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Ultra ATA/66

Within a year or two of the introduction of Ultra DMA modes in ATA/ATAPI-4, two new Ultra DMA modes were created. These new modes allowed data transfer at 44 MB/s and 66 MB/s respectively (actually, the latter should really be 67 MB/s, since the number is really two-thirds of 100, but anyway...) The 44 MB/s speed never caught on, but new drives appeared on the market implementing Ultra DMA mode 4 at 66 MB/s. Just as the first 33 MB/s Ultra DMA mode drives were dubbed Ultra ATA/33, the new drives of course were called Ultra ATA/66 or ATA/66.

As with the original ATA/33, there is no real standard called "Ultra ATA/66"; this is a slang term for ATA drives using 66 MB/s Ultra DMA (UDMA mode 4). Still, this is the common term given to drives that use the new Ultra DMA modes defined in the true standard, ATA/ATAPI-5. In most cases you can assume that drives sold as Ultra ATA/66 are compatible with ATA/ATAPI-5, though early "Ultra ATA/66" drives may not include all the features defined in the formal standard.

Note: At some point in your travels, you might also stumble upon some documentation that refers to the following mysterious specification: "Ultra ATA/66+". See the discussion of Ultra ATA/100 for the amusing story behind this term. :^)

Next: Ultra ATA/100

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