If you bought your computer before 2011, chances are very good that your system runs on mainstream SATA 3Gb/s bandwidth. How do we know this? Before 2011, original equipment manufacturers (computer makers) didn’t build SATA 6Gb/s technology into their mainstream models. However, if you bought your system in January 2011 or later, there’s a good chance that you may have SATA 6Gb/s capability (although you’ll want to check your owner’s manual to confirm this).
To help determine if your system is SATA 3Gb/s or SATA 6Gb/s, you can use our Crucial System Scanner tool, which provides quick feedback on your system’s specs. In less than a minute, our tool scans your computer to help determine which version of SATA you have so that you can make the most informed buying decision. With the frequent release of new systems, our database is constantly being updated, but we’ve got comprehensive information for thousands of systems.
NOTE: If you’re a Mac® computer user, you can easily self-check your system’s bandwidth. Simply click on the Apple icon at the upper left-hand corner of the screen, then follow this path: About This Mac > More Info > Serial-ATA (located under the Hardware column). When you click on Serial-ATA, a lower window will appear on the right with a list of system specs and one of those is called Link Speed. That number (either 3 or 6 gigabits) represents your computer’s SATA bandwidth capability.
