1.1About the Serial ATA interface

The Serial ATA interface provides several advantages over the traditional (parallel) ATA interface. The primary advantages include:

•Easy installation and configuration with true plug-and-play connectivity. It is not necessary to set any jump- ers or other configuration options.

•Thinner and more flexible cabling for improved enclosure airflow and ease of installation.

•Scalability to higher performance levels.

In addition, Serial ATA makes the transition from parallel ATA easy by providing legacy software support. Serial ATA was designed to allow you to install a Serial ATA host adapter and Serial ATA disc drive in your current system and expect all of your existing applications to work as normal.

The Serial ATA interface connects each disc drive in a point-to-point configuration with the Serial ATA host adapter. There is no master/slave relationship with Serial ATA devices like there is with parallel ATA. If two drives are attached on one Serial ATA host adapter, the host operating system views the two devices as if they were both “masters” on two separate ports. This essentially means both drives behave as if they are Device 0 (master) devices.

Note. The host adapter may, optionally, emulate a master/slave environment to host software where two devices on separate Serial ATA ports are represented to host software as a Device 0 (master) and Device 1 (slave) accessed at the same set of host bus addresses. A host adapter that emulates a master/slave environment manages two sets of shadow registers. This is not a typical Serial ATA environment.

The Serial ATA host adapter and drive share the function of emulating parallel ATA device behavior to provide backward compatibility with existing host systems and software. The Command and Control Block registers, PIO and DMA data transfers, resets, and interrupts are all emulated.

The Serial ATA host adapter contains a set of registers that shadow the contents of the traditional device regis- ters, referred to as the Shadow Register Block. All Serial ATA devices behave like Device 0 devices. For addi- tional information about how Serial ATA emulates parallel ATA, refer to the “Serial ATA International Organization: Serial ATA Revision 2.6”. The specification can be downloaded from www.sata-io.org.

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Barracuda 7200.11 Serial ATA Product Manual, Rev. C

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Seagate ST31000640AS, ST31000340AS, ST3750330AS, ST3750630AS, ST3500820AS, ST3500620AS manual About the Serial ATA interface
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ST3500820AS, ST3500320AS, ST3500620AS, ST31000640AS, ST31000340AS specifications

Seagate has long been a prominent player in the hard drive industry, and its line of SATA drives, including the ST3640330AS, ST3750330AS, ST3750630AS, ST31000340AS, and ST31000640AS, showcases a blend of performance, reliability, and advanced technology. These drives cater to various user needs, from consumer desktops to enterprise applications.

The ST3640330AS and ST3750330AS models are designed with a 7200 RPM spinning speed, ensuring fast data throughput for gaming, multimedia, and everyday computing tasks. With a SATA interface and compatibility with the latest systems, these drives are ideal for users seeking efficient storage solutions. The ST3640330AS provides 640 GB of storage, while the ST3750330AS boasts a generous 750 GB capacity, offering ample space for large files and applications.

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The ST31000340AS and ST31000640AS are both part of Seagate’s 1 TB series and are engineered for durability and longevity. The ST31000340AS features traditional SATA technology, providing users with a balance between cost and performance. On the other hand, the ST31000640AS integrates improved power management features that result in lower energy consumption without compromising performance. This makes it a suitable choice for environmentally-conscious consumers or businesses looking to reduce operational costs.

All models feature Seagate's proprietary technologies such as SoftSonic drives, which result in quieter operation, and advanced power management capabilities that extend the lifespan of the hard drives. They are equipped with robust error recovery and data security features, ensuring data integrity and protecting against data loss.

Overall, the Seagate ST3640330AS, ST3750330AS, ST3750630AS, ST31000340AS, and ST31000640AS drives represent a comprehensive range of storage solutions that combine capacity, speed, and cost-effectiveness, making them a popular choice for a variety of users, from casual consumers to demanding enterprise environments.
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