What do I need for eSATA?

[Sniper82]

I have a Nexstar 3 eSATA enclosure and have ordered a 640gb WD. I currently have a 400gb which is gonna be going in the enclosure for backup of important files only that I can't get back in case of HDD failure. What I need to know is when is it safe to add/remove the enclosure? Do I just run the brack to my onboard SATA or do I need a certain SATA card?

 

[taltamir]

eSATA is a differently shaped SATA plug.
All SATA ports will work as eSATA with an adapter. just plug it in. it will register as an internal drive, that happens to be on the outside of your computer.

to have it hot plugable you need to enable AHCI in the bios (and have it be supported... also you will need to reinstall your OS if you change between AHCI and IDE modes.

 

[Sniper82]

Originally posted by: taltamir
eSATA is a differently shaped SATA plug.
All SATA ports will work as eSATA with an adapter. just plug it in. it will register as an internal drive, that happens to be on the outside of your computer.

to have it hot plugable you need to enable AHCI in the bios (and have it be supported... also you will need to reinstall your OS if you change between AHCI and IDE modes.

I see what your saying now, I remember seeing SATA modes in my bios now and it was set to IDE. I will be redoing windows when my 640gb comes in, so do I just set it to AHCI and then redo windows? Then I will be able to plug/unplug it with the system on? When I want to unhook it just go to safely remove in windows?

 

[taltamir]

yes and yes, but only if the individual drive supports it. the hot plugability is optional both for the drives and for the mobo...
however, if you have AHCI then the mobo supports it. And I have read that generally speaking all drives do as well. So it should work.

 

[Old Hippie]

I've been playing with eSATA since the get-go.

Adaptors, internal SATA ports, eSATA ports, different chipsets and MBs.

Coupla observations.....

1) Sometimes AHCI is a PIA and you're better off without it
2) IMHO, the best way to implement eSATA hotswap is to buy a MB that has it integrated or an eSATA PCI(e) card.

Good Luck!

 

[perdomot]

I'm using the freeware called Hotswap because once you install Windows, you can't just change it in the bios to AHCI. There is a driver that is needed during install in order to make AHCI work.

 

[mooseracing]

Originally posted by: taltamir


to have it hot plugable you need to enable AHCI in the bios (and have it be supported...

HotSwap!.exe....great program and fixes that issue. I use it with an E-sata card.