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    NP9170/P170EM: Missing/Hidden SATA Port?

    Discussion in 'Sager and Clevo' started by PopeJamal, Jul 13, 2012.

  1. PopeJamal

    PopeJamal Notebook Consultant

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    If you take a look at this review on notebookcheck, near the "Performance" section of the review, there's a picture that has the caption:
    [​IMG]
    "A SATA slot is placed under the optical drive."

    What does that mean? Is that accurate? Is there a SATA slot hidden under the optical drive?

    Also, if you look here at the XoticPC Video Review, the BIOS screen clearly shows 5 SATA ports:

    SATA 0 - Not Present
    SATA 1 - Intel SSD 120GB
    SATA 2 - DVD
    SATA 3 - Not Present
    SATA 4 - INTEL SSD 80GB

    (BIOS Revision: 1.00.03cLS2)

    Am I missing something? I thought there were only 4 sata ports:
    -msata (SATA2)
    -Optical (SATA2)
    -Primary (SATA3)
    -Secondary (SATA3)

    Where is this mystery SATA port? What is it used for? Any ideas?
     
    PopeJamal, Jul 13, 2012
    #1
  2. Heihachi_1337

    Heihachi_1337 Notebook Deity

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    This is a known slot for installing a 2.5-inch SATA drive in the bay. Nothing really new here. In total, there should be 4 bays on the NP9170EM for drives.
    1) mSATA socket
    2) primary drive bay, located in its own panel.
    3) secondary bay, located "under" the optical bay
    4) optical drive bay (can also be used with a caddy for additional hard drive).

    The only other SATA port will be the combo eSATA/USB 3.0 port on the laptop, which may be counted in the BIOS to make 5 total.
     
    Heihachi_1337, Jul 13, 2012
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  3. PopeJamal

    PopeJamal Notebook Consultant

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    OK, that makes sense. I completely forgot about the eSATA/USB3 port.

    Mystery solved. Thanks!
     
    PopeJamal, Jul 13, 2012
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  4. areyoutalkingtome

    areyoutalkingtome Notebook Enthusiast

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    SATA Port 0 is actually the bay under the optical drive. Wouldn't that make it the primary bay?
     
    areyoutalkingtome, Oct 29, 2012
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  5. jaug1337

    jaug1337 de_dust2

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    Nah, the BIOS order makes no sense on laptops.. :p
     
    jaug1337, Oct 30, 2012
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