Don't know whether it would be worth it to you, but the Inspiron E1505 has an ExpressCard slot, so you could purchase an ExpressCard with Firewire ports.
Remember to make sure you have the correct cable AND that the drive is externally powered (the firewire port in the Express Card socket will not power an external drive).
But II received this from PCHardware Forum in Compuserve which another forum I went to learn: "... if you are going to have to buy a ExpressCard card, get a eSATA 300 card, it will be heads and shoulders FASTER than FireWire400 or even FireWire800. Only thing that is anywhere close to eSATA is USB3 - and they are currently just starting to be seen in the wild." So it could be a matter of cost vs. speed?
I don't think so. The point of the Compuserve post was to highlight the fact I would be better off using a SATA type connection would be faster then a Firewire type!
That is correct, IF you're buying new drives. You've already stated you have two drives - with USB and Firewire connections. If you want them to be eSATA, you will need to replace the cases they're in (before doing so, verify that they're in fact SATA drives inside - they may be EIDE in which case you'll need new drives altogether).
Oops, my mistake!! Too many forums have caused me to fail to keep track what I posted in which forum!! In this case I simply forgot too post that both of my Ext.HDDs also have an eSATA port in addition to the USB mini and Firewire 400 ports. So very sorry about the screw up! But I will start with the eSATA approach first because it's that fastest, then price the Firewire next and see which makes more sense in $$ / speed. Does that make sense to you?
Also am I right in assuming that there are different "sizes" of express cards and I should check which "size" my unit supports?
ejn63
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August 4th, 2010 04:00
There is no way, short of removing the drive inside the case and mounting it in a new USB 2.0 case.
ieee488
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August 4th, 2010 06:00
Don't know whether it would be worth it to you, but the Inspiron E1505 has an ExpressCard slot, so you could purchase an ExpressCard with Firewire ports.
ejn63
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87.5K Posts
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August 4th, 2010 09:00
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16839328038&cm_re=expresscard_firewire-_-39-328-038-_-Product
Remember to make sure you have the correct cable AND that the drive is externally powered (the firewire port in the Express Card socket will not power an external drive).
jrszabo
2 Intern
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183 Posts
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August 4th, 2010 09:00
I don't much about the Express Card (slot) in my E1505, but where would I find such a card?
jrszabo
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August 4th, 2010 17:00
Will this express card / Firewire combo support two Ext.HDDs. [All three on my ext. HDDs are self powered]
ejn63
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87.5K Posts
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August 4th, 2010 18:00
Yes, it will.
jrszabo
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183 Posts
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August 5th, 2010 00:00
But II received this from PCHardware Forum in Compuserve which another forum I went to learn: "... if you are going to have to buy a ExpressCard card, get a eSATA 300 card, it will be heads and shoulders FASTER than FireWire400 or even FireWire800. Only thing that is anywhere close to eSATA is USB3 - and they are currently just starting to be seen in the wild." So it could be a matter of cost vs. speed?
ejn63
9 Legend
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87.5K Posts
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August 5th, 2010 04:00
However, that will require that you replace the external drives -- at least the cases for them - with ESATA or USB 3 ones.
jrszabo
2 Intern
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183 Posts
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August 5th, 2010 08:00
I don't think so. The point of the Compuserve post was to highlight the fact I would be better off using a SATA type connection would be faster then a Firewire type!
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
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August 5th, 2010 09:00
That is correct, IF you're buying new drives. You've already stated you have two drives - with USB and Firewire connections. If you want them to be eSATA, you will need to replace the cases they're in (before doing so, verify that they're in fact SATA drives inside - they may be EIDE in which case you'll need new drives altogether).
jrszabo
2 Intern
•
183 Posts
0
August 5th, 2010 10:00
Oops, my mistake!! Too many forums have caused me to fail to keep track what I posted in which forum!! In this case I simply forgot too post that both of my Ext.HDDs also have an eSATA port in addition to the USB mini and Firewire 400 ports. So very sorry about the screw up! But I will start with the eSATA approach first because it's that fastest, then price the Firewire next and see which makes more sense in $$ / speed. Does that make sense to you?
Also am I right in assuming that there are different "sizes" of express cards and I should check which "size" my unit supports?
Thanks for your patience !