length of up to two meters. And MSATA or MiniSATA is mainly used in netbooks or devices, which requires a smaller solid-state drive so that you won’t get MSATA with your motherboard. These are all the types of SATA cables that might come with your motherboard.
How many SATA cables do you need?
When buying a motherboard, your motherboard might come with SATA cables. You might not even need one extra as the motherboard tends to come with two or four SATA cables. But how many SATA cables you need depends entirely on how many hard drives you want to use.
SATA cables are only used for connecting the hard drives to your computer. So if you want to connect one hard drive, you only need one SATA cable, and if you want to use multiple hard drives, you need a SATA cable.
When you purchase a power supply, it comes with enough SATA power cables for anything you need. So you only need a SATA cable for transferring the data. These cables go through the SATA port in your motherboard to your hard drive. So that’s very easy, just plug them in and enjoy.
Are all SATA power cables the same?
There are many types of SATA cables available in the market. Whether you will get a SATA cable with your motherboard or not will be written on the motherboard box. Also, which type of motherboard you will get also be written on the box.
There are different types of SATA cables available in the market. Here is the list of them
- SATA – This is the first generation of SATA, and it can run at 1.5GB/S and supports a bandwidth of 150MB/S.
- SATAII – This is the second generation of SATA cables, and it can run at 3GB/S and supports bandwidth up to 300MB/S, and the supported cable length is one meter.
- SATAIII – This is the third generation of SATA cable, and it can run at 6GB/S and supports bandwidth up to 600MB/S, and the supported cable length is one meter.
- ESATA – It is also known as External SATA. It uses a very robust connector and supports a cable length of up to two meters.
- MSATA – It is also known as MSATA or MiniSATA. It is mainly used in netbooks or devices requiring a smaller solid-state drive so that you won’t get MSATA with your motherboard.
Where do you plug in the SATA cable?
Plugin your SATA cable into your hard disk is very easy. After mounting your hard drive to your computer, you will notice ports available on the back. If you get SATA cables with your motherboard, you will notice that they feature different connectors, straight ends, and L-shaped ones.
Now try to find the SATA cables with metal retention clips, which help the connectors securely and connect the SATA cable to your hard drive. Then you will need to connect the power cable too. It will be keyed to fit one way. If you don’t force it, it won’t mess up.
FAQs
1. Is SATA cable included with SSD?
SATA cables are not included with SSDs. You will need to purchase a SATA cable separately in order to connect your SSD to your computer.
2. Should you have an SSD and HDD or just an SSD?
The debate of whether to have an SSD and HDD or just an SSD has been a hot topic for years now. There are pros and cons to both sides, so it really depends on your needs and budget as to which route you should go. Here, we will lay out the pros and cons of each option to help you make a decision.
HDD Pros:
1. More affordable than SSDs
2. Larger storage capacities available
HDD Cons:
1. Slower data transfer speeds
2. More susceptible to physical damage
SSD Pros:
1. Much faster data transfer speeds
2. More resistant to physical damage
3. No noise pollution
4. Low power consumption
5. Smaller form factor
SSD Cons:
1. More expensive than HDDs
2. Limited storage capacities available
3. How long do SSDs last?
If you take proper care of your SSD, it can easily last for several years. Just remember to keep it cool and avoid using it for storage, and you should be able to enjoy many years of trouble-free use from your solid-state drive.
4. How to Prolong the life of an SSD?
One way to help prolong the life of your SSD is to ensure that it is properly cooled. Overheating can cause extensive damage to any type of computer component, so it is important to make sure that your SSD does not overheat.
You can do this by making sure that there is adequate airflow around the drive, and by avoiding storing it in direct sunlight or in a hot environment.
Another way to help extend the life of your SSD is to avoid using it for storage purposes.
When data is written to an SSD, it actually wears down the cells on the drive. So, if you are only using your SSD for booting up your computer or for running programs, you will be putting far less wear and tear on the drive than if you were using it for file storage.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that almost all motherboards come with a SATA cable, but some don’t. So just ask the seller whether or not this motherboard comes with SATA cables.
But before purchasing the cable, make sure that the cable supports your motherboard requirement. Otherwise, it will be a total waste of money for you. Also, as there are variations in SATA cables, you must pick one that supports your PC build the most.
