External SATA enclosures?

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Al Dykes - 25 Aug 2007 01:37 GMT

How do external SATA enclosures get the power and data out the rear of the PC?

Do they have short pigtail cables or to they have connectors on the bracket?

GOt a brand recommendation?

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Rod Speed - 25 Aug 2007 03:23 GMT

> How do external SATA enclosures get the power and data out the rear of the PC?

There's a separate power lead, one of the real downsides with eSATA.

> Do they have short pigtail cables

Not clear what you mean by that. If you mean a captive cable, no.

> or to they have connectors on the bracket?

Yep.

> GOt a brand recommendation?

Nope.

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Timothy Daniels - 25 Aug 2007 03:30 GMT

> How do external SATA enclosures get the power and data
> out the rear of the PC?
[quoted text clipped - 3 lines]
>
> GOt a brand recommendation?

The enclosure have their own power supply "wall wart" and cooling fan.
I've had good luck with Kingwin for its mobile racks (i.e. removable drive
assemblies), and I presume that the same quality extends to their SATA
enclosures: http://kingwin.com/product_pages/ss350sbk.asp .
For external SATA, though, I'd prefer to use the enclosure made for
eSATA: http://kingwin.com/product_pages/jt35ebk.asp .
There are adapters available for the rear expansion slots to convert
between SATA and eSATA connectors:
http://www.firewire-1394.com/external-sata-solutions.htm .
There are also SATA controller cards with eSATA connectors:
http://siig.com/ViewProduct.aspx?pn=SC-SAE412-S2
http://www.promise.com/product/product_detail_eng.asp?product_id=168
For eSATA cables in various lengths, these are some sources:
http://www.firewire-1394.com/sata-cables-shielded.htm
http://www.svc.com/esata-cable.html

eSATA is virtually SATA with a shielded cable and connector
and double the length that SATA allows:
http://www.sata-io.org/docs/External%20SATA%20WP%2011-09.pdf

*TimDaniels*

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Folkert Rienstra - 25 Aug 2007 07:21 GMT

> > How do external SATA enclosures get the power and data
> > out the rear of the PC?
[quoted text clipped - 19 lines]
> http://www.firewire-1394.com/sata-cables-shielded.htm
> http://www.svc.com/esata-cable.html

> eSATA is virtually SATA with a shielded cable and connector
> and double the length that SATA allows:
> http://www.sata-io.org/docs/External%20SATA%20WP%2011-09.pdf

Which calls you a liar vis ELECTRICAL SIGNALING REQUIREMENTS

> *TimDaniels*

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Timothy Daniels - 25 Aug 2007 18:49 GMT

> eSATA is virtually SATA with a shielded cable and connector
> and double the length that SATA allows:
> http://www.sata-io.org/docs/External%20SATA%20WP%2011-09.pdf
>
> *TimDaniels*

The eSATA document states:

"With the 2-meter cable, in order to account for any additional losses
over the cable, the minimum voltage transmitted is raised from 400 to
500 mV, and the minimum receiver sensitivity is further decreased to
240 mV. These changes accommodate any additional degradation
within the longer cable or additional connectors in the signal path."

In other words, for cable lengths shorter than 1 meter (i.e. 39"),
and good connectors, a SATA controller should suffice for eSATA,
but just not guaranteed.

*TimDaniels*

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Arno Wagner - 25 Aug 2007 14:23 GMT

> How do external SATA enclosures get the power and data out the rear
> of the PC?

Data: eSATA connector. Can be on slot-cover or in the I/O field for
some newer mainboards.

Power: Either similar to data or has its own power-brick.

> Do they have short pigtail cables or to they have connectors on the bracket?

> GOt a brand recommendation?

I still recomend the enclosure/disk combo one I reviewed here
some time ago:

http://tinyurl.com/2grhrt

Arno

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