eSATA

[echo75]

Does anyone have experience with eSATA drives (external SATA drives) usage?

i just bought an eSATA to eSATA cable today because my external harddisk has a place to plug it , same my i/o interface on the motherboard too. I assumed it will be faster than USB and bought the cord .

However i noticed when i plugged it in with the PC power on , it was not recorgnised immediately like USB does, i have to reboot with the external disk connected via eSATA before it appears :shadedshu .
I dared not unplug it with the PC on too when i finished so i shut down and unplugged it, i dont think it will be of much value to me if i have to shut down everytime i plug or unplug it :banghead: .

Will it damage anything if i pull out the eSATA jack while the PC is on? i will assume its just like a normal SATA drive just outside so i am afraid it may fry something.

Cant find much on google ,advice appreciated.

[Beertintedgoggles]

Do a google search on esata and hot swap. It seems as though it depends on the controller. My DFI nForce4 mobo allows hot swapping of the SATA hard drives. Also, my tower has an eSATA plug which I have connected to a standard SATA port on my MB (although I don't use it). I have confirmed on my system though that I can remove and add the HD's while it's on (not the OS drive obviously).

[tigger]

I just got a external caddy that takes a 2.5" sata hdd.It connects to my onboard sata when its in the pc and usb when portable.I had to change my hdd setup to ahci in the bios for it to hot swap,but it does hot swap.

Your hdd's need to be in ahci mode for it to hot swap,and you CAN remove a esata connector while the pc is on.

When i plug it in,it takes a couple of mins to appear on my computer,but i can live with that as its sooo much faster than usb usage.

This is the caddy i have http://www.microwarehouse.co.uk/catalogue/item/A0221341?cidp=Froogle

[echo75]

ok thanks .

[echo75]

I totally disagree with you, but whatever…it’s the way you think and everyone has their own way of going on in life.

which of the above do you disagree with and what is your own opinion? saying something itsnt correct without giving your reasons is actually not very educating is it?

Shere the knowledge mate.

[wiak]

you also have to install AHCI drivers (names AHCI RAID or just AHCI)
set bios to ACHI mode

then in AHCI mode you will have hot swap support and NCQ

eSATA is just like SATA but external, you will have the same speed as internal outside :)

you might get a BSOD so try this
http://www.msfn.org/board/How-to-enable-AHCI-on-Intel-ICH9-under-X-t109450.html