eSATA question

While this doesn't necessarily seem like an Asus-linked question, I'm going to ask here simply because I now have an Asus C90S.

I have the eSATA port on my new C90S, and I was wondering, because I need to transfer data from my old computer (ie music and whatnot), and I'm waaaay too lazy to use flash media/burn DVDs, is it possible to just simply hook up my old HDD to the eSATA port on my Asus, while providing power to it from my old computer's power source?

 

It is not so simple as you think.
eSATA form factor is not that as SATA so you need:
1. eSATA express card (if slot of your C90 is 2" wide - buy 54 mm card, it will not shift inside the port) -USD $40 approx.
2. you need enclosure with internal SATA for 2.5" HD and external eSATA - $30
enclosure as rule has external USB connection as second option and comes with all cables you need - eSATA cable included.

eSATA does not feed enclosure with power and eSATA cable is stiff to bend.
eSATA connects to MoBo via PCI express and is not bootable (on my F8Sn at least)

I've transfered more than 2Gb of different stuff (mp3's and JPEG's and some others) for about 50 sec using eSATA and 75 seconds via USB using same enclosure

 

But if the C90 already has the eSATA port, then you do not necessarily need to purchase item #1. You might need to enable it in BIOS, however, for it to be functional.

If your old hard drive is SATA just get an external eSATA enclosure, insert HDD and connect to C90. If old HDD is IDE/ATA, then you would need to purchase an express card adapter - if all you're ever going to do is this transfer, you're better off just purchasing an external IDE enclosure and using USB for the transfer as it's less expensive; but if you plan on using it again and need the speed the card purchase might be a worthwhile option.

 

Hmm. Well, my old HDD is SATA at least, so no worries there, and I've got the eSATA port on the C90S. Is there a functional eSATA<->SATA cable, or is an enclosure necessary?

 

You really have to use an SATA enclosure, no straightforward way to power up the drive otherwise. You could always plug it into a PS line from inside a desktop, I suppose, but that's kind of silly....

USB-only SATA enclosures are around $10 less expensive than combo ones, and Oldman is right that you only drop around 30% performance with that transport mode. Foolproof too, and not dependent on all kinds of other settings. eSATA's main benefit is for repeated-use, high volume transfers or file accessing - else, USB is perfectly adequate. I've got both that I use, personally, depending on what I'm doing.

 

Aye. Thanks for the help. I think I'ma pick up a USB SATA enclosure for this, seeing as I'm only doing it once.

 

You can buy eSATA to SATA adapter cable.
I bought one of these on eBay.
I used it on my Desktop PC to copy data from my ASUS notebook SATA drive using the eSata port on my home PC.

Of course you will need to provide power to the external drive as well.
My home PC motherboard (ASUS P5K-Premium) came with a back pannel adapter which allows me to provide SATA forum factor power to external SATA devices.

 

Esata works on the C90S out of the box no bios changes needed. You may need to install the drivers for it in XP but Vista has them already.

You can find cheap enclosures with Esata but the dirt cheap way is just like turbogear said, just an adapter cable for sata --> esata and your good to go.

Also you can always go the USB route its not as fast but its not dirt slow ether. I just did all my data xfer over my network only 2MB/s but I started a transfer for about 200gb of stuff. Went to dinner and to the store and when I got home it was done. No need to spend money or worry about moving/removing hardware.