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Can I adapt my Intel motherboard for an eSATA hard drive?
I'm going to buy an external USB/eSATA hard drive and would love to make use of the faster eSATA transfer speed if possible. If it's even do-able on my old computer, I've read that I'd need to convert an internal SATA port to an external eSATA port via an eSATA cable and port. However, when it comes to motherboards I'm clueless. Based on my motherboard's configuration, do I have the necessary slot to begin to make this conversion? I do have an available PCI bracket slot on the back of my tower to accomodate an eSATA port.
Dell Dimension 4100
Windows XP Home SP3
Intel Pentium IIIE, 933 MHz
512 MB RAM
Motherboard: Intel Easton D815EEA (5 PCI, 1 AGP, 3 DIMM, Audio, Video)
Intel D815EEA board layout
shesagordie
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October 16th, 2008 18:00
The 4100 does not support SATA and the motherboard has no SATA ports.
Bev.
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shesagordie
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October 16th, 2008 18:00
You are welcome.
Bev.
===================================================
Please don't send me questions about your system by DCF Messenger.
Post the issue in the appropriate Board, where they will be answered.
caliman
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October 16th, 2008 18:00
mombodog
12.7K Posts
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October 16th, 2008 19:00
You can buy a PCI esata controller card to get the job done, although you will not get full esata transfer rate because of the PCI bus bandwidth limitation, but will still be much faster than USB.
Example:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816124003
be careful when choosing an eSata card, most of them are the new PCIe interface, the old PCI interface for what you want to do is limited in manufacture.
mombodog
12.7K Posts
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October 17th, 2008 01:00
You are welcome from all of us.
Welcome to DCF.
caliman
3 Posts
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October 17th, 2008 01:00
mombodog,
Thank You So Much. I had no idea there was even another option! I was all set to just use USB. Period.
This is the first time I've used any Dell forum and I gotta say, it is tremendous. Kudos all around.
Dave
5150Guy
446 Posts
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October 17th, 2008 16:00
Hello,
There is one other option, I use this one myself. It's an adapter to change IDE to SATA right at the drive. This is if you wish to convert an SATA drive to IDE motherboard INTERNALLY.
http://cgi.ebay.com/IDE-Motherboard-to-SATA-Harddisk-Converter-Adapter-New_W0QQitemZ260301793749QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item260301793749&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
If you are purchasing an EXTERNAL drive in an enclosure with an existing USB connection, then you do not need any adapters or connectors, it just plugs in your USB port, but you speeds will be slow, due to USB 1.0 on your system. In this case you would need a USB 2.0 PCI card to pick up the speeds.
http://cgi.ebay.com/VIA-USB-2-0-5-PORT-HUB-HIGH-SPEED-480MB-PCI-CARD-CARDS_W0QQitemZ260299644522QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item260299644522&_trkparms=72%3A1205%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12%7C240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
Hope that helps!
5150Guy