SATA-cable
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Top 10 Best SATA Cables in 2023


The full name of SATA is Serial Advanced Technology Attachment, a serial hardware drive interface based on industry standards, a hard disk interface specification jointly proposed by Intel, IBM, Dell, APT, Maxtor and Seagate.

SATA cables are serial interfaces, which means they only work one bit at a time. This makes them much faster than parallel interfaces such as SCSI or IDE cables.

The SATA interface has a simple structure, supporting hot plugging, fast transmission speed, and high execution efficiency. The hard disk that uses SATA (Serial ATA) interface is called the serial hard drive, which is now the mainstream hard drive interface. At present, most SSDs are serial hard drives with a SATA interface.

sata cable

What is a SATA cable?

SATA cables are used to connect SATA drives to SATA ports. SATA cables transfer data at a rate of up to 6 gigabytes per second, making it much faster than the IDE cables that only have a maximum speed of 133 megabytes per second.


SATA cabling is designed as hot-swappable, which means you can plug in or unplug the SATA drive without having to shut down your computer first. In addition, SATA uses a smaller cable with seven wires rather than 40 wires like SCSI and IDE cables use. This makes SATA more reliable because there’s less exposed circuitry for moisture damage and fewer connectors that could be broken during installation.

How does Sata cable work?

SATA cable uses a SATA controller to control data traffic between SATA devices and system memory. SATA controller handles all communication between SATA and IDE drives and the SATA-to-PCI bridge that allows SATA drives to act like standard hard disks.

How do I choose the right cable for my needs?

To save money and avoid overspending, it’s essential to know what type of SATA cables you need. Below are a few things to consider when choosing a SATA cable for your device.

sata cable
  • SATA cable speed: SATA supports disk speeds up to 6 gigabytes per second. If you’re transferring large amounts of data such as video or high-resolution photos, choose SATA cables with the highest transfer rate you can afford.SATA 2 is the fastest SATA cable available
  • SATA cable length: SATA cables are measured in millimeters or inches, depending on where you buy them. For SATA drives installed internally, a short SATA cable will be enough for most users. However, if SATA devices are being installed externally, choose SATA cables that are 20 feet or longer to avoid clutter and prevent tripping over loose cables.

Advantages of SATA

(1) Stronger Error Correction Ability

Serial ATA adopts a serial connection method. As a result, the serial ATA bus uses an embedded clock signal and has a stronger error correction capability. Compared with the past, its most significant difference is that it can check the transmission instructions, not just data. As a result, errors are automatically corrected, which dramatically improves the reliability of data transmission.

(2) Mainstream Standard

The data transfer rate defined by Serial ATA 1.0 can reach 150MB/s, which is higher than the highest data transfer rate of 133MB/s that parallel ATA (ATA/133) can achieve. In Serial ATA 2.0, the data transfer rate reaches 300MB/s, and Serial ATA 3.0 has reached a high data transfer rate of 600MB/s. SATA specifications retain a variety of backward compatibility methods, and there is no compatibility problem in use.

(3) Hot-Swap Function

Using this function can be more convenient to build a disk array. In addition, because the serial port data cable only uses a four-pin structure, it is more convenient to install than the parallel port, which is more conducive to reducing the wires in the pc cabinet and beneficial to heat dissipation.

SATA 2 vs SATA 3

SATA 3’s transfer rate can reach up to 6Gb/s, while the transfer rate of the SATA 2 interface is 3Gb/s. So, in theory, the SATA 3 interface is twice that of SATA 2.

As the most widely used hard drive interface at present, the most significant advantage of the SATA 3.0 interface is its maturity. Standard 2.5-inch SSD and HDD hard drives use this interface. The theoretical transmission bandwidth is 6Gbps.

Although it is much worse than the 10Gbps or even 32Gbps bandwidth of the new interface, the 2.5-inch SSD does not have a high demand. It can read more than 500MB/s. The writing speed is also sufficient.

There are so many SATA cables to choose from. Which one is best for you. This is a post for the best SATA cables in 2023.

