SATA vs ATA100 8mb

[Mojo]

Just wondering how SATA drives compare to my 80gb 8mb ATA100 drive. What are the advantages of SATA besides smaller cords, and a transfer speed of 150mbps instead of 100mbps (which isn't that noticeable, correct?)?

 

[Ice Czar]

and a transfer speed of 150mbps instead of 100mbps

the interface has the potential but the HDDs are bottlenecked by their own internal performance, no single HDD can saturate the 100>133MB/s of Parallel-ATA much less touch the 150MB/s of SATA, there are slight gains in efficency (Command Overhead, improved Command Queing in some drives)
there are drives with faster spindle speed and higher areal density available in SATA (WD Raptors), thats where the performance comes from not the interface

See the FAQs > As the Disk Spins @ Lost Circuits & Corrupted Files!? stickies
specifically > Serial ATA and the 7 Deadly Sins Of Parallel ATA and pretty much the whole As the Disc Spins Series

In short this interation of SATA is one drive per port
cable length increases from 18" PATA to 1 meter for SATA

the next major interation (SATA II)
will feature Port Multiplier and Port Selector
http://www.enterprisestorageforum.com/technology/news/article.php/3079681

also note the SATA cautions in the FAQ