9NPA+ Ultra and eSATA

[ansible]

I'm currently investigating using an eSATA drive with this mobo, but reading the eSATA white paper there appears to be additional requirements to get eSATA working (it's part of the SATA 2 spec, but doesn't have to be implemented to get SATA 2 certification etc, and NVida don't appear to use SATA 2 specifically when referring to NF4).

So, my question is, has anyone used an eSATA bracket connected to one of the NF4 Ultra's internal SATA ports working with this mobo, and if so which external enclosure are you using?

TIA,

Dave

[wild_andy_c]

You can't do that I'm afriad due to lack of AHCI compliance in any NVidia chipsets.

If however you had a mainboard with say a JMB363 on it (like the MF570 SLI I used to have before going essentially Conroe), you'd be laughing.

[ansible]

Why do you need AHCI to get eSATA to work?

David

[Áedán]

Hot plug support and cold device detection perhaps?

[ansible]

I thought NForce 4 supported hot swapping? I certainly get an entry in "Safely Remove Hardware" for my two WD HDDs.

D

[wild_andy_c]

Have you been brave enough to try hot swaps on NV platform ?

[ansible]

Brave? Me, can be, but no haven't had the occasion to try this (as both disks are internal). Have read a review however of an Addonics CF to SATA adapter and that specifically mentioned hot swap support on NF4...

I take it then that that is the problem?

David

[Áedán]

Originally Posted by ansible

I thought NForce 4 supported hot swapping? I certainly get an entry in "Safely Remove Hardware" for my two WD HDDs.

That's warm swap, not hot swap. Warm swap is where you manually notify the OS that the hard disk is going to be removed. Hot swap is where you do not need to notify the OS at all.

Hot swap and cold device detection are both automatic functions. Cold device detection basically means that the OS will notice when a device is added, and then mount it correctly.

The best way to illustrate hot swap and cold device detection is how USB FLASH drives work. You plug them in, and they just appear - that's the cold device detection. The hot swap is where you can just pull them out when you're done - no need to notify the OS that the drive is going away.

[ansible]

Yeah, sorry realised that after had I posted my reply...

David

[Áedán]

Whilst you could certainly remove the device, I have no idea what would happen if you chose to add a device. It might be an interesting experiment to attempt, if you have a disk without important information on it.

[ansible]

OK, so I've checked the 9NPA+ SLi (sic) manual, and that particular board comes with the Sil 3132 controller for an additional 2 SATA ports.

The manual mentions E-SATA but only on these two ports, so looks like E-SATA on the 9NPA+ Ultra is definitely a dead end.

Shame, but never mind... just got to track down a suitable card now I suppose if I want to pursue this...

David

[ansible]

Just a final update to this from me (hence new msg). Managed to pick up a JMicron JM360 single port eSATA controller card for just over four quid (so not much more than the adapter bracket!). Same as the card found here:

http://www.monoprice.com/products/pr...t=1#largeimage

Just gotta get my eSATA enclosure now and then away I go...

(Next decision is do I go pure SATA or for a PATA/SATA combo.)

Anyway, thx for the help with this one...

David