How To Add More SATA Slots To Your Motherboard

Innovation is the order of the day when it comes to computers, and the leaders of the industry have taken active steps to ensure nothing is left to waste. The need to constantly improve on what is in place and build on the achievements of yesterday is the norm in our today’s technology space. 

So, therefore, the days where you buy a computer with limited SATA Slots and will and settle down with it, are far gone. You can easily increase your SATA Slots without cracking things up on your computer and with your overall productivity. SATA slots are always not enough!

While the modern motherboards today have multiple SATA ports that allow for connecting hard disk drives, optical drives, and others, you are mostly limited to 4 or 6. This article will teach you how to add more slots with ease. 

How To Add More SATA Ports To A Motherboard

In the introduction, the fact that adding more SATA slots is possible has been mentioned over time and this is the truth of it all. You don’t have to be a computer guru to do this, you only need a port expansion card, and your headache will be off the radar. 

Is this all? Finding the right SATA port expansion card is not so easy a thing to do, and when you find the right one you are a long way ahead of your pals, as you will enjoy the best of connections that will come from having the right ports and machinery in place. 

So let’s dig more to find out things for ourselves. 

Types Of SATA Port Expansion Cards

There are three basic types of SATA port expansion cards in the market today, while this gives you a range of options to try, they function differently. The connection is not the same and the operations differ as well, knowing what distinguishes one from the other will help your needs. 

1. SATA Hub Port Multiplier 

This is one of the most popular options, and it is of course the cheapest option on the market for you to try, with a single SATA port you can easily multiply it to several other ports and ensure the luxury of having all of your ports connected in one fold. 

While this is the case, there are some bottlenecks with this SATA card. The downstream bandwidth of the Hub is shared effectively with all the ports and this had its issues, such as reduction in the flow of the connected drives. While it is cheap, it is never the most efficient. 

2. SATA PCI-E Cards

While the hub seems a good start, the PCI-E Cards are the best in the market for average users. It can be said to be run-of-the-mill, and interestingly it comes in different sizes and houses different ports to make things up. There are 2-8 additional ports to try. 

The PCLE lines make up for the issues experienced on the Hub Port Multiplier, as you are open to a unique downstream and upstream bandwidth. Going by this, you will enjoy great connections on all ports, without issues to contend with and the speed of the connection is also sublime.

Most SATA PCI-E Cards come with raid controllers and SATA cables to make up for fantastic use. 

3. SAS SATA Expansion Card: 

This expansion card is most preferred by professionals, and it shows a strong line of excellence. You enjoy excellent and exclusive upstream and downstream bandwidths, they are top of the list. All the ports here will give you a thrilling experience on the go. 

As an addition to the features, you will enjoy a raid controller, SAS, and SATA cables to go with. This is the premium pick for SATA Expansion Cards and you will be glad to settle here if you seek to increase your SATA slots and have premium performance on the go. 

Important Things To Consider 

While you have a hard list of the best expansion cards to consider and deal with, there are some vital points to note when settling for an expansion card to increase your SATA slots on your computer. 

1. The version of the SATA Slots: 

As impressive as this sounds like, it is one of the things that is usually ignored by many; it will however tell you the choice you will end up with. So you must make the right choices along the line, and the version of the SATA slots is a factor you should look at. 

The latest 3.0 ports are the biggest in the Industry right now, they are not big, the performance they offer is thrilling. For instance, 3.0 slots offer a transfer speed of 6GP/s (750mb/s) this is against what is obtainable on the 2.0 slots that offer 3gb/s (375mb/s). 

You cannot afford to limit your cable speed and performance, this is why it is important to settle with the 3.0 SATA slot expansion cards. 

2. Amount Of Slots: 

Just like the version, the amount of slots is also important. The goal of having the expansion cards in the first place is to increase your SATA slots, ensuring this is achieved. Anything from 2-8 additional SATA slots will do you a thing of good, as opposed to having just one additional slot. 

You will always have more devices, later on, so make a great choice here. 

3. PCI-E connector size and amount of PCLE lines: 

It shouldn’t be so big that it makes an underlying impression and it shouldn’t be too small either, stay in the middle, between too big and small. The card should have enough connectors as well!

Conclusion

You can add more SATA slots to your motherboard, this is possible and this is everything this article has established. While on it, ensure you look out for the factors mentioned, as basic additions that each SATA slot should have, this will guide your options and see you through your new experience.