Some questions regarding SATA cables

Big.Wayne · 12 Dec 2008 at 16:29

Alright Eggheads!

I have gone into hard disk mode and am playing around with benchmarks and testing a few new drives out. I was wondering is their any difference between the cables for SATA 1 and SATA II drives? As far as I am aware their is no difference between the cables needed?

Another question I have is regarding Premium SATA cables, is it possible to improve disk performance by spending extra on high quality SATA cables? is there any difference between the bog standard skinny cables (normally red) that comes bundled with a motherboard and an expensive (£7-£10) 3rd party jobbie?

I've never really tested different cabling out myself although I have fixed a few flakey computers just by swapping out the cables so it got me wondering if its worth spending an extra few quid for something really well made!

Thanks in advance for any feedback!

rpstewart · 12 Dec 2008 at 17:26

There are SATA cables, simple as that. The only difference you might get with an expensive cable is that the connectors might be better and less prone to working themselves off the drive.

jbloggs · 12 Dec 2008 at 17:31

Save your money and use the "cheapies"......

Basically no difference in performance between a SATA cable costing £1 or £10, both will perform the same, as this is what I found out here a while ago.

helmutcheese · 12 Dec 2008 at 18:15

Infact some cables are crap (resistance) and someone here found that out, many here favour the vanilla red Asus Cables.

Nanobot · 13 Dec 2008 at 19:18

I am sure some cables have better clip attachments than some that come supplied with motherboards. I know some of the clips on mine didnt lock securely and with the strain of the cable turned at certain angles, it unclipped itself in mid use and crashed PC.
Out of curiousity, anyone seen SATA cables that are round rather than flat?

whitecrook · 14 Dec 2008 at 02:43

I've never seen them IRL but you do get them.

jak731 · 14 Dec 2008 at 02:53

3rd party cables are excellent if you have a very large case and you need long cables, other then that i dont see a point in them

101predator · 14 Dec 2008 at 14:24

3rd party cables can also be useful if you need a Right angle connector

helmutcheese · 14 Dec 2008 at 17:52

Asus cables have the tightest right angle you will ever see, many peeps sell their here on the MM for that reason.

Liquidfox · 15 Dec 2008 at 11:55

Gotta love the Asus cables, get a lot in the office. We stick bog standard ones it, since they do the job, and keep the Asus ones for ourselves