On Tue, 20 Jan 2004 10:13:21 -0500, you wrote:

>>  Hello,
>>
>> Sorry, forgot a proper subject for this post :-(
>>
>> While working on my current projects, I like to think ahaead about new
>> technologies that I might be able to use in the (near/far) future.
>> One of these areas is attaching disk-storage to a pic.
>>
>> I know there are several examples around that show how to connect
>> (hardware and software) an IDE-disk to a pic, but I was wondering if
>> the new serial ATA could contribute anything. The advantage (less
>> pins/wires) looks attractive.
>>
>>  I haven't studied the subject to any level, I am merely curious how
>> you all feel about this. Are there eg. SPI/SerialATA chips around
>> already?
>
>        I seriously doubt it. The technology is very new, and since it's=
 designed
>for high performance you'll only see high performance chips out there.
>Serial ATA is VASTLY different from PATA, in every way. It runs in the =
GHz
>range therefore you can't directly interface a PIC to it (yet...). As =
for
>chips it'll be a while before a solution will come out that allows you =
to
>interface to one at a slower speed.
>
>        If you're REALLY serious about interfacing to a SATA drive then =
you could
>build a sort of "bridge" with an FPGA, the signals are LVDS which is
>something FPGAs have and the speeds are at the upper limit, but within =
the
>capabilities of some of the newest FPGAs. I haven't confirmed this but =
am
>going on "gut" feeling. TTYL

There are a number of cheap SATA->PATA and vice versa converters - maybe =
it's possible to interface
to one of these.

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