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.

    Which SSD connection to use? eSATA? ExpressCard?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Vardiss, Jan 7, 2011.

  1. Vardiss

    Vardiss Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I've got an Asus G50Vt laptop and I want to add an external SSD.

    I have:
    an external eSATA port

    ExpressCard slot - 26 pin to support one Express Card/34mm or 54mm expansion card.

    and some USB 2 slots.

    Which one should I use to connect the SSD I'm going to buy?
    Presumably not USB.

    I may have to buy the SSD separately and install it in a case since I'm traveling so my choices are limited.
     
    Vardiss, Jan 7, 2011
    #1
  2. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

    Reputations:
    2,389
    Messages:
    10,552
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    456
    Why don't you install the SSD internally and remove the HDD to use as an external drive (unless you already have a SSD internally)? Why do you want an external SSD and for what purposes? Is your eSATA port powered? Is your USB 2.0?
     
    sgogeta4, Jan 7, 2011
    #2
  3. Judicator

    Judicator Judged and found wanting.

    Reputations:
    1,098
    Messages:
    2,594
    Likes Received:
    19
    Trophy Points:
    56
    eSATA is probably your best bet, as the only way to use the Expresscard would be to get an adapter for it to connect via USB (probably 3.0) or eSATA... which kind of negates the point. The G50VT is listed as having 2 (internal) hard drive bays, though... are both of your bays occupied?
     
    Judicator, Jan 7, 2011
    #3
  4. chimpanzee

    chimpanzee Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    683
    Messages:
    2,561
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Given that most of the high performance SSD shows a significant difference in using IDE vs AHCI driver, eSATA as suggested above is the best option if it must be external.

    As USB most likely cannot pass on NCQ which is the key enabling factor of SATA over IDE
     
    chimpanzee, Jan 7, 2011
    #4
  5. Vardiss

    Vardiss Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Thanks for the replies.

    The reason I'm going for an external SSD is because I have/need a big HD for most of my work. Speed is not an issue there.

    I only have one or two programs that require the faster read/write that an SSD will give.

    Once SSDs come down in price more I may consider going SSD all the way.

    I'll have to see if both HD bays are filled, though.
     
    Vardiss, Jan 7, 2011
    #5