Basic eSata questions

[b4u]

Hi,

I'm going to buy a new system with a back eSata port and need to know a few questions regarding this connectors:

1. Is it plug and play like USB? Just connect an eSata external drive and that's it?

2. If I buy a Case or a 5.25" front panel with eSata connector, where do I connect the internal cable? Do I must a specific eSata internal connector in mobo? Do I connect to a normal Sata connector? If I connect to a normal Sata connector, if I want to make it plug n play, I have to setup the sata on BIOS to enable plug-n-play (like AHCI or something like that, I don't remember from top of my head right now)?


Thanks

MOD EDIT: We have a forum for Storage... for some obscure reason. - Zap

 

[VirtualLarry]

You have to configure your SATA controller on the motherboard in the BIOS for AHCI (or RAID) mode (and if RAID mode, must load chipset mfg RAID drivers). That will enable the Hot Plug feature, along with NCQ (a performance benefit, especially with SSDs, not so much with mechanicals).

If your mobo came with an eSATA bracket, that plugs into mobo SATA ports (like my Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R v1.0), then you should plug that into two unused SATA ports on the mobo, and enable AHCI mode in BIOS. That's what a friend of mine does.

Even then, Hot Plugging isn't all it's cracked up to be. Physically plugging and unplugging should cause it to be automatically detected, but leaving it plugged in to eSATA, and powering on and off your enclosure, may require you to launch Device Manager, and tell it to re-scan hardware.

Win7 SP1 is supposed to be much improved in this regard.

If the mobo has a purpose-built eSATA port on the back panel, chances are it is connected to an add-on chipset for SATA/eSATA, and may need to be configured in BIOS as AHCI, as well as loading drivers (Marvell or Jmicron).

 

[heat901]

You have to configure your SATA controller on the motherboard in the BIOS for AHCI (or RAID) mode (and if RAID mode, must load chipset mfg RAID drivers). That will enable the Hot Plug feature, along with NCQ (a performance benefit, especially with SSDs, not so much with mechanicals).

If your mobo came with an eSATA bracket, that plugs into mobo SATA ports (like my Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3R v1.0), then you should plug that into two unused SATA ports on the mobo, and enable AHCI mode in BIOS. That's what a friend of mine does.

Even then, Hot Plugging isn't all it's cracked up to be. Physically plugging and unplugging should cause it to be automatically detected, but leaving it plugged in to eSATA, and powering on and off your enclosure, may require you to launch Device Manager, and tell it to re-scan hardware.

Win7 SP1 is supposed to be much improved in this regard.

If the mobo has a purpose-built eSATA port on the back panel, chances are it is connected to an add-on chipset for SATA/eSATA, and may need to be configured in BIOS as AHCI, as well as loading drivers (Marvell or Jmicron).

I had a mobo that came with the rear panel slots as you described. Though I had it set to IDE then later changed to AHCI I do not think it matters what setting though when I changed to AHCI it wouldn't auto recogonize when I turned it on. You will probably need to get a different cable esata to esata connection.

OP why not wait till usb 3.0 comes out? I dont know the exact speed but it is supposed to be faster than esata.

 

[corkyg]

I have two eSATA external devices. One connects to a combo eSATA/USB port on my Lenoto T510 laptop. It is totally hot pluggable (actually power on/off - I leave it plugged in.) No AHCI used at all.

My other is a Vantec eSATA external connected to a XP machine with a SATA PCI RAID card that has an eSATA port on the backplane. Also hotpluggable (power on/off) any time with never a problem in 2+ years - no AHCI there either.

As for USB 3 and eSATA - six of one and half a dozen of the other - about the same. For me to use USB 3 I have to get a new machine/mobo. Not ready yet.

eSATA does require a different cable than SATA. The eSATA connector has side clips - spring loaded.

 

[b4u]

I had a mobo that came with the rear panel slots as you described. Though I had it set to IDE then later changed to AHCI I do not think it matters what setting though when I changed to AHCI it wouldn't auto recogonize when I turned it on. You will probably need to get a different cable esata to esata connection.

OP why not wait till usb 3.0 comes out? I dont know the exact speed but it is supposed to be faster than esata.

I currently have a disk enclosure with USB2 and eSata connectors ... I'm getting a mobo with eSata port, and I'm interested in start using the eSata for the extra bandwidth.

The board will also feature USB3.0, but have no peripheral yet.

I have two eSATA external devices. One connects to a combo eSATA/USB port on my Lenoto T510 laptop. It is totally hot pluggable (actually power on/off - I leave it plugged in.) No AHCI used at all.



My other is a Vantec eSATA external connected to a XP machine with a SATA PCI RAID card that has an eSATA port on the backplane. Also hotpluggable (power on/off) any time with never a problem in 2+ years - no AHCI there either.

As for USB 3 and eSATA - six of one and half a dozen of the other - about the same. For me to use USB 3 I have to get a new machine/mobo. Not ready yet.

eSATA does require a different cable than SATA. The eSATA connector has side clips - spring loaded.

Ok, so a different cable externally to connect the storage peripheral, but on the inside, it's still a regular SATA cable, right? I can get as many eSata ports as I want, as long as I have internal SATA connectors, and some external eSata format connectors, right?

Not that I'll do it, but just to get knowledge ... can I activate RAID with external eSata connected disks? Assuming I'm internally connecting to SATA ports of a controller that RAIDs the thing, that is



Thanks

 

[tweakboy]

Using a eSATA external drive. Your internal SATA ports will be for internal drives.

eSATA is much much much faster then USB or Firewire external drive. Its same speed as your internal hard drive. You dont have to do anything special it should work off the bat, however you might have to go to computer management in disk management and format the drive partition it. gl

 

[corkyg]

An eSATA device connected to an internal SATA port will be seen as an internal SATA device.

 

[Old Hippie]

Ok, so a different cable externally to connect the storage peripheral, but on the inside, it's still a regular SATA cable

Yes but many newer MBs have an extra controller exclusively for eSATA ports and have no internal ports for those controllers.

I can get as many eSata ports as I want, as long as I have internal SATA connectors, and some external eSata format connectors,

Yes.

I've seen backplates that turn internal SATA to eSATA and I've used a SATA to eSATA conversion cable going directly form an internal SATA port to an external eSATA drive case.