eSATA has same performance as an internal SATA?

[PingSpike]

I gather it does, since it seems to just be an extension of SATA cables outside of the case and then an external power supply for the drive. But I just want to make sure, as I'm thinking of making my primary drive external like this and don't want to lose any performance doing so.

 

[Terracode]

Yes... internal SATA has same performance as eSATA.

VasR

 

[Zepper]

Yes, should be nearly the same. There are two types: one is true eSATA which has different connectors with better shielding and has higher current line drivers to support longer cables, the other is external SATA (often mistakenly called eSATA too) which is basically just an extension cable for normal SATA so you have to watch your total cable lengths, etc. True eSATA has straight tongues inside the connectors while the other has the hook on the tongues. Both should give equal performance but true eSATA should be more reliable for the purpose.

.bh.

 

[corkyg]

Yes, and as you describe it, your external SATA drive will be seen as another internal drive by the system, and write caching will be enabled to optimize performance.

What Zepper describes re the connectors is exactly right. I have both types in play. The true eSATA device is a backup HDD that is not ON all the time, and is optimized for Quick Removal.

Some older external SATA cases can give you a lot of "Write Delay" errors if the internal to external cable is too long.