No.10 BENFEI SATA Cable III, Straight HDD SDD Data Cable with Locking Latch

BENFEI SATA Cable III

Main Features

  • Benfei SATA III cable is designed to connect motherboards and host controllers to internal Serial ATA hard drives and DVD drives, quickly upgrading your computer for expanded storage. Please be kindly noted that this cable does not provide power for your hard drive. It must be powered separately.
  • 6 Gbps Fast Data Transfer: The latest SATA Revision 3.0 allows for data transfer speeds of up to 6 Gbps, 2x faster than SATA II, backwards compatible with SATA I and SATA II. Data transfer speed is limited by rating of the attached equipment.
  • Cost-effective 3 Pack Combo: 3 Pack SATA 3 cable is a cost effective way to provide replacement or spare for different SATA systems or for RAID configuration.
  • Secure Connection: Locking latch on each end of the cable to ensure secure connections for fast and reliable file transfer.
  • What You Get: Benfei SATA 3 cable 18inch(3PCS in one package) x3, 18-month warranty and lifetime friendly customer service.

Reviews

  • I have a desktop computer and bought a 8gb seagate HDD to put all my media in one place instead of having lots of different portable HDD (one for music, one for pictures, one for videos!). I needed a SATA cable to connect it to the motherboard and saw these ones. Technically I only need one, but it was quite good price for 3 and I might add another HDD later so it will already be handy.
  • There’s really nothing much to say, you unpack it, plug one end to the HDD, the other end to the motherboard and voilà! I was able to transfer all my media very quickly (almost 5gb worth!) and had no issue at all. Highly recommend it!
  • These cables are really great, they work as expected, nothing special about them and the price is great for them. The only issue I have is that they are slightly too short for the length. Depending on what computer case you have and how everything inside is positioned it can be too short. I have used two of my cables, the other one I can’t reach to my other SSD so I decided to stick with one of the Sata cables I have had for a while. I have a corsair carbide 400c case and there are 3 SSD holders located on the side behind one of the panels. In a horizontal style so the closest one can obviously be reached by the Benfei sata cable but the last one cannot for this length. It could merely be my fault and I should’ve purchased longer cables which I should’ve looked into first. Other than that just make sure they are long enough for you before purchasing. I would reccomend if it is!
  • Basically they function and have the correct connector and I cannot accurately discern a good wire from a bad one, it either works or it doesn’t – you’re probably going to plug and unplug these cables once so the sheerness doesn’t matter, I don’t feel that you’re overpaying for over-engineered parts you won’t use; they’re just functioning sheerness cables.

No.9 BENFEI SATA Cable III, 6Gbps 90 Degree Right Angle with Locking Latch 

BENFEI SATA Cable III, 90-degree

Main Features

  • Benfei SATA 3 cable is designed to connect motherboards and host controllers to internal Serial ATA hard drives and DVD drives, quickly upgrading your computer for expanded storage. Please be kindly noted that this cable does not provide power for your hard drive. It must be powered separately.
  • 6 Gbps Fast Data Transfer: The latest SATA Revision 3.0 allows for data transfer speeds of up to 6 Gbps, 2x faster than SATA II, backwards compatible with SATA I and SATA II. Data transfer speed is limited by rating of the attached equipment.
  • Cost-effective 3 Pack Combo: 3 Pack SATA 3 cable is a cost effective way to provide replacement or spare for different SATA systems or for RAID configuration.
  • Secure Connection: Locking latch on each end of the cable to ensure secure connections for fast and reliable file transfer.
  • What You Get: Benfei SATA 3 cable 18inch(3PCS in one package) x3, 18-month warranty and lifetime friendly customer service.

Reviews

  • These work wonderfully and have a great feel to them. Great value. BUT…if you are getting right-angle connectors because your hard-drive tails but up right against the side of your PC (or your PC cover panel), then note that these are thicker (i.e. stand off more) than some OEM cables. Mine still worked okay, but I had NO room to spare.
  • It works perfectly for my needs! Needed these cables to install an HDD and SDD on my computer. Installation was pretty straightforward without issues. Still using it on my system since installation and they are working great as they should.
    • PROS:
      • The price was reasonable for a pack of three.
      • The quality of the product seems durable and worth the price.
      • The design is convenient making installation a breeze.
      • The clips are a plus securing the cable to the drive and motherboard.
    • CONS:
      • None so far
  • Connectors snap in securely and remove as they should. Cable seems substantial, yet is sufficiently flexible to accept bends with a ca. 1 cm (1/2 inch) diameter. Drive speeds are typical for the relatively slow hard drive for which I’m using this cable. The price per cable is a little high for them compared to some of the other multi-packs, but it was the best for ones with fewer than 5 items (I only need 2). Overall I’m pleased.
  • I ordered 2 sets of sata cables, 3 packs each, one was straight on both ends, the other was angled on one end. They were delivered super fast and were in convenient zip lock bags for storage. Very easy to use – and the best part IMHO – the lock clips were not sooooo stiff like many brands and i was able to easily pinch it open and pull off one of the cables in a tight spot! will buy from seller, and this item again in future for any sata cable needs!

