eSATA vs. SATA

[mattkime]

What is the difference between eSATA and SATA? I know they're protocol compatible but I can't tell if they're the same connector or not.

[M A V I C]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Esata

[mattkime]

>>[en.wikipedia.org]

been there, it doesn't address my question.

[Pat]

Protocol is the same. It's the connector that is different. eSATA means external SATA. As in a external enclosure instead of a FW or USB enclosure. No bridgeboard needed between protocols, so full transfer speeds.

http://www.sata-io.org/esata.asp
"Initially SATA was designed as an internal or inside-the-box interface technology, bringing improved performance and new features to internal PC or consumer storage. Creative designers quickly realized the innovative interface could reliably be expanded outside the PC, bringing the same performance and features to external storage needs instead of relying on USB or 1394 interfaces. Called external SATA or eSATA, customers can now utilize shielded cable lengths up to 2 meters outside the PC to take advantage of the benefits the SATA interface brings to storage. SATA is now out of the box as an external standard, with specifically defined cables, connectors, and signal requirements released as new standards in mid-2004. eSATA provides more performance than existing solutions and is hot pluggable."

[mattkime]

>>The external cable connector is a shielded version of the connector specificed in SATA 1.0a with these basic differences:

• The External connector has no “L” shaped key, and the guide features are vertically offset and reduced in size. This prevents the use of unshielded internal cables in external applications.

[M A V I C]

[quote mattkime]>>[en.wikipedia.org]

been there, it doesn't address my question.
Sure it does:
eSATA was standardized in mid-2004, with specifically defined cables, connectors...

And

Prior to the final eSATA specification, there were a number of products designed for external connections of SATA drives. Some of these use the internal SATA connector or even connectors designed for other interface specifications, such as FireWire. These products are not eSATA compliant.

[mattkime]

>>with specifically defined cables, connectors...

I was optimistic that they might have specifically defined them to be compatible. It seems that they have done just the opposite.

[M A V I C]

[quote mattkime]>>with specifically defined cables, connectors...

I was optimistic that they might have specifically defined them to be compatible. It seems that they have done just the opposite.
The second bit points out that eSATA devices prior to the 2004 spec may be compatible, but those after are not.

[sscutchen]

I have a FirmTEK PCI-X card that has 4 SATA ports. 2 internal, 2 outside. (SeriTek/1VE2+2) Uses standard SATA connections internal and external.

I've got 3 SATA additional drives in my G5 case. 2 are plugged into the 2 internal ports as designed. For the 3rd, I plugged a standard SATA cable into one of the external ports on the card, routed it back into the case and to the 3rd drive.

[modelamac]

I just got caught by this difference out of ignorance and failure to research.

Bought an external eSATA housing hoping to connect it to my internal G4 PCI SATA adapter.

The cables that came with the external housing will not connect to the PCI card, nor will a long internal SATA data cable connect to the external housing port.

Will call OWC tomorrow to find out what I can do to make the connection happen. I fear the worst.