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njskatchmo
09-30-2003, 11:37 AM
When you hook up SATA is there a slave function and all that? Does each wire end in just 2 ends? or like ide cables are there 3 ends? Just looking for some general information. Also I came across this,

"Are there differences in Serial ATA solutions by different HDD vendors?
Yes, there are two main methods for establishing the Serial ATA interface on the disc drives and hosts, "native" and "bridge".

One method called "native", allows maximum throughput, bypassing the legacy Task File reads and writes, as well as the limitation of 133MB/sec for Ultra DMA Mode 6 transfers to enable the maximum 150MB/sec transfer rate for first-generation Serial ATA devices.

A bridge solution enables the adaptation of a parallel device to the Serial ATA interface. Because the Serial ATA information flow occurs at 1.5Gbps, it is not always possible for the Link state machines to keep up when using a bridge device. The link layers on a bridged system must incorporate buffering to allow for throttling the interface if one side gets behind."

Translation?
KHT
09-30-2003, 02:09 PM
As far as hooking up SATA. SATA drives are automatically detected as Master and are hot swappable. There are no master\slave jumper settings.

As far as native vs bridge. In a nutshell, bridge uses an extra translation step. Serial to parallel to PCI which you will get with a serial adapter card. Still faster than parallel ATA though. SATA integrated on the mobo will be native and offer higher transfer speeds.

At least that`s *my* understanding. Feel free anyone to correct\educate me if I`m wrong..:)
njskatchmo
09-30-2003, 02:17 PM
thanks
glc
10-01-2003, 09:48 AM
SATA drives are only hot swappable if you use the SATA power connector, it's properly keyed to make and break the contacts in the proper order. If you use a standard Molex instead, you should not try to hotswap.

SATA has no master/slave, it's one drive per cable.
njskatchmo
10-01-2003, 03:14 PM
what exactly is hot swap?
LiGhTBoY
10-01-2003, 03:31 PM
Hot swap is when your computer is running and you can disconnect / connect new hardware without turning it off.
RJ
10-01-2003, 03:31 PM
You can plug a device in or unplug a device without turning the PC off. USB and Firewire are also hot swappable / hot pluggable.

RJ
njskatchmo
10-01-2003, 03:40 PM
thats what i figured, but why would you want to remove a hard drive while a computers running? Very dangerous, if you touch the mobo
Blakhart
10-02-2003, 01:03 AM
Four letters...

scsi
lil Jimmie
10-02-2003, 09:16 PM
Originally posted by glc
SATA drives are only hot swappable if you use the SATA power connector, it's properly keyed to make and break the contacts in the proper order. If you use a standard Molex instead, you should not try to hotswap.


I'm getting a WD360GD and a WD1200JD SATA drives and have the power cable adaptor that came with my mobo ( P4P800 DLX which is a 4 pin molex to SATA power plugs ) and my question is will this setup with the adaptor will it be hot swappable?
Kov-Ice
10-02-2003, 09:28 PM
Not speaking from experience, but I would think that the SATA adapter end would disconnect the power from the drive safely.

Just curious, but other than the 4-pin to SATA adapter, how else would you come across a SATA power connector? Are newer PSUs starting to be made with a couple of those type connection ends?
njskatchmo
10-02-2003, 09:31 PM
Ya the newer PSUs have sata and traditianol hook ups
lil Jimmie
10-02-2003, 09:41 PM
Well, I would think the SATA end would work with a hot swap, but I just want to confirm that it will.
Kov-Ice
10-02-2003, 10:17 PM
**shrug** I'm just saying... The contact points on the SATA termination is what will break your power connection cleanly, as opposed to when you use the 4-pin. I guess you're getting the same amount of juice whether it's from a straight SATA pwr line or from an adapter. I'm just thinking aloud that ultimately the point of contact is what will matter. I know that's no confirmation, but like I said just thinkin aloud.
Sry.
glc
10-03-2003, 03:13 AM
Correct - the SATA power connector has the pins offset in a specific pattern to allow for safe hotswapping.

I personally don't see the need for hotswapping unless it's a RAID array in a 24/7 server. I just use the Molex connectors on the SATA builds I do.
lil Jimmie
10-03-2003, 04:49 AM
I may not ever need to hot swap on my personal box but it's nice to know in case I ever need to.
glc
10-03-2003, 09:02 AM
It's only going to be useful for data drives - you ever try to hotswap a drive that contains an OS that's in use or one that contains open files? Not pretty, you're gonna be shutting down anyway.
lil Jimmie
10-03-2003, 07:35 PM
Well I have never done that, but I was thinking along the lines of the data drives anyway. :D
SeaTech30
10-23-2004, 01:16 PM
Finally found a related thread... although it seems old. Has any of this been comfirmed? I have a SATA drive for data and i found out my computer boots a hell of a lot faster if the SATA HD is disconnect. So i wanted to know if it is possible to hot swap sata hd without damaging it. I have both mobo implemented SATA connections and my PSU has it's own SATA power connectors (not adaptors). If more specs are needed let me know.