help with sata ports

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drdenby

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Jan 21, 2014
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My motherboard has 4 sata data ports.

3 are labeled as sata
1 is labeled esata

They have identical connectors (that l-shape)

I have hooked up my sata opitcal drive to it with a regular sata data cable and it seems to be working fine.

Can using it this way harm anything?
also is there a way to create more data ports? can a data cable be split like a power cable can?
 
Solution
Malignant PC
eSATA vs SATA picture:

http://rukkrung.exteen.com/images/eSATA_TypA_lrg.jpg

If you are sure you have a regular SATA cable and drive plugged into eSATA, the reason it is working is because they have the same amount of pins and share the same SATA controller. The downside to this is that you are probably causing damage to the eSATA port. I would unplug your SATA cable from the eSATA port and use SATA instead. If you don't have an extra SATA port, get one of those add-on cards or adapters.
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Malignant PC

Malignant PC

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Mar 4, 2013
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The eSATA port has a different connector than a regular SATA port and they will not be able to connect to eachother. Splitting a data cable will not work. Your option for adding data ports are either a PCI (limited in speed), PCIe or USB adapter. The best option is likely PCIe. Here are some examples for you:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?N=100007531%20600022029&IsNodeId=1&Submit=ENE

Before adding a new card, check motherboard compatibility and that you have the correct type of open slot.
 
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drdenby

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Jan 21, 2014
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I don't understand, Malignant. The optical drive is working fine on the esata data port. It is a regular sata drive and a regular sata cable.

How come it is working ok?

Will it cause harm to keep it like this?

 
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Malignant PC

Malignant PC

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Mar 4, 2013
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eSATA vs SATA picture:

http://rukkrung.exteen.com/images/eSATA_TypA_lrg.jpg

If you are sure you have a regular SATA cable and drive plugged into eSATA, the reason it is working is because they have the same amount of pins and share the same SATA controller. The downside to this is that you are probably causing damage to the eSATA port. I would unplug your SATA cable from the eSATA port and use SATA instead. If you don't have an extra SATA port, get one of those add-on cards or adapters.
 
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drdenby

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Jan 21, 2014
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Ok thanks. I found a esata to sata data cable adapter I am going to try. Then if I need more ports, I guess I need to look into the cards.

It seems there are a lot of cons to them and I will have to take the time to sort thru it.

Appreciate the help.
 
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Malignant PC

Malignant PC

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Mar 4, 2013
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You have the option somewhere near my message to select it as "best answer" and it helps me out. No biggie I'm just trying to get a badge. Feel free to PM me if you have any other tech questions I like answering them.
 
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drdenby

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Jan 21, 2014
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Oh damn, I haven't done that with any of the questions I have asked. I hope it hasn't made anyone mad. All I have done is thank people for their help. I should go back to all of them.
 
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