No.8 Sabrent SATA III (6 Gbit/s) Straight Data Cable with Locking Latch

Sabrent SATA III

Main Features

  • Straight SATA connectors with metal locking latch.
  • Designed to connect internal Serial ATA hard disks, SSDs, and optical drives to motherboards and host controllers.
  • Fully compliant with the SATA III specification, allowing for data transfer speeds of up to 6 Gbit/s (600 MB/s)
  • Compatible with 2.5” SSDs, 3.5” HDDs, optical drives, RAID controllers, embedded computers and controllers.
  • PLEASE NOTE: This cable does not provide power. It is a data cable only. Drive needs to be powered separately.

Reviews

  • Well made with locking clips from a peripheral company I own other products from. Nothing exciting like RGB lights or anything like that, just quality SATA cables. The blue kinda matches the fan shroud and HDD cages from 2000’s Dells.
  • These are exactly what I needed to install a spinning hard drive into my Lenovo mini-tower. I also like the color because it tells me which drive is connected without my having to trace it by hand.
  • Avoid some of the cheaper alternatives. These cables are well made, the sleeving is thick while still remaining flexible, and the locking mechanisms work well. No issues.
  • The perfect cable for upgrading an 8-year-old Dell XPS 8500 HD to SSD. The pack of 3 cables was a good bargain for the price.

No.7 StarTech 12in SATA Cable

StarTech 12in SATA Cable

Main Features

  • The SATA12 Serial ATA Cable features two 7-pin data receptacles and supports full SATA 3.0 bandwidth of up to 6Gbps when used with SATA 3.0 compliant drives.
  • Featuring a low profile, yet durable construction, the flexible design improves airflow and reduces clutter in your computer case, helping to keep the case clean and cool.
  • Supports full SATA 3.0 6Gbps bandwidth
  • Compatible with both 3.5″ and 2.5″ SATA hard drives
  • Provides 12″ in cable length

Reviews

  • I really like these and I’m sad to see that they have apparently been discontinued. These are thinner and more flexible, and of better quality all around, than the few other round cable SATA models from OKGear, Rosewill, Nippon, etc. Note that Startech lists the overall length, so the 6″ cables only have a little over 4.5″ of flexible cable. I wish the industry would get together and all do it the same way because sometimes that little discrepancy matters in an application. I would have bought several of the longer versions and some straight connector versions, but the prices now are ridiculous, except for this little one which they must have a lot of leftovers. The connector heads on these are pretty slim, too, so no trouble using them on stacked ports or tight locations (that cannot be said for the OKGear and others). If only they were just a touch longer they would be useful in more places.
  • I needed a SATA cable to add a 2nd HD to a Dell Optiplex 360. Wasn’t crazy about what I was reading about in the reviews concerning cable failure so I ordered 2-3 from different vendors. I wasn’t paying much attention to the ends but as it turns out this cable not only works well but the 90-degree bend in the cable allowed me to close the case tightly when I reassembled it.
  • Note that these SATA cables are friction fit only, meaning they don’t “click” in like locking SATA cables. I consider this a downside for drives that support locking SATA cables (pretty much every SATA hard drive ever), as I suppose you could torque these cables enough during cable management to loosen the connection. However, the friction fit actually works better on SSDs, as all SSDs I have seen do not support locking SATA cables. Locking SATA cables tend to be loose on the SSDs I have, while these friction fit cables are much tighter (and tight enough on regular hard drives).

