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| Thread ID: 99411 | 2009-05-01 04:05:00 | What's up with e-sata? | GordonBennet (13808) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 769884 | 2009-05-01 04:05:00 | My new laptop came with an e-sata port, which is nice. I didn't really know what it meant, so I did some research and it seems it's a significantly faster way to connect to external drives that support it. But ... those kinds of external drives seem few and far between, and significantly more expensive. I note too that in the May 2009 PC World some external drives are tested, and the two that have e-sata connections aren't even tested on them (I assume, since only one throughput figure is given and it's not superior). All this seems to suggest a lack of interest in this option, which puzzles me - usually computer enthusiasts are all over something that promises better performance. Also, am I right in thinking that sata is the usual method of connection for modern drives internally and that e-sata is the same thing along an external cable? If so, then external drives that use ordinary 3.5" units within them are adapting to USB2 for "convenience" when the drive itself would be just as happy running sata/e-sata. Or have I got it wrong? If it's just a matter of getting an enclosure with e-sata connections, a cable, and plonking any good 3.5" drive in it, then I could maybe bypass the price-gouging that seems to be in place for the "premium" e-sata option? |
GordonBennet (13808) | ||
| 769885 | 2009-05-01 04:18:00 | Yup thats all it is an external sata connection. SATA would be the preferred method for modern systems. Since the cables for it are thinner (and not like IDE with the ribbon). So, it'll also be tidier in the case (if you build your own systems) Thats right, all you have to get is an enclosure and a SATA hdd, plonk it in the case, then connect it I suppose it'll also depend on whether your case has heaps of room for heaps of hdd's. If it has, why bother getting external connections, or hdds? But theyre no different from internal SATA hdd's, theyre exactly the same hard drive. Some SATA hdd's are actually cheaper than an IDE hdd the same size |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 769886 | 2009-05-01 04:26:00 | SATA hard drives are quite a bit faster as they support NCQ. Getting an enclosure with esata connections is exactly the same as buying and external hd from Seagate or Western Digital with esata. Its what they do.. Blam |
Blam (54) | ||
| 769887 | 2009-05-01 04:49:00 | BTW the eSATA connections WERE tested by PC World, however they were tested on a desktop so the results aren't comparable. | pcuser42 (130) | ||
| 769888 | 2009-05-01 05:05:00 | You do not need an enclosure, you can just use any SATA drive and plug it in. A standard SATA drive used an L shaped connector, whereas the e-Sata connectors are I shape. Most modern motherboards come with a small panel with connectors to plug unto your internal board Sata port and Power cable, then you just need the appropriate cables to hook up your drive. Alternatives to this or an enclosure are likes of the Welland Esata Docking Station www.trademe.co.nz Laser Docking Station www.ascent.co.nz Icy Dock www.ascent.co.nz Vantek make several www.ascent.co.nz I personally have a Welland one which works fine. Hot Swapping of Sata Drives. |
Bantu (52) | ||
| 769889 | 2009-05-01 09:22:00 | I've been curious regarding the 'hot pluggable' nature of SATA drives, and would appreciate the opinion of others here. I've never had the testicular fortitude to plug / unplug a SATA drive with power on, despite the understanding that they're ok for this. - If you plug / unplug with power on (without an enclosure) - are you comfortable with this? However, my technique isn't terribly thorough however. I have SATA cables running outside the case, from internal interfaces. I prop my 'removable' SATA storage against the leg of the table, and plug in the cables (ie no case or frame for earthing and reduction of EMR interference). I then power on, copy stuff to or from these backup drive(s) and then power down and disconnect them again. Laughter, criticism and advice all welcomed. :) |
Paul.Cov (425) | ||
| 769890 | 2009-05-01 09:35:00 | It'll depend on whether the system supports it and drivers according to some sites | Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 769891 | 2009-05-01 10:02:00 | Some of those Docks I mentioned above are Hot Plug and some are not. The Welland one is. One I did read about recommended a full shutdown before removing the HDD from the Dock, another was safe eject then just switching the Dock off, so they vary a bit. | Bantu (52) | ||
| 769892 | 2009-05-02 03:34:00 | Those hot swap docking stations sound good for backups. Just like the old floppies or tapes for A, B, C rotations! And a damn sight cheaper than a high speed tape sub system. And they would store more than floppies:D Three times 1TB at $205 per - yes, cheap business backup. |
linw (53) | ||
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