Internal connectors can be found on your computer. One of those internal connectors is serial advanced technology advancement or SATA to USB cables or connectors. These are used to connect devices in computer cable assemblies, such as storage devices, for instance. Serial ATA has replaced Parallel ATA and IDE which were the standard choice for connecting storage devices inside of a computer.
However, SATA cables tend to transmit data to and from the rest of the computer much, much faster than any of the above-mentioned cables would do.
What is SATA to USB Cable?
This cable is used to connect an SSD or HDD, thereby helps to add drive space to your device. Note that, you can simply connect it to an external hard drive to add storage, perform backups, data transfer, recover data from an internal hard disk, and transfer the content to a laptop. In a nutshell, the connector allows you to connect it to an internal hard drive to your PC.
But, what would an external hard drive do outside of your computer? Since SATA to USB connectors are used primarily by computer techs, you might be probably wondering why you should keep one handy. Many people are confused about the use. Let's explore the reasons you will need it.
During Hard Drive Failure
In some circumstances, you can successfully recover the files from the computer affected by data loss and connect them to another working system. SATA to USB cable can help you save time since it allows you to simply swap between drives without having to install the drive in chassis-plug and play. When you make this essential purchase from a reputable vendor, they provide a warranty and reliable customer support if you are confused about your purchase.
When You Are Planning to Upgrade to an SSD
If you decide to replace the hard drive in your computer with a solid-state drive, a SATA cable can come in handy. You can use this cable to connect the SSD as an external USB drive, and then clone the contents of your hard drive into it. Unless you buy a kit that comes with the adapter, you will need one to clone your existing hard drive to image your data to the new SSD. Then, you simply have to remove your old drive from the laptop, install the new one, and voila, you will be back in business.
Now that you know the use and the reasons to own it, you should also know how to install or use it for several applications.
Though the task requires not much professionalism, it is still important to do this step safely and correctly. With the intended purpose of the SATA cable, the exact method of installation can vary for the required use. For instance, if you simply need to replace your HDD with a new SSD, it is worth noting that it is possible to avoid the need to disconnect the SATA cable from the motherboard. This way, the connector can be connected to clone all your data and only the SATA cable attached to the HDD needs to be removed and replaced with the new SSD successfully!
What if you want to use it for adding additional storage to your cramped up device? You don't need to address the existing hard drive, instead, you will need to get the hang of these steps:
- You need to insert the new HDD into an empty bay in the PC case, ideally, there would be a space between the new and existing drives.
- Ensure that the drive is in position and SATA cable connection ports are easily accessible by securing the drive.
To sum up, you might have known the uses and reasons to own and why it is important. Many different types of SATA cables are available, including products for some of the leading brands in the industry. You can use different cables to customize the components you are building onto your computer.
