Difference between IDE and SCSI ??

Les Mikesell lesmikesell at gmail.com
Sat Feb 2 20:24:14 UTC 2008


Les wrote:

>>
>> Can someone briefly explain to me the difference between an IDE (ATA)
>> and a SCSI device.

> 	IDE was one of the early standards.  It evolved way early in the
> progress of computers:

> SCSI was developed to address shortcomings in ESDI and add multiple
> drive capability.

IDE drives tend to be cheaper and in a single user machine you might not 
notice the difference. The big difference in practice is that IDE 
controllers need more CPU intervention and there can only be one 
outstanding command on a controller that can connect to two drives so 
there is additional overhead waiting for availability.  With scsi, the 
same controller/cable can handle many drives and they can all be active 
with the only contention being the total transfer throughput.

-- 
   Les Mikesell
    lesmikesell at gmail.com




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