FINAL SERIAL ATA SPECIFICATION
RELEASED
Technology Provides Long-Term Solution
for
Higher Performance, Easier System Design
INTEL DEVELOPER FORUM, SAN JOSE, Calif., Aug. 29, 2001
– The next generation of internal storage connectivity is within reach with
today’s release of the Serial ATA final 1.0 specification. The announcement
was made at Intel Developer Forum, Fall 2001 in San Jose, Calif.
The technology is an evolutionary replacement of the parallel
ATA physical storage interface, and was developed by the Serial ATA Working
Group. Promoter group companies are APT Technologies Inc, Dell Computer Corporation,
Intel Corporation, International Business Machines Corporation, Maxtor Corporation
and Seagate Technology.
The Serial ATA interface will be used to connect such internal
storage devices as hard disks, DVDs and CD-R/Ws to the motherboard in desktop
and mobile PCs, value servers and network storage. Scalable performance (starting
at 1.5 gigabits per second) and 100 percent software compatible with current
operating systems, the technology will provide a storage interface that meets
the needs of computers for the next decade.
Serial ATA has other benefits over its parallel predecessor.
The low pin count of Serial ATA will enable computer manufacturers to design
systems with cables that are simpler to route and install, improving thermal
designs and facilitating smaller form factor systems. It also enables easier,
more flexible motherboard routing and the use of smaller connectors than
is possible with the existing parallel ATA technology.
Broad development of fully compliant products is already
in progress, with the first Serial ATA/1500 storage solutions expected in
the marketplace in the first half of 2002, according to Jason Ziller, Serial
ATA Working Group chairman and Intel technology initiatives manager. The
specification is licensed to the industry on a royalty-free basis.
The Serial ATA Working Group is now 74 members strong,
representing leaders in the silicon design, cable/connector, storage and
systems industries. More information about the Serial ATA Working Group is
available at http://www.serialata.org
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