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: High Speed Serialized AT Attachment” specification. The specification can be downloaded from www.serialata.org.

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DB35.3 Series Serial ATA Product Manual, Rev. D

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Seagate ST3300820SCE, ST3250820SCE, ST3750640SCE, ST3750840SCE, ST3400820SCE, ST3320820SCE manual About the Serial ATA interface
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ST3400820SCE, ST3300820SCE, ST3750840SCE, ST3250820SCE, ST3750640SCE specifications

Seagate’s series of hard drives, including the ST3320820SCE, ST3500830SCE, ST3750640SCE, ST3250820SCE, and ST3750840SCE, comprise a robust lineup designed for both consumer and professional use.

The ST3320820SCE model features a storage capacity of 320GB and operates at a rotational speed of 7200 RPM, allowing for faster data access and improved overall performance. This drive is equipped with SATA interface, providing higher data transfer rates and enhanced connectivity options. Its 8MB cache enhances read and write speeds, thus making it suitable for multitasking environments.

In comparison, the ST3500830SCE offers a larger capacity with 500GB storage. This drive is also based on the same 7200 RPM speed standard, ensuring optimal performance for both gaming applications and data-heavy tasks. The SATA interface remains a central feature, promoting seamless integration into a range of PC configurations.

The ST3750640SCE takes the storage capabilities further, offering a generous 750GB space. It shares similar technological advancements such as the SATA interface and 7200 RPM speed, making it ideal for users needing extensive storage for multimedia files, software applications, and backups. The reliable performance alongside its increased capacity makes it a favored choice among professionals.

The ST3250820SCE model is targeted towards those needing a balance between performance and cost-efficiency. With a 250GB capacity, this drive provides ample space for everyday usage while maintaining a robust 7200 RPM speed and 8MB cache. This makes it an ideal option for entry-level systems and general-purpose computing.

Lastly, the ST3750840SCE offers up to 750GB of space, similar to the ST3750640SCE, but also incorporates advanced technologies for enhanced reliability and durability. This includes features like Seagate's Smart Align technology, which optimizes the drive's performance by efficiently managing data, especially with modern 4K sector drives.

Overall, these Seagate models cater to a wide spectrum of users, from casual home users to professionals requiring reliable and high-performance storage solutions. With a combination of speed, capacity, and innovative technologies, they stand out as solid choices in the hard drive market.
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