What is the difference between SAS and SATA Hard Drives?
Are you new in the world of servers or drives? If yes, then you might be hearing SAS and SATA frequently. While multiple computers use SATA hard drives, SAS is an enterprise-class hard drive that permits fast data and good reliability. In this article, you will get to know the major differences between SAS and SATA, their overview, which helps you in selecting the best hard drive for your server. However, it can take months or even years to understand these terms.
What Does Mean By SAS Hard Drive
SAS stands for Serial Attached SCSI, which is an upgraded version of SCSI drive. SAS hard drives are a good choice for mission-critical applications. It includes great transfer speeds, easy linkage, and thin cables. It comes in 2.5″, which permits it to be used in compact systems.
It comes in large capacities and can maintain the 15K and 10K RPM speed. It is more costly than SCSI, but acts as an essential application and is considered the new SCSI. This hard drive can transfer data from hard drives to devices than from device to hard drive.
What Does Mean By SATA hard drive
Then comes SATA hard drives, which stands for Serial advanced technology attachment. It is the most used interface in today’s market, especially in laptops and computers. It is more reliable and faster, but slower than SAS hard drives.
It is a good choice for those who are searching for enough space and a cheaper hard drive. It permits exchanging of data between storage devices and computer buses. Popularly used in data storage and personal computing.
Difference between SATA and SAS hard drives
What are the differences between these two hard drives? Which one would be better? Let’s not speculate. Just head towards the points and satisfy yourself.
Definition
SATA is a type of hard drive that supports SATA technology that allows connecting to bus adapters with storage devices like optical drives, hard disk drives, or solid-state drives.
SAS is a type of hard drive that supports SAS technology and allows transferring of data among various devices. Thus, this is one of the differences between SAS and SATA hard drives.
Long-form
SATA hard drive stands for serial advanced technology attachment, while SAS hard drive stands for serial attached SCSI (where SCSI stands for small computer system interface). Another noticeable difference.
Capacity
If spoken about capacity, SATA’s capacity is somewhat higher than SAS’s hard drive.
Reliability
This is another difference between these hard drives. SAS hard drives are more reliable than SATA hard drives. SAS hard drives are used 24/7 but SATA hard drives are not used 24/7.
Speed
Before buying a particular hard drive, everyone checks its speed. Right? So, in this case, the SAS hard drive is faster than the SATA hard drive. The SATA hard drive operates at 5400 rpm, while the SAS hard drive operates at 15000 rpm.
Types
SATA hard drive is of one type i.e. 7.2K, while SAS hard drives are of two types i.e. 15K and 10K.
Throughput
SATA hard drives have less bandwidth throughput than SAS hard drives.
Size of cable
Cable size acts as a major difference between SATA and SAS hard drives. SAS cable’s length is 10 meters, while SATA cable’s length is 1 meter.
Price
People check the price of every item, whether it is a hard drive or anything else. In this case, the SAS hard drive is costlier than the SATA hard drive.
Functions
Lastly, the SAS hard drive goes well for enterprise functions, while, SATA hard drive goes well with the consumer market.
Power consumption
SAS hard drives make use of more power than SATA hard drives, which permits them to support servers and to have long cables. SAS hard drives use two times the signal voltage.
Servers
When spoken about serving web pages on a web server or running games on a game server, then the SAS hard drive becomes the best choice and offers good data transfer abilities.
Connection of SATA hard drive to SAS controller
SAS controllers ensure the use of SATA hard drives in expanding storage capacity along with cost-effectiveness. The function of the SATA hard drive on the SAS controller is done as both have the same infrastructure and same features.
- SATA hard drives can plug in SAS controllers.
- SAS hard drives are not able to plug in SATA controllers.
Both hard drives require data and power, and in the SATA hard drive, there is some difference between data and power, while in the SAS hard drive it becomes unified.
If you are selecting a drive, then keep in mind that all drives are not used in any situation. Various factors are considered like speed, performance, reliability, capacity, etc. Due to these factors, SATA hard drives are not able to match the performance of SAS hard drives. Additionally, SAS hard drives are created for continuous use.
Some additional considerations
Let’s learn about some additional considerations of the SATA hard drive and SAS hard drive.
- SAS hard drives cost 10% more than SATA hard drives.
- All types of enterprise-class servers consist of backplanes that can take SAS hard drives and SATA hard drives.
- As the server can take one hard drive you can’t have SATA and SAS hard drives in one raid.
- You cannot have both hard drives in the same environment, but you can have these hard drives on the same server.
Conclusion
SAS and SATA are the types of hard drives that help in exchanging data among devices. A very important difference between both of them is that the SAS hard drive is more reliable and faster than the SATA hard drive. Briefly, SATA hard drives are suitable for personal use, while SAS hard drives are good for high and best hardware. It is suggested to go with the best hard drive like SAS hard drive if you want to make your hardware work best. Go with the best hard drive that suits your needs.
