ATA is a standard for connecting storage devices to a motherboard, also known as IDE. Ultra ATA is a faster version with improved architecture. UDMA allows for direct memory access, increasing performance. ATAPI allows for integration of CD-ROM, DVD, and other storage devices. PATA uses parallel cables, with increasing transfer rate limits. UDMA controllers are needed for data flow, built into most motherboards or available as a separate card. Ultra ATA is a budget option for system, backup, and archive drives.
ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) refers to a common standard used to attach hard drives and other storage devices to a motherboard. It is also called IDE (Integrated Drive Electronics), although the terms are not technically interchangeable. Ultra ATA is simply next-generation ATA with improved transfer speeds and architecture. There are several buzzwords surrounding this technology that can be confusing for consumers, but each buzzword refers to one aspect of the standard.
UDMA (Ultra Direct Memory Access): To begin with, Ultra ATA is based on a joint venture project between Intel, Quantum and Seagate. It is written around a specification that allows a hard drive or drive to transfer data directly into the computer’s system memory without having to use the CPU to direct this action. This saves processor resources and increases performance, which is why it is also called Ultra DMA (or UDMA) for short.
ATAPI (Advanced Technology Attachment Packet Interface): Originally, ATA was designed for hard drives only, but later ATAPI integration opened up the specification to include CD-ROM drives, DVD drives, tape drives, and other storage devices . The specification then became known as ATA/ATAPI.
PATA (Parallel ATA): ATA devices use parallel cables. Most people are familiar with these wide, flat IDE cables that connect drives to the motherboard. Standard ATA uses 40-pin cables, while most Ultra ATA drives use 80-pin cables. Before the development of serial ATA (SATA), this term was not used.
There are also increasing grades of the technology defined by transfer rate limits, including Ultra ATA/33, Ultra ATA/66, Ultra ATA/100, and Ultra ATA/133. The latter is the fastest, with a transfer rate of 133 megabytes per second, roughly comparable to the first version of SATA. While SATA drives have long outsold Ultra ATA drives for performance, the latter is still an excellent budget choice. In addition to their use as a system drive, these drives are also popular backup and archive drives.
People purchasing a hard drive that uses this standard or an ATAPI device will need a UDMA controller to take over the responsibility of directing the data flow between system memory and the component device. This controller is built into the motherboard chipset in most cases. For non-compliant motherboards, you can purchase a UDMA controller card and add it to an open PCI slot on the motherboard.
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