esata ports

[kanga96]

Hi,

I have a rampage III BE mobo, it has 2 esata ports. can i connect a normal sata drive to these?


Please let me know....



Thanks

[prudhomb]

I dont think its an issue, I believe the esata ports allow hot swapping of external sata devices, while the normal satas ports do not (not 100% sure on this though). but just plugging an internal drive into that port should not be an issue.

are you out of regular sata ports or something??

[PommieB]

Different type of connector, if you are going to it externally you'll need the correct cable, you can't connect a sata drive directly to a eSata cable, the eSata cable connects to a external enclosure which the sata drive fits in or a docking station.

What exactly are you trying to do ?

[prudhomb]

I think he is talking about the internal header. I have two of them on my mobo labled esata for connecting to the esata ports on the case.

Additional Comment:

I just checked my manual, they are labled sata e not e sata, they are sata 3 ports.

[SAV602]

Originally Posted by kanga96

Hi,

I have a rampage III BE mobo, it has 2 esata ports. can i connect a normal sata drive to these?


Please let me know....



Thanks

Yes with the correct cable.

[PommieB]

I assumed that to be the case, he did particularly say eSata, notice I did say externally. The cables are different for internal and external. I believe you can hot swap all drives with the exception of the OS and any drive with the boot partition on it if the motherboards set to AHCI mode. Sorry mate no offence meant Prudhomb just lack of info from the OP.

I gave that answer as some people have attempted to use standard sata leads in the eSata slot and visa-versa, actually damaging the connectors.

Some motherboards had eSata pass through connectors which meant you had to connect standard sata cables from standard sata connections to eSata internal connectors. Maybe the guy is mixing the Sata e with eSata.

[kanga96]

Basically, i've run out of ports internally, and have 2x1tb hard drives on an external dock station.

I wanted to place theses drives internally and was wondering if i can use the esata ports on the board.

[prudhomb]

Probably the best thing to get is a pcie sata card with extra internal headers on it. they are $15-20 bucks.

[kanga96]

Again, all my pci slots are fully taken.

Have 2xgtx570 (takes 3 slots each) and the thunderbolt card, so all the bases are loaded.

[prudhomb]

oh. you must have allot of ****.

I guess you'd have to get a sata to e sata adapter cable, run it to the outside and plug in in the back of the mobo. I guess you would power it with your psu.

Additional Comment:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812270167

Pros: Works

Cons: None

Other Thoughts: Used to connect internal drive to external SATA port. Mobo did not have enough internal SATA ports. Works just fine in this config.]