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Home: Video University Forums: Wedding & Event Videography:
SATA help

Mark Von Lanken
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Feb 23, 2008, 1:47 PM

Post #1 of 17 (526 views)
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SATA help	Can't Post

I just got a Dell Vostro 400. It has two internal SATA drives, but i want to add a couple of eSATA drives. I have seen several SATA cards online. What should I look for in a SATA/eSATA card and do you have any recommendations on any particular card? Thanks for you input.

All My Best,
Mark Von Lanken
www.VonWeddingFilms.com

brucecleveland
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Feb 23, 2008, 4:08 PM

Post #2 of 17 (492 views)
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Re: [Mark Von Lanken] SATA help [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hey Mark

I have just ordered one of the external Sata drive enclosures. 5 hard drives can be installed. There are a couple of ways to do it. The way we are doing it is in the box is a sata multiplier. The drives in the enclosure each plug into the multiplier and then there is only one cable going from the computer to the enclosure. The other way to do it is to get a pci card that has multiple sata plugs in it and then you can run cables from that card to the individual drives. Not sure if this is what you are looking for.

Bruce
"Always over my head, but not quite deep enough to drown."

Mark Von Lanken
Veteran

Feb 23, 2008, 4:52 PM

Post #3 of 17 (484 views)
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Re: [brucecleveland] SATA help [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Bruce,

I have eSATA enclosures that I really like. I'm looking for recommendations on a pci card that has the multiple eSATA plugs on it. Thanks.

All My Best,
Mark Von Lanken
www.VonWeddingFilms.com

TheReal-C-Mac
User

Feb 23, 2008, 8:14 PM

Post #4 of 17 (445 views)
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Re: [Mark Von Lanken] SATA help [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hey Mark,

I've been using products from firmtek for years on my macs, they have been fantastic. I had some issues with the sonnet eSata on cards at one point, thought it was the card, sent it back for a replacement, same deal, dropping drives was the issue. A friend has similar issues with his highpoint, but for the most part it worked well for him. I actually like sonnet products and have had others, but the firmtek internal and external cards I have have been solid like a rock, knock on wood. :)

you may want to look into them...

http://www.firmtek.com/seritek/

regards,

chris

(This post was edited by TheReal-C-Mac on Feb 23, 2008, 10:04 PM)

gl
Veteran

Feb 23, 2008, 8:36 PM

Post #5 of 17 (440 views)
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Re: [Mark Von Lanken] SATA help [In reply to]	Can't Post

If you simply want to connect esata drives, you could do this one. If you want h/w raid then you would need a different solution.

-gl

�Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.� ~ Abraham Lincoln

(This post was edited by gl on Feb 24, 2008, 2:34 PM)

mr.ed
User

Feb 23, 2008, 9:11 PM

Post #6 of 17 (425 views)
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Re: [TheReal-C-Mac] SATA help [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Chris, I have been using the Firmtek system for about 2 years now and I can't say enough about it. It was one of the best things I've done.

TheReal-C-Mac
User

Feb 23, 2008, 10:05 PM

Post #7 of 17 (414 views)
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Re: [mr.ed] SATA help [In reply to]	Can't Post

In Reply To

Hi Chris, I have been using the Firmtek system for about 2 years now and I can't say enough about it. It was one of the best things I've done.

I agree they make excellent quality products.

Scott S
Veteran

Feb 24, 2008, 3:55 AM

Post #8 of 17 (385 views)
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Re: [Mark Von Lanken] SATA help [In reply to]	Can't Post

http://www.firmtek.com/seritek/

http://www.sonnettech.com/...solutions/index.html

These 2 manufacturers make reliable cards. I have extensive experience with both.

Cheers,
Scott

(This post was edited by Scott S on Feb 24, 2008, 3:51 PM)

Mark Von Lanken
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Feb 24, 2008, 12:51 PM

Post #9 of 17 (358 views)
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Re: [TheReal-C-Mac] SATA help [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Chris,

Thanks. I'll check it out.