No.6 WDS SATA Cable III, 6Gbps Straight HDD SDD Data Cable with Locking Latch 

WDS SATA Cable III

Main Features

  • WDS SATA 3 cable is designed to connect motherboards and host controllers to internal Serial ATA hard drives and DVD drives, quickly upgrading your computer for expanded storage. Please be kindly noted that this cable does not provide power for your hard drive. It must be powered separately.
  • 6 Gbps Fast Data Transfer: The latest SATA Revision 3.0 allows for data transfer speeds of up to 6 Gbps, 2x faster than SATA II, backwards compatible with SATA I and SATA II. Data transfer speed is limited by rating of the attached equipment.
  • Cost-effective 2Pack Combo: 2 Pack SATA 3 cable is a cost effective way to provide replacement or spare for different SATA systems or for RAID configuration.
  • Secure Connection: Locking latch on each end of the cable to ensure secure connections for fast and reliable file transfer.
  • What You Get: WDS SATA 3 cable 18inch, 24-month warranty and lifetime friendly customer service.

Reviews

  • I needed 6 SATA cables quickly and these were also the cheapest available. I was setting up a RAID server for a friend’s home network and needed only 5 cables so there was one extra. The cables are pretty much like most other SATA cables. The connectors are similar to others but the cable itself appears to be more flexible than other SATA cables I’ve handled. I’m not sure if this is due to the wire insulation or the gauge of the wire used but they are very flexible which is definitely appreciated.
    So far all the drives are up and running with no issues for the last week. I’m happy with the purchase as the quality and construction appear adequate but for the price, it’s hard to beat.
  • Used to install a couple of sata lol hard drives. Work fine. The open connectors were sandwiched in between those and the case. I was happy these were straight as they fit perfectly. Always check your computer before making a purchase. Right angle ones would not have fit.

No.5 Monoprice 18-Inch SATA III 6.0 Gbps Cable with Locking Latch

Monoprice 18-Inch SATA III

Main Features

  • Sata Revision 3. 0 (aka SATA III) provides up to 6 Gaps data throughput
  • Includes locking latch on each end of the cable to ensure it doesn’t work itself loose
  • Backwards compatible with SATA Revision 1 and 2 (aka SATA I and SATA II)

Reviews

  • When I buy a cable that is 18 inches long I do not consider the connectors as part of that length. This was billed as an 18-inch cable, but it is only 17 inches between the connectors. I am hoping the loss of the inch is not a problem for my project. Don’t know if there are any other concerns with this Chinese cable.
  • Most cables, even those not officially rated for SATA 6 Gbps speeds ought to work at full speed (search Google for “maximum PC SATA cable test”). But if you are in need of a cable or want to be sure your snazzy new SSD is giving you all it’s got, get one of these. If you have a traditional/spinning hard drive, pick up whatever is cheap so long as it is new; you don’t have to worry about saturating a 6 Gbps channel with a old fashioned drive.
  • My experience, on average, for SATA cables has been a hit-or-miss. I’ve purchased cables that I’ve cursed at. Especially a set of 10 short cables that had a locking end that would not let go of the motherboard socket. I actually pulled out the plastic portion on a motherboard and then spent hours after pulling the motherboard and using tweezers to align and re-insert the plastic portion which was then secured with super glue.

No.4 Cable Matters 90 Degree Right Angle SATA III 6.0 Gbps SATA Cable

Cable Matters stat cable

Main Features

  • Motherboard mate 90 degree SATA III cable is specifically designed to connect motherboards and host controllers to internal Serial ATA hard drives and DVD drives
  • Blazing fast SATA III speeds up to 6 Gbps deliver superior performance for a custom gaming or RAID configuration; Provides secure connections for fast and reliable file transfers; Backwards compatible with SATA I, II, III hard drives
  • Latching right angle connector is an indispensable tool for securing difficult to reach connections in small cases; Low profile SATA data cable has a flexible jacket to allow an efficient and organized installation in tight computer cases; Bright cerise colored cable provides easy identification when troubleshooting
  • Cost-effective 3 pack SATA cables provides spare or replacement hard drive cable for a last minute installation or to fix troublesome connection problems
  • Compatible with popular SATA equipped devices such as: 24x DVD-RW Serial-ATA Internal Optical Drive, Crucial MX100 BX100 MX200 SATA Solid State Drive, Kingston240GB SSD V300 SATA 3 Solid State Drive, LG Electronics 14x Internal BDXL Blu-Ray Burner Rewriter, Samsung 850 EVO SSD 850 Pro SSD, Seagate 3TB Desktop HDD SATA 6Gb/s 3.5-Inch Internal Bare Drive, Extreme PRO 240GB, SIIG DP SATA 4-Port Hybrid PCIe, WD Black Performance Desktop Hard Drive, WD Green Internal Hard Drive

