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Situation: My d: drive is where I store my MS OUtlook files, database files, programming code work (so all my data basically), my c:/ drive has the OS.
I want to have my d: portable, more specifically, so I don't leave it at my office for security reasons.
What do you guys recommend?
1. I need something fast since my outlook files, databases are all on this drive.
Should I get a Vantec 200ST/300ST swappable or just buy a eSata external drive?
eSata external is slower no?
eSata external is slower no?
No, eSATA is not slower than internal SATA.
Interface speed is identical.
Interface specifications (e.g. physical connector and cabling) is different, and the electrical specifications (voltage levels) are tweaked somewhat.
[en.wikipedia.org...]
In either case, the transfer rate is way higher than any currently-produced hard drive can use. Sustained transfer rate will be determined by the specific hard drive used.
Note that eSATA is not the same as an external USB drive. It's simply a way to conveniently extend SATA cables outside of a PC.
Ok now i'm confused.
First off, where is a regular internal HD plugged into in a motherboard? What is the transfer rate?
So eSata is JUST as fast? It just has another 'slot' on the motherboard that extends to the outside of the PC?
(I have a motherboard that supports eSata btw hehe)
[edited by: AffiliateDreamer at 9:53 pm (utc) on Nov. 2, 2007]
How can I change the drive letter assigned to the current d: drive to e: and ensure my eSATA drive is the d: drive?
First off, where is a regular internal HD plugged into in a motherboard? What is the transfer rate?
Depends on what you mean by a "regular internal HD". Assuming you mean SATA, it plugs into one of the SATA connectors on your motherboard. The transfer rate is either 1.5 or 3.0 Gbit/sec, depending on the version of SATA supported by your motherboard.
So eSata is JUST as fast? It just has another 'slot' on the motherboard that extends to the outside of the PC?
Correct. At *least* as fast. eSata is specified at 3.0 Gbit/sec. It's backward compatible so that you can use older 1.5 Gbit/sec drives.
There aren't any drives currently produced that can saturate even a 1.5 Gbit/sec SATA interface, so the whole interface speed issue is moot in any case.
eSATA is just a different "form factor" for the connector and cable. It uses a cable and connector that are more suitable for external connections than the internal SATA connectors and cables.
There are some electrical differences in the specification that, for practical purposes, can be ignored by mere end users.
The Wikipedia article gives a lot of details - probably a lot more than you want or need.
It's nice that your motherboard has an eSATA connector, but you don't need one. You can use a simple bracket adapter that plugs into your motherboard, and has an eSATA connector on the bracket, so it's possible with an older motherboard.
Ok say I get a eSATA drive, and copy all my data from my d: drive to the eSATA drive.How can I change the drive letter assigned to the current d: drive to e: and ensure my eSATA drive is the d: drive?
Ah. Mr. Gates always has to make things too complicated...
I'm glad you used the D: drive as an example, not the C: drive. Things get more dicey if it's your system drive.
You can easily swap drive letters using "Disk Management". Look in your control panel under Computer Mangement. Open up that icon, then select "Disk management" under "Storage". Click on a volume, and select "Change Drive Letters and Paths".
I'll let somebody else address fiddling with a system drive, if need be. First, you have to manage to get a coherent, uncorrupted copy of the drive, which is no easy feat. (I do it by running a backup program in DOS or Linux, with Windows not running...) Then you have to convince Windows that the copy is really the same drive as the original. Not fun.