All My Best,
Mark Von Lanken
www.VonWeddingFilms.com

Mark Von Lanken
Veteran

Feb 24, 2008, 12:53 PM

Post #10 of 17 (362 views)
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Re: [gl] SATA help [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi George,

The link didn't work. Can you try again?

All My Best,
Mark Von Lanken
www.VonWeddingFilms.com

Mark Von Lanken
Veteran

Feb 24, 2008, 12:56 PM

Post #11 of 17 (353 views)
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Re: [Scott S] SATA help [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Scott,

Your first link was what Chris recommended, thanks, but the second link didn't work.

All My Best,
Mark Von Lanken
www.VonWeddingFilms.com

gl
Veteran

Feb 24, 2008, 2:35 PM

Post #12 of 17 (338 views)
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Re: [Mark Von Lanken] SATA help [In reply to]	Can't Post

Sorry. Try this.

-gl

�Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing.� ~ Abraham Lincoln

Scott S
Veteran

Feb 24, 2008, 3:53 PM

Post #13 of 17 (329 views)
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Re: [Mark Von Lanken] SATA help [In reply to]	Can't Post

Should work now...don't know why it didn't...

The reason the sonnet is good is because Firmtek doesn't make a pci express 4 port card yet...

Cheers,
Scott

(This post was edited by Scott S on Feb 24, 2008, 9:51 PM)

fr0gm@n
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Feb 24, 2008, 8:59 PM

Post #14 of 17 (313 views)
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Re: [Mark Von Lanken] SATA help [In reply to]	Can't Post

Mark...don't know if I'm too late to jump in here but I have a different route to consider. If the Motherboard still has empty SATA connectors just get one of these.

http://www.cooldrives.com/essaii3gbexp.html

I got one and plugged it in to my SATA ports and it works great. It is basically a bracket with cables that plug into your onboard SATA connectors and converts them to eSATA on the back of your computer. You will just want to make sure you get the cables long enough to reach the SATA connectors on your motherboard. The first one I ordered I messed up and got one with cables too short. It works great and you computer will see the eSATA drives like regular hard drives.

The only downside is they are not hot swappable meaning if you need to start or stop a drive you need to power down the computer. My guess is eSATA cards have the same issue. The eSATA express card for my laptop allows hot swap but I haven't been able to get hot swap ability on a desktop.

Hope that helps as another alternative.

Why does a gorilla have big nostrils.......cause it has big fingers.

frog blog

Mark Von Lanken
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Feb 25, 2008, 12:02 AM

Post #15 of 17 (301 views)
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Re: [gl] SATA help [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks for the link George.

All My Best,
Mark Von Lanken
www.VonWeddingFilms.com

Mark Von Lanken
Veteran

Feb 25, 2008, 12:03 AM

Post #16 of 17 (300 views)
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Re: [Scott S] SATA help [In reply to]	Can't Post

Thanks for the info Scott.

All My Best,
Mark Von Lanken
www.VonWeddingFilms.com

Mark Von Lanken
Veteran

Feb 25, 2008, 12:14 AM

Post #17 of 17 (299 views)
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Re: [fr0gm@n] SATA help [In reply to]	Can't Post

Hi Philip,

Thanks for the idea, but it didn't work. I got a single slot version with a hard drive enclosure I got from them. It's a great enclosure with a huge fan and it even has a temperature readout. I have bought two of them so far.
http://www.cooldrives.com/colcal3saiih.html

I found the drive because it's the place you recommended for the express card to eSATA slot.
http://www.cooldrives.com/saii3graexca.html

I tried editing HD on my laptop with a standard USB drive with limited success. I bought the espress card to eSATA converter and the above enclosure from Cool Drives with a SATA hard drive and it worked great. Now I'm just getting the new little tower I bought from Dell up to HD speed and I'm all set. Thanks again for telling me about Cool Drives.

All My Best,
Mark Von Lanken
www.VonWeddingFilms.com