Difference between IDE and SATA

My hard disk is a 160gb Maxtor, i think some model of the diamondmax 10. When i bought it said serial ata and then looking at everest computer info program its says its ide?
Im not sure if these are two different things, or 2 different types of hard disc drives.
Can someone explain to me?
Thanks

 

its just the way it comunicates to the mobo, sata is a small plug in cable and ide is a large akward ribon cable. SATA is a bit better and now SATA II is out which increases performance.

 

it's a wee bit more than just a cable difference SATA/II has its own bus as well.

 

Also, in some types of motherboard's bios there will be an option for SATA. Usually either Sata is set for Raid or IDE. Perhaps that is what everest is reading.

I have a computer upstairs that has sata (set for IDE not raid), I'll check it out in a little bit and see what it says......

 

For all purposes in this thread its just cable diffrence http://forums.majorgeeks.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

 

Not if the original poster was asking for someone to explain it to him..

 

I hear the SATA greatly improved HD performance and I am considering changing over from EIDE to SATA. I want to use the RAID 0 and use the two HD configuration. I know I will have to purchase a PSI board for the hookup but will I be able to copy my existing HD to SATA RAID 0 configuration? It sounds complex to me but I know someone out there can tell me it's not that bad. Any ideas or comments will be appreciated.

 

PSI? Anyways, Raid 0 is useless http://forums.majorgeeks.com/images/smilies/rolleyes.gif. If you get a new board get one that supports SATA I and II.

 

ahh no its not i go from 40 MBs to 90+ from one drive to a raid 0 array .Maybe your confusing raid 0 with JABOD ???? Oh and some older SATA drives are just PATA drives with PATA to SATA converters onboard ....Just a cheap marketing trick ......

 

Is that sustained, or burst? If thats sustained...nice. I may have to look into SATA raid.

 

85 sustaned 90 burst its IDE raid and its onlyATA100 ..on a Promise Ultra 100 modded to a fasttrak 100 .....

 

Thanks Omegamerc for the info and sorry about the psi slip. I am still a confused wanna be SATA user but after reading more on the array I think I should just stay put and wait for a SATA II PCI card. In the meantime I will backup my current drive and keep reading. You guys are great but so far ahead of me that it makes my head spin or at least my eyes in my head . Thanks for all your help and now I know where to get my answers to some of these wild ideas I come up with.