by 
The Curious Bag
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An ATA hard drive is one that uses an older standard for connecting to a computer's motherboard.
Background
The technology behind ATA (Advanced Technology Attachment) drives was developed and released in 1994 by IBM. Such drives are also known as Parallel Advanced Technology Attachment devices.
Identification
An ATA drive is easily recognizable by the cable that connects it to the motherboard. The thick cable has wide, flat connectors on both ends.
Usage
ATA drives are still around because of the large number of older computers that cannot use drives with more up-to-date technology.
Limits
Only two ATA drives can be used in a computer. They require more power to operate and have a slower data transfer rate, and the bulky cables can restrict air flow inside the computer case.
Installation
It is possible to install an ATA drive in a new system, but it is not recommended. Your best choice is to back up the old drives and move the data to the new system
Source:
The Architecture Of Compute Hardware; Irv Englander; 2003
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