What is the differance between SATA and e-SATA?

[Diablo2K]

I use to think the e-SATA was differant in that it not only carried the SATA signals, but also power for the external device. However every External Enclosure I see has a e-SATA port as well as a external power brick. So what makes e-SATA special?

I am looking for an External Enclosure for my 500gig IDE hard drive that uses SATA or e-SATA. I found one however I am looking for more options. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817155218

 

[jags2ooo]

The current SATA specification can support data transfer rates as high as 3.0 Gbit/s per device. SATA uses only 4 signal lines; cables are more compact and cheaper than for PATA. SATA supports hot-swapping and NCQ. There is a special connector (eSATA) specified for external devices, and an optionally implemented provision for clips to hold internal connectors firmly in place. SATA drives may be plugged into Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) controllers and communicate on the same physical cable as native SAS disks, but SATA controllers cannot handle SAS disks.

 

[Old Hippie]

However every External Enclosure I see has a e-SATA port as well as a external power brick.

All 3.5" external drives require outboard power.

eSATA, and SATA data cables carry no power. They require seperate power connectors.

Because of the speed differences, very few IDE to eSATA enclosures are made. Most are SATA to eSATA and USB.

I don't have any personal experience with an IDE to eSATA enclosure, but a Google search finds a few.

There are a few cases that do both IDE & SATA internal connections.

That would be the best way to go.

Good Luck!

 

[Michael Daly]

The one thing left out so far - eSATA permits longer cables than SATA - but only slightly longer. The signals are slightly different to allow for that.

 

[jdraughn]

The current SATA specification can support data transfer rates as high as 3.0 Gbit/s per device. SATA uses only 4 signal lines; cables are more compact and cheaper than for PATA. SATA supports hot-swapping and NCQ. There is a special connector (eSATA) specified for external devices, and an optionally implemented provision for clips to hold internal connectors firmly in place. SATA drives may be plugged into Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) controllers and communicate on the same physical cable as native SAS disks, but SATA controllers cannot handle SAS disks.

Did you read his question? You gave him lots of answers, but not a single one answered his question.

 

[jdraughn]

I don't know of any 3.5" external enclosures that don't require an ac adapter.

I know newegg is selling a 2.5" 320gb external drive that has e-sata and USB. It has no place to plug in an ac adapter so I assume you can plug it into the e-sata port for the data transfer speeds, but also have to plug in the USB to power it.

With it being a 5400RPM noteobook drive however, I don't know if running it in e-sata mode would be any faster then just using the usb.