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    R580 & the eSata port

    Discussion in 'Samsung' started by Sammy225, Oct 11, 2010.

  1. Sammy225

    Sammy225 Notebook Geek

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    Anyone know if the port is self-powered or not?
     
    Sammy225, Oct 11, 2010
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  2. davidfor

    davidfor Notebook Consultant

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    No. As far as I understand it, no eSATA ports are self powered.
     
    davidfor, Oct 11, 2010
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  3. User Retired 2

    User Retired 2 Notebook Nobel Laureate NBR Reviewer

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    R580 review tells us it has a esata/usb combo port, so can use a esata/usb cable or enclosure, examples here.
     
    User Retired 2, Oct 11, 2010
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  4. Sammy225

    Sammy225 Notebook Geek

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    The Seagate portable GoFlex hard drives require a powered eSata port in order for it to work properly in eSata mode.

    I decided to scrape that notion and just go for a USB 2.0 solution. Sounds less messy for what I will be using it for.
     
    Sammy225, Oct 12, 2010
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  5. davidfor

    davidfor Notebook Consultant

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    That's new to me. I hadn't heard of powered eSATA ports before. I can't say I have seen mention of them on any laptop.
     
    davidfor, Oct 12, 2010
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  6. User Retired 2

    User Retired 2 Notebook Nobel Laureate NBR Reviewer

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    I mentioned it in my last post and linked it showing the 7 sata pins and 4 usb (power) pins provided in a esata/usb combo port, aka powered e-sata.
     
    User Retired 2, Oct 12, 2010
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  7. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    The Seagate Goflex uses the USB / eSATA combo port:
    So that component would work with a standard USB / eSATA combo port.

    There is also eSATAp, which means powered eSATA. At the desktop level this is capable of providing 12V while the above link implies that, in a notebook, it is functionally equivalent to (and may be the same as) the eSATA / USB combo port.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Oct 13, 2010
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  8. Sammy225

    Sammy225 Notebook Geek

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    Samsung's documentation says the port is a Common Port...no mention anywhere that it is powered. Perhaps moot point now since I got my USB 2.0 yesterday! :p And I love it! A Toshiba 750GB portable 2.5" drive! Really looks great, quiet, and runs fast...and no extra power!! :D
     
    Sammy225, Oct 13, 2010
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  9. John Ratsey

    John Ratsey Moderately inquisitive Super Moderator

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    eSATA comes into its own if you start using the external HDD as a data source. USB is OK for normal backups. They just take a little longer.

    John
     
    John Ratsey, Oct 13, 2010
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