I have a T400s which has an eSATA+USB combo port (eSATAp in short). So I have a number of eSATAp cables: eSATAp - eSATAp for a delock, eSATAp - micro SATA for the 1.8" disks out of the T400s, eSATAp - 22 pin SATA+power for normal HDDs.
Given that pile of cables, I was delighted to discover USB + eSATA to power over eSATA female this cheap cable. With this I can use the non-powered eSATA on the docking station or get an ExpressCard 34 with a flush eSATA connector and sip power out of an USB port using this cable and then I can connect any of the things listed above. If power is not enough from one USB port (which is superb unlikely after all the eSATAp port is a single USB port and as listed above, it can power everything), one can find USB Female to 2 USB A Male Power Y cables on eBay for like five bucks.
Edit: Another interesting cable is http://www.microsatacables.com/catalog/i21.html this one which is USB power + eSATA data to 22 pin SATA. I presume this is the most common usage of an eSATA port so I thought I will add it here. This is already Y-type for USB.
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Note that the first link is now pointing to a male cable, microsatacables still carries it though USB A Male and eSATA to Power over eSATA Cable Adapter
eSATA male + USB power to eSATAp female
Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by chx1975, Mar 29, 2011.