Are you interested in knowing whether your SATA cable is 6GB/s or not?
Well, you can know it easily.
But first of all, let’s define what SATA cables are?
What is a SATA cable?
The SATA cables are the cables that transfer data between the disk drive and the motherboard. Many think that SATA cables and HDMI are the same, which is untrue. HDMI cables are an interface for digital video and audio signals, to help you connect laptops with monitors or screens.
On the other hand, the SATA cables have been innovated and some new changes have been made to them. So, it becomes difficult to recognize which is the old generation and which is the new generation SATA cable.
The SATA 3 is the current generation of the SATA cables and they support and transfer data up to 6 GB/s. The popularity of SATA cables is due to their high performance and next-level speed of data transfer.
The maximum data transfer rate through the SATA cable is 6GB/s and it can also be minimized. But first, you need to know whether your SATA Cable can transfer 6GB/s of data or not.
If you will do so, it will be a lot helpful for you not only in data transfer but also for the selection of the cable.
Well, you do not need to worry about how would you know the data transfer limit of your SATA cable. We have the following guide for you which will help you in this regard.
Ways to determine the transfer rate of SATA Cable:
Some people can easily differentiate between SATA 1,2, and 3 but some cannot find the clear difference between all three. It is the most reliable way to make a connection between the motherboard and the storage devices.
The SATA cables are made differently but the main difference between them is the data transfer rate. The SATA cable 1 has a data transfer rate of 1.5 GB/s while SATA cable 2 has that of 3GB/s.
The data transfer of the SATA cable can determine by various attributes and features provided by it. These include:
Transfer Rate:
Whenever SATA 3 is connected with the motherboard it provides the data transfer rate of 6 GB/s. So, if you don’t know whether your SATA cable is rated at 6 GB/s or it transfers the data at the rate of 6 GB/s then follow the below methods:
SATA connectors:
The information related to the SATA connectors is present at the side of the SATA connectors. Check if the data transfer rate or any info about the SATA cable is mentioned on them. The SATA connectors are present next to the cable on the motherboard. So, if it would be a SATA cable transferring 6GB data per second then SATA 3 be written there on the connectors.
Use of HWINFO Software:
This is another method of finding the data transfer rate of SATA cable, which is the use of HWINFO software. Firstly, you need to download and install the software. After the software is installed, launch the tool and you will two sections. On the left side of the screen, the details about the motherboard will be given while on the right side the details about the SATA cable ports will be given. So, this is how you will get to know which type or generation of SATA cable you have in your system.
If 6 GB/s is written near the port then that shows you are using the SATA 3 port.
Locking Latch:
Locking latch is another way of checking if your SATA cable is 6GB or not. You need to check whether the metal locking latch is present at one end or is present at both ends. The cable is connected through these latches. When it is fitted onto the motherboard with the help of seven-pin connectors then these are fitted firmly. The cable is provided support and you do not lose connection easily.
These locking latches are also helpful in avoiding any accidental connection between the motherboard and the storage drive. The locking latch is a distinguishing feature between SATA 3 and older versions as the older versions do not offer this feature.
90-degrees angled connector present:
This is the third way of checking the SATA cable data transfer rate is to check whether it has a 90-degree angled connector or not.
The SATA 3 cables have 90 Degree connectors that are right-angled or left-angled. This is angled connector s present at one end of the cable while on the other end the straight connector is present. These 90-degree angled connectors are useful for easing the reach of the SATA 3 cables at the hard-to-reach areas too. This is the feature distinguished to only SATA 3 cables, the old generation cables do not offer this.
Different lengths:
Length is another way to distinguish between SATA 3 and other SATA cables. The SATA 6 GB/s cables come in different sizes. The reason for it being offered in different lengths is to provide flexibility to the cable while adjusting or setting it into the computer casing.
The previous versions of the SATA cables were restricted to 18 Inches in size while SATA 3 has different sizes. So, this is another way to know whether your SATA cable is transferring data 6GB//s or not.
Durable:
The SATA 3 cables are durable with a low-profile body. They have felt construction and t low-profile construction is to enhance the airflow with decreased clutter in the casing unit. It also helps keep the system clean and cool.
Backward Compatibility:
Backward compatibility feature is present in the SATA 3 cables as it can utilize the interfaces and data from the previous versions. It is unique to SATA 3 cable and is not present in older versions. SATA 3 has this feature that means it can utilize or transfer data at the rate of other SATA cable versions as well.
Final Conclusion:
The above-mentioned points are some of the easy ways to know about the SATA cable whether it transfers data ta 6GB/s or not. We hope all the information will be helpful for you and you can now differentiate between different versions of SATA cables.