esata port on a notebook

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AncestralGeek

91 posts

Master Geek

Topic # 30251 2-Feb-2009 20:14

On a notebook is a esata port the eqivilient of a 2nd sata connection to the motherboard so that if I connected an external drive, with a esata connection, I could expect the same performance as if the notebook had two drives. Maybe even better as I have a 7200 rpm drive in the exteranal enclosure.

Have posted this in this forum as the notebook I am looking at mentions that the esata port is combined with the 4th USB port which has confused me.

pistolpower

139 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 194584 7-Feb-2009 09:40

The esata port is faster than usb ports. It is just a special version of a sata connection desighnes specifically to go on the outside of the case.

The Esata interface has a maximum speed of 3000Mbps where USB2.0 has a maximum of 480Mbps

AncestralGeek

91 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 195403 11-Feb-2009 21:20

pistolpower: The esata port is faster than usb ports. It is just a special version of a sata connection desighnes specifically to go on the outside of the case.

The Esata interface has a maximum speed of 3000Mbps where USB2.0 has a maximum of 480Mbps

Thank you for your reply pistolpower.

My confusion arises from the fact that the specs for the notebook that I am looking at quote that the esata port is coupled with the 4th USB port.

Now if this means that if you have a device connected via a esata port then there is only 3 USB ports available I can live with that. However if it means that the esata connection is dumbdowned from 3,000mbs to 480mbs then I am going tp feel very ripped of.

Suspect I am going to have to find someone with a notebook that has a esata port and connect it to my extrnal drive.

Cheers