Worth it to buy SATA II cable?

[batai37]

I recently got a WD 320gb SATA II drive and am currently using the SATA cable that came with my mobo to connect it to the mobo SATA II connector.

Is there any advantage to buying a SATA II cable for this drive in terms of performance? For instance

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812162003

Also, I'm new to SATA in general...is it possible to run 2 SATA II drives off the same SATA II connector on the mobo like you can with an IDE drive? My mobo only has 1 SATA II connector, and 2 SATA connectors.

TIA...

[UICompE02]

The specification for SATA and SATA II (or more specifically, SATA at 3.0gb/s) cables are exactly the same. So, technically, there is no such thing as a SATA II cable (it's all marketing...)

SATA achieves a higher transfer rate (than PATA) by using point-to-point serial connections. For this reason, it's only possible to connect one SATA device to one SATA port. (Of course, barring the use of port multipliers which may or may not be supported by your controller)

[IanG]

You probably won't see any performance differences between a sata1 and sata2 port either, unless you want to use NCQ or something. Both ports have more than enough headroom for consumer drives.
http://www.hardfolding.com/ftag1.php/mem/474.png (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=38&id=474&tm=33)

[drizzt81]

I did not even know that there was such a thing as a SATA-300 (SATA-II or whatever it's called) cable.

[defakto]

I did not even know that there was such a thing as a SATA-300 (SATA-II or whatever it's called) cable.

only in marketing terms.

[protias]

i would think that you would benefit from a sata2 cable over sata1. looks like its time for me to do more research.

[defakto]

i would think that you would benefit from a sata2 cable over sata1. looks like its time for me to do more research.

How many different ways can you stretch 5 wires through a system and stay in specs? The biggest possible difference I can think of would be more shielding.

[protias]

How many different ways can you stretch 5 wires through a system and stay in specs? The biggest possible difference I can think of would be more shielding.

i dont know. like i said, i'll have to do more research to find out if there would be a difference. :p

[stevewm]

Its all marketing.... The SATA II spec actually doesn't define ANY addtional cable characteristics.

Just like USB 1.1/2.0 cables. The USB 2.0 spec says any USB 1.1 certified cable is also certified for USB 2.0. The same goes for ATA66/100/133 cables.

The marketing drones use this as a opportunity to charge more for no real reason at all.

[Yoshiyuki Blade]

The only real reason to buy those cables is if you like black, like I do. :p Other than that, it's more than likely no different than regular SATA cables.

[FighterAce124]

If I understand correctly, my SATA I cable will work fine with new SATA II drive? I just ordered a 250gb drive off ZZF, and really dont want to buy a new cable if I can avoid it, since I have 5-6 SATA I cables..

[unhappy_mage]

How many different ways can you stretch 5 wires through a system and stay in specs? The biggest possible difference I can think of would be more shielding.
5? 7! And there isn't, to the best of my knowledge, any shielding in the cable.

http://www.hardfolding.com/ftag1.php/mem/150072.png (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=38&tm=33&id=150072)http://www.hardfolding.com/utag1.php/mem/428/1.png (http://www.hardfolding.com?go=36&id=428&type=1)

[MrGuvernment]

i would think that you would benefit from a sata2 cable over sata1. looks like its time for me to do more research.

Same as their being no benefit from SATA I and SATA II drives (besides NCQ's) - simply because the harddrive can not spit out the info fast enough to even saturate SATA I - unless you get into raid arrays.

[phive0]

Thanks for the info, guys. Saved me from having to buy a "SATA-II" cable.