Reviews

  • So this 3 1/2 year old computer starts restarting. The event log shows practically constant I/O errors. So we swap the SATA cable from the optical drive to the HD and all is good, for a few months, then it starts doing it again! So we order this Sunday night and it gets here Monday. Installed, ran for a half hour test with no I/O errors. Back in business! Took like 20 seconds to swap out.
  • I only used one of them, so I don’t know that the other two work, but the one I did use works fine. My motherboard has two SATA ports that aim out at 90 degrees from the surface and two that point straight up from the surface. To aid in cable management, I wanted an extra 90 degree cable to run to my third drive, and this did the job. I like the length, not too long to get in the way but long enough to go where I needed it. I like that it is all black, so it blends in with other black cables and the black case.
  • Cables are usually pretty binary–do they work or not. These, however, are in a class of their own. These are premium. Their outer protect layer feels more heavy duty than most cables. There weren’t a lot of color options BUT there WERE color options. All of these connectors lock in place. I really like having the option for right angles and longer than average lengths.


No.3  CableCreation SATA III Cable

CableCreation SATA III Cable

Main Features

  • SATA revision 3.0 (aka SATA III) provides up to 6 Gbps data throughput, Backwards compatible with SATA revision 1 and 2 (aka SATA I and SATA II)
  • This Cable connect motherboards and host controllers to internal Serial ATA hard drives and DVD drives
  • 90-degree design can make for better cable management in some situations, especially in tight spaces
  • Includes locking latch on each end of the cable to ensure it doesn’t work itself loose
  • Please be sure to check your case to see which way you need the cable to be angled

Reviews

  • Nothing too exciting here. I had a few SSD’s floating around on USB adapters and used these SATA data jumpers to finally do a little housekeeping and put them Inside the box, where they belong. They are made with precision, and with minor difficulty got them plugged into the MB (six SATA ports). They lock in nicely, and 18 inches seems to be about the right length for meandering through the box to the SSD’s new resting places. Recommended. Five Stars. Cheers!
  • Nice price for a 5 pack. Locking works well and holds cable firmly in place but is also easy to release.
    Only used two so far, but works OK without any problems with a WD Red HDD and Samsung EVO SSD. Cables are flexible enough to fit easily. Recommended.
  • Nothing too exciting here. I had a few SSD’s floating around on USB adapters and used these SATA data jumpers to finally do a little housekeeping and put them Inside the box, where they belong. They are made with precision, and with minor difficulty got them plugged into the MB (six SATA ports). They lock in nicely, and 18 inches seems to be about the right length for meandering through the box to the SSD’s new resting places. Recommended. Five Stars. Cheers!

No.2 QIVYNSRY SATA Cable III 6Gbps Straight HDD SDD Data Cable with Locking Latch

QIVYNSRY SATA Cable III

Main Features

  • Data High-speed Transmission:only 5 seconds to transfer a 1GB file.
  • Cost-effective 3 Pack Combo: 3 Pack White SATA 3 cable is a cost effective way to provide replacement or spare for different SATA systems or for RAID configuration.
  • SATA 3 cable is designed to connect motherboards and host controllers to internal Serial SATA hard drives and DVD drives, quickly upgrading your computer for expanded storage.
  • 6 Gbps Fast Data Transfer: The latest SATA Revision 3.0 allows for data transfer speeds of up to 6 Gbps, 2x faster than SATA II, backwards compatible with SATA I and SATA II.
  • Secure Connection: Locking latch on each end of the cable to ensure secure connections for fast and reliable file transfer. What You Get: QIVYNSRY SATA 3 cable x3, 18-month warranty and lifetime friendly customer service.

