Before you buy a Seagate hard drive, determine the type of drive interface required by your computer system. This page tells you how to determine which interface you need. It also describes size, capacity and speed limitations.
Interface Types
The interface is the method by which one piece of equipment communicates with another. In this case, the hard drive must communicate with the computer that uses it.
There are three interfaces for most computers: ATA, SCSI and Fibre Channel. More information about each of these interfaces can be found in the detailed interface information section below.
Determining the Interface
You can tell which interface you need by looking at the connectors on the back of your current hard drive, or on the drive controller card installed in the computer. Each interface has a different type of connector.
ATA Connector
ATA interfaces use a 40-pin connector. If your current hard drive or controller card has this type of connector, you need an ATA drive. Seagate ATA models are indicated by model numbers ending in “A”, for example, ST3500630A.
Serial ATA Connector
Serial ATA interfaces use a 7-pin terminal connector. If your current hard drive or controller card has this type of connector, you need a Serial ATA drive. Seagate Serial ATA models are indicated by model numbers ending in “AS” (desktop models) or “NS” (enterprise class models), for example ST3500630AS.
SCSI Connectors
SCSI interfaces use one of three types of connectors. If your current hard drive or controller card has one of these types of connectors, you need a SCSI drive. Seagate SCSI models are indicated by model numbers ending in “LW” (68 pin connectors for use with cables) or “LC” (80 pin connectors for use with backplanes), for example ST3300655LC or ST3300655LW.
For Fibre Channel drives
For external drives and connections such as USB, eSATA, Firewire 400 (1394a), and Firewire 800 (1394b)
Additional Information:
Please see here for information on ATA drive jumper settings and cabling.
Please see here for information on SATA drive jumper settings and cabling.
Please see here for information on SCSI drive jumper settings and cabling.
