Confused with sata cables: eSATA, SATA "I" and SATA "L". Which one?

Hello,

I want a SATA connection between my SATA HDD (external enclosure with eSATA output) and my laptop (via SATA II ExpressCard I am buying).

I also want to buy a 6ft eSATA to eSATA cable to be able to place the HDD away from the Laptop (ExpressCard).
Problem is that I am not sure about the cable I need.

I believe this one will work (cable 1 below), but better sure than sorry. It says "eSATA to SATA "I", designed to connect eSATA external drives / enclosures to SATA I enabled systems or vice-versa. Works with SIIG eSATA products". The latter is the ExpressCard I am buying.

I am also looking (cable 2 below) at this "eSATA to SATA cable" if I do not find the right eSATA to eSATA cable. This cable says "eSata to Serial ATA (SATA) 7 Pin Cable, one end with SATA2(eSATA) “I” type receptacle and one end with SATA “L” type receptacle for SATA II 3Gbps transfer rate ". The idea would be to use it with a "standard" SATA cable/extension.
By the way: are there SATA cables extensions? I have not seen any....

There are three different connectors, eSATA, and SATA type "I" and "L". Please help me understand uses of these to find the one I need.

Thanks

Links:
ExpressCard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16839150001

Cable 1: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16812191019

Cable 2: http://www.kinamax.com/product/Item/CB-ESLT.htm

 

I cant look at the links since newegg is having some kind of problem but maybe i can clear things up a bit.

The Sata I (I type) cable is for eSATA to eSATA connection and sometimes just called eSATA port or cable. I am pretty sure that is what you need on both sides. There should be one that comes with the eSATA enclosure but a short one. If you look at the port on the enclosure you will see that the inside looks like a I shape. The cable just looks like a line.

The Sata L (L type) cable is what you use for internal mainboards on desktops. If you look at it it looks like an L. I dont think you can use this unless the eSATA express card has this kind of slot. You can connect a eSATA enclsure directly to the mainboard with one of these.

 

Thanks wave.

Only two connector types....simpler than I thought!

 

Wave, I still have a doubt. SIIG has two type of cables: eSATA to SATA "I", and eSATA to eSATA. This makes me think that eSATA and SATA "I" are not the same. This may be a case of "marketing strategy" - different name for same product - but I need to be sure before buying. Appreciate your comments.

eSATA to SATA "I":
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812191019

eSATA to eSATA:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812191016

 

This completely explains it :
http://www.sata-io.org/documents/HowtoselecttherighteSATAconnectorandcabler11-fc2.pdf

 

You need an eSATA to eSATA cable. I am not 100% sure about this I thing since it is not really on official name. The eSATA connector looks like an I but there is also SATA I which is SATA 1 the older standard (SATA II and so on are the newer ones).

In this link they have big pictuers and they use the "Type I" as the name for eSATA. I am pretty sure both the cables you listed would work.

 

SATA II does not mean SATA 2 it means SATA I.I. (they are initials) Go here for more info :
http://www.sata-io.org/