What is PATA, ATA, and IDE? Hard Drive Terms Explained

And I thought numbers were mind-boggling.


SATA, PATA, and IDE, we've all heard of them before. How are they different? Which is better? While technicians and enthusiasts may know these terms inside out, first-time PC buyers and users might find the terms confusing.

These articles will clear the mystery:

Directron.com: Parallel vs. Serial ATA

Hexus.net: PATA vs SATA

HardDriveReport.com: PATA vs ATA vs SATA vs IDE?