The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    SXPS 16 and ESATA?

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by Bowlerguy92, Dec 27, 2009.

  1. Bowlerguy92

    Bowlerguy92 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    50
    Messages:
    788
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I just realized that the port on the right side of this laptop that I typically use as USB also doubles as an ESATA port. I have a 1TB external that supports eSATA but didn't come with a cable *sigh*. Can a normal 5400 RPM 2.5" laptop HDD even reach speeds that make it worthwhile to use eSATA instead of USB? Or am I just better off using the drive over USB and living with the slow speeds?
     
    Bowlerguy92, Dec 27, 2009
    #1
  2. drteflon

    drteflon Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Definitely faster with eSATA instead of USB. The port is a power over esata port so you can buy the delock caddy or you can simply buy the power over esata cable (cheaper option). Nando has a post about it on these forums. I bought the delock option from amazon.uk (imported to Australia).
     
    drteflon, Dec 27, 2009
    #2
  3. Bowlerguy92

    Bowlerguy92 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    50
    Messages:
    788
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Right on, I'll just go grab a cable then, any eSATA cable will do correct? I can't believe that I only now realized that I have an eSATA port.....
     
    Bowlerguy92, Dec 27, 2009
    #3
  4. drteflon

    drteflon Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    2
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    drteflon, Dec 28, 2009
    #4
  5. David

    David NBR Random Reviewer NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    7,515
    Messages:
    8,733
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    206
    The 2.5" 5400RPM hard drive will limit the eSATA speed but will still be faster than a USB 2.0. Despite the raw data rate of 60MB/s for USB 2.0 and 300MB/s for eSATA, their effective rates will be much lower and also be relative to your hard drive's rotational speed and platter density.
     
    David, Dec 28, 2009
    #5
  6. Bowlerguy92

    Bowlerguy92 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    50
    Messages:
    788
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Thanks guys! Went to BestBuy a picked one up a 6' eSATA cable for about $15, I don't in this case need the power over cable because I'm using it with an external HDD that has it's own power supply. Transfers are very fast!
     
    Bowlerguy92, Dec 28, 2009
    #6