SATA cable question

regulus · 13 May 2010 at 18:46

I have, what looks like a red L-shaped SATA cable running from the front of my PC along with the little Q-connectors, HD Audio and USB cable. One end goes to the front of the PC along with the Q-connectors and disappear, leaving me baffled with the other end. Hope this makes sense, if not, I can take a pic.

I would like to know what the hell that is. Never seen it before.

Before I post, I just checked the Coolermaster (my case is a CM HAF 922) and it says it's an eSata. Still don't know wtf that is supposed to mean.

Do I just whack it into a Sata input on the mobo and forget about its existence?

Thekwango · 13 May 2010 at 18:48

External Serial Advanced Technology Attachment or eSATA is an external interface for SATA technologies. It competes with FireWire 400 and universal serial bus (USB) 2.0 to provide fast data transfer speeds for external storage devices.

basically its an external sata. if u wanna use it you can just plug it into any of the motherboard sata ports

regulus · 13 May 2010 at 18:50

Aha, ok, got it. I'll bounce it in anyway even though I doubt I'd use it.

Thekwango · 13 May 2010 at 18:53

i just tucked mine in on top of the dvd drive, can't imagine ever needing it

regulus · 13 May 2010 at 19:06

My apologies, another question. I'm building on the Asus Crosshair III (AMD) board was just wondering if I need to plug in the HD Audio or AC 97 cables running from the front, in at all, seeing the board comes along with a SupremeFX sound card? There doesn't appear to be an input on the board at ll. I'd say no, you don't have to plug it in, but just making sure before I leave any loose cables hanging about.

Thekwango · 13 May 2010 at 19:13

as far as i know the hd audio and ac 97 cables are to carry sound out to the front audio connections on the case. dont know the board but you'll only need to plug one or other of them into the f-audio header

regulus · 13 May 2010 at 19:17

Aye, got it thanks. I know it's been said before but it's worth saying again. Christ, these 5870 cards are big. Making cable management a royal pain in the ass.

Thekwango · 13 May 2010 at 19:20

lol, i'm only on a 5770

tho with my coolermaster i still had to widen the hole at the bottom of the mobo tray with a dremmel to allow me to hide all my cables out the back

regulus · 13 May 2010 at 19:22

I've got two in here and it's a ********* nightmare getting the cables neat. I might have to acquire a bigger case, or I just plain suck at cable management.

Thekwango · 13 May 2010 at 19:27

would the dremmel trick and widening a few holes on the mobo tray not help? or you could post up a few pics in the cases section and ask a bit of advice

Camoe · 14 May 2010 at 01:32

eSata, I have one on my Zalman Z7 Never been used.

Yakyb · 14 May 2010 at 12:05

i didn't use them for a while but have started to recently for backups it is one hell of a lot faster than usb and i would highly recommend to those running of a usb external HDD