Reviews

  • PROS: These cables look and feel like nice quality pieces, I was really drawn to the braided look and added durability it gives the cables. They feel strong and I wouldn’t worry much about them fraying on tight bends over time. The locking mechanism keeps them from pulling out once installed. The length is plenty good for most PCs, even a bit long for my P600S.
  • CONS: They can be a bit hard to bend into tight spaces, after hooking them up it was a bit of a fight to get them into an out of the way position. Also, the connector itself is VERY snug, I’m used to SATA cables just clicking right in, these require a bit of extra pressure to get in, making it a bit difficult without taking out my GPU. That being said, at least they won’t be popping out on their own.
  • First off they do the job. You plug them into your SATA devices along with SATA Power and they work. as far as the STRETCH rating I gave it 4 stars because these feel like regular SATA cables with their traditional hard plastic insulation that someone put the black brained sheathing over it. Nothing wrong with that if you are looking for that look, which I was, but I also thought that they would have made a truly custom cable instead of putting braided sheathing over a regular SATA cable.
  • I replaced all the cables in my 8-year-old server running in a co-location facility. I needed something that was flexible enough to wrap around fans and other bricks in a tricky 1U server layout. these were extremely easy to route around and replace the much less flexible plastic wrapped cables one of which was failing and causing drives to report SMART errors.

No.1 DanYee Nylon Braided SATA Cable III 6Gbps Straight HDD SDD Data Cable with Locking Latch

DanYee Nylon Braided SATA Cable III

Main Features

  • MOTHERBOARD MATE 90 degree SATA III cable is specifically designed to connect motherboards and host controllers to internal Serial ATA hard drives and DVD drives.
  • 6 Gbps Fast Data Transfer: The latest SATA Revision 3.0 allows for data transfer speeds of up to 6 Gbps, 2x faster than SATA II, backwards compatible with SATA I and SATA II. Data transfer speed is limited by rating of the attached equipment.
  • 6 Packs DanYee Nylon Braided SATA 3 Cable is a cost effective way to provide replacement or spare for different SATA systems or for RAID configuration.
  • Special Nylon Braided made the cable strong to avoid the cable broken after long-term bending.
  • COMPATIBLE with popular SATA equipped devices such as: 24x DVD-RW Serial-ATA Internal Optical Drive, Crucial MX100 BX100 MX200 SATA Solid State Drive, Kingston240GB SSD V300 SATA 3 Solid State Drive, LG Electronics 14x Internal BDXL Blu-Ray Burner Rewriter, Samsung 850 EVO SSD 850 Pro SSD, Seagate 3TB Desktop HDD SATA 6Gb/s 3.5-Inch Internal Bare Drive, Extreme PRO 240GB, SIIG DP SATA 4-Port Hybrid PCIe, WD Black Performance Desktop Hard Drive, WD Green Internal Hard Drive.

Reviews

  • I was having varying problems with my computer – from very long (10 min) boot time to Windows, to blue screens, to other unexplained errors. After hours of troubleshooting, virus/malware testing, etc. I finally discovered one of my 6 internal hard drives was failing. I pulled out the drive. Computer now booted up fine. But still had periodic issues so decided to change out all my HD cables.
  • These cables are great. They are thin and flat and well made. Easy to maneuver through the case. The connectors are straight (not L shape) and low profile (they do not stick out very far). I don’t like the L shape connectors on some cables. They don’t help much and often get in the way. Straight connectors are the way to go. The clips help hold in place, plus I can tell when fully inserted into drive and MB. The connectors are small enough that they easily fit in motherboard connection area which is pretty tightly packed.
  • The thin cable makes them easier to maneuver and also creates better airflow. After replacing all my cables with these, I have not had any computer issues. Usually, HD cables are the last thing you might think about when troubleshooting. For the money, I would highly recommend these cables. I would also recommend changing your cables if you are getting blue screen of death (BSOD) or having any other intermittent problems. It is a cheap and easy fix.
  • These are not constructed like the normal desktop SATA cables you’re used to seeing. Instead, the cable is split into the TX and RX halves, much like the low profile SATA cables in some servers are. The result is an incredibly thin cable you can snake around in your chassis quite easily, even in tight spots. Don’t let the low profile scare you off, these are well made despite their thin build.
  • They don’t glow under UV or anything like that but the clear insulation and blue foil shielding makes them look kinda cool and if you’ve got a blue theme going on in your windowed case, these my be something to look at if you’re looking for a short SATA cable even if you don’t need the thinnest SATA cable possible.