Which External HDD ?

[peterb]

No, you can only use the eSATA interface on the enclosure if it is fitted with a SATA drive (it bypasses the USB converter). If you use an IDE (or correctly, a parallel ATA drive) with the 40 pin connector, you can only use the USB interface. (and that is true for all enclosures)

[800XL]

soooo,,,,
1/ I have to go for a PATA drive (& use USB) ?
2/ A eSATA PCI card is no good for my purpose ?

XL

[peterb]

You could fit a SATA controller to the mobo as a PCI (or PCI-e) card and then use an eSATA drive, but that is adding to the cost of the set up.

[800XL]

Is my arithmetic about right:

(a) eSATA PCI Card £15 + HDD case £18 + HDD £45Total £78

against:
(b) USB Ext HDD £60/65 ?

Ultimately, would (a) be better on my machine ?
Would a PCI card eSATA give me the same speeds/rates as a direct fixed eSATA source ? (it would make no sense to do it this way round if it isn't ultimately better !)

Am I limited to HDD memory size on my machine ?

Looks like I'm ready to buy,,,,,,

[peterb]

If your mobo already has a SATA capability, you can gert a SATA to eSATA backplate for the PC - costs 2 or 3 pounds - if it hasn't, adding a PCI card is the only way to add eSATA capability. eSATA will be faster, although USB 2 isn't slow. You can use whatever drive you like from the point of internal (cache) memory as it is transparent to the computer operating system. In theory a larger cache should mean faster burst reading speeds, although most OS's delay writes anyway, so they are cached (transparently) in system RAM.

Cheapest solution will be drive, caddy and USB connection. If you bought a SATA drive and a caddy with USB/eSATA interfaces, you could add a PCI SATA card later if you felt that the USB interface (I assume the mobo is USB 2!) is too slow for your needs.

[800XL]

up to the other day, I assumed that all Externals were USB interfaced (& powered) so all this is news to me - hence so many questions.

I assume that my mobo (KT400) is only PATA enabled as both internal drives are PATA - thats why I wondered if a PCI carded eSATA would work at all. Can I tell if it has SATA capabilities ?

Whilst USB v2 might be fast enough for me today - (& as I say, I don't mind paying a little extra, to get a better deal & a bit future-proof) cos you never know what's around the corner !

How much difference will a eSATA set-up be over USB 2 ?

Bearing in mind it will be used for 'general' work,,,, not great big image files etc.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I need to get it sorted a,s,a,p as I also have to get a Modem & 3 button laser mouse.
Obviously will try to get everything from one place.

thanks for your time & help so far.

XL

[peterb]

USB 2 will be fine for what you are proposing, but futureproof yourself with an eSATA capable enclosure and a sata drive. You can get the PCI card later (yes it will work in a non-sata mobo) or if and when you upgrade and get a new mobo, you can use eSATA then. (or you could put your old ide/PATA drive in the enclosure - it would then only work via USB, but is a useful way of re-using amn old drive. keep the options open for greatest flexibility.

[800XL]

that's it then:

1 x Case with USB/eSATA interface
1 x SATA Drive

use via USB till I get a eSATA PCI Card,,, sounds like a plan.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
thanks for your patience,,,,

now,,, where's my cheque book,,,,,

XL

[peterb]

And I think you have enough posts to register for free p&P from Scan!

http://forums.hexus.net/scan-care-he...tup-guide.html

http://forums.hexus.net/scan-care-he...0-07-08-a.html

[800XL]

Hi Pete,
Had a re think about this kit.
I went to order it from Scan last week (plus modem, mouse etc) but we had words about Free Delivery. = I'm glad we did.

I think it makes more sense to put a newer / bigger (400/500g) HDD inside my machine (PATA) and maybe put my 120g pata C: drive as external, as 90% of my use would be internal use & 10% external [finance & personal records etc) at the moment.

I realise that i'll lose the eSATA speed,,,,,

Does this make sense to you ?

If so, do I need:
1 x external case (usb/pata) to put my existing/internal 120g seagate in.
1 x internal hdd (pata) to replace 120g the seagate.

Can my machine (kt400/km400 moby) take an Internal SATA at all ?

-----::-----

I also have the original 40g WD as a D: drive - which I am using just for my CD collection. I'm using it cos I have it & it's not worth selling,,,,,
I could do with taking everything off that (cept the music) but I don't know what it actually needs to keep running. Do you have time to help me with that also ?

cheers mate
XL