connecting external SATA HDD to motherboard

[june61944]

Hi - I have WD Blue 1Tb internal hard drive that I want to connect to a small form factor Dell Optiplex 790 computer (only has one space for a hard drive, unfortunately). Is it possible to connect directly to one of the 3 open SATA connectors on the motherboard from this drive if it is in a cooled and powered enclosure? Everything I've read refers only to eSATA connections, which this computer doesn't have.

I'm doing music production on this system so speed is crucial; are there other connection methods I should explore?

 

[Paperdoc]

If performance speed is really important, your interface choices are:

eSATA
IEEE1394a (aka Firewire 400)
USB3

I am not sure whether you could rig a plain SATA connection. The issue is length of the data cable from mobo port to HDD. Regular SATA is limited to cables of max 1 metre length, whereas eSATA's limit is 2m. That is because eSATA uses higher signal voltages and slightly different signal level criteria for detection. Now, SOME mobos have actually included the eSATA specs in their regular SATA ports, BUT you never know which mobos do this. So what you ask MAY work, and may not.

Both eSATA and IEEE1394a work almost as fast as an internal SATA interface. USB2 does not - it is much slower. However, the new USB3 interface is even faster than eSATA.

You could buy an external enclosure and mount your HDD in it to create your own external drive unit. Be sure to buy an enclosure that comes with its own power supply brick - although some of these interfaces can provide power from the computer to an external unit, it often is not sufficient. You would pick the interface between computer and enclosure at the same time as you pick the way to create such a port on your computer. For eSATA, IEEE1394a or USB3, you can buy a card to fit into a PCIe slot and give you one or more ports of that type sticking out the back of the machine. That way you don't have to figure out the details of case, power supply and connections in a DIY rig.

Doing it via a PCIe card and an external enclosure likely will not allow you to BOOT from the external drive. However, I expect you don't need that - you only need large fast reliable data storage.

 

[jsmithepa]

Your heading says EXTERNAL then your post says INTERNAL, so what is it?

External drives tend to have a USB connection, although if you are willing to take it apart, there is a SATA drive inside, UNLESS it's one of those WD drive with built-in security encryption, in which case you are stuck with USB.

So you say your Optiplex has a single SATA bay, you make it sounds like there is no room to add another drive, so exactly what you want to do anyways, replace the internal drive or add an internal drive, and if the later HOW? if you only have 1 bay?

What is the objection going USB, that would the easiest. External drives tend to be not that speedy anyway, USB2 maybe acceptable.

 

[chenw]

I believe he is talking about connecting an internal drive (His WD Blue 1TB) to another computer (his dell) externally using internal computer connection (SATA) because he needs the connection speed.

It may be possible to do if you can get your hands on a long enough SATA data cable, and use an external SATA power connector to power the HDD.

 

[schaft]

Okay, I checked with your SFF Dell Optiplex 790.
http://www.dell.com/downloads/global/products/optix/en/optiplex-790-tech-guide.pdf
In page 8 it says your motherboard does have total 3 sata connection, so you have empty connection.

The problem is with space of the case and the power supply which is only 240W. SFF model could handle extra internal HDD, and even if you will to drill holes for the cable to run out from the case, there still the possibilities the power supply cannot hold. If you want to take the risk then it is possible to use sata cable and power cable coming out of your case (tough its messy).

You mentioned speed is important. I have 1 other option. Using usb3 card so you can use external hdd with usb3 that has faster data rate.
With 2 port and good reference (i prefer this one)
Rosewill RC-505 - 2-Port USB 3.0 PCI Express Card $16.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815166026

With 4 port
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815114010

And use external HDD that support usb3. This way your pc didn't need harsh modification and using a proper external HDD which can sustain more shock to prevent from damage.

Seagate Backup Plus Slim 2TB USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive STDR2000100 Black$89.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822178435

This external hdd can actually work with your current pc without the additional card i mentioned above, but it will run as usb2.0 with slower speed.

If you still want to use already purchased 3,5" HDD 1Tb, then you can use

Rosewill RX35-AT-SU BLK Aluminum 3.5" Black SATA USB 2.0 External Enclosure$19.99
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182155&cm_re=external_hdd_case-_-17-182-155-_-Product

It actually a housing for normal HDD so we can use as external HDD. The speed it use will be usb2.0

If this answer help, please choose as best answer

 

[Paperdoc]

We should remember that OP specifically stated that fast performance is important. To me, that says USB2 will NOT be sufficient. That's why I said the external interface for the proposed enclosure should be eSATA, IEEE1394a, or USB3.

Let's also remember that NO mechanical HDD (that is, one with spinning disks and moving head arm) can deliver average data transfer rates over about 175 (maybe 200) MB/s. That is slower than the SATA II (Now properly called SATA 3.0 Gb/s) communication rate. So the internal interface can be SATA II (3.0 Gb/s) and does not need to be SATA 6.0 Gb/s, although it could be. Moreover, the HDD that OP wants to use is 1 TB (so ability to handle a huge HDD unit is not needed) and, presumably, is of the 3½" form factor of common HDD units for desktop machines.

With those parameters in mind, here are a few possible enclosures in which to mount the HDD unit that OP already has.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817392050&cm_re=external_enclosure-_-17-392-050-_-Product
That has both USB3 and eSATA external interfaces, includes its own power brick and internal fan.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817707227&cm_re=external_enclosure-_-17-707-227-_-Product
USB3 only with internal fan, power brick

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817173042&cm_re=external_enclosure-_-17-173-042-_-Product
Has fan, power brick, eSATA but only USB2. Includes eSATA adapter plate (see below)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817392039&cm_re=external_enclosure-_-17-392-039-_-Product
Has power brick but no fan, USB3 only


For a USB3 interface card for your PCIe bus, examples:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815166026&cm_re=PCIe_to_USB3_card-_-15-166-026-_-Product
PCIe x1 card for two USB3 ports, has power input connector (from PSU 4-pin Molex, but not needed if external enclosure has its own power brick), includes low-profile mounting plate for small cases.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815124120&cm_re=PCIe_to_USB3_card-_-15-124-120-_-Product
PCIe2.0 x1 card for two external USB3 ports plus one internal, has power input connector (from PSU 4-pin Molex, but not needed if external enclosure has its own power brick), includes low-profile mounting plate for small cases.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815124122&cm_re=PCIe_to_USB3_card-_-15-124-122-_-Product
PCIe x1 card for two external USB3 ports plus one internal, has power input connector (from PSU 4-pin Molex, but not needed if external enclosure has its own power brick), includes low-profile mounting plate for small cases.


For an eSATA interface card for your PCIe bus, examples:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815287017&cm_re=PCIe_to_eSATA_card-_-15-287-017-_-Product
PCIe x1 card for either 2 eSATA or 2 internal SATA ports (must set jumper), no low-profile bracket

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816129101&cm_re=PCIe_to_eSATA_card-_-16-129-101-_-Product
PCIe x1 card for either 2 eSATA or 2 internal SATA ports OR 1 of each type (must set jumpers), includes low-profile bracket, includes port multiplier feature (may not be important to you, OP)


OP, I forgot one hardware option. IF your mobo's plain SATA ports actually do use eSATA specs (especially the higher signal levels to use monger cables), you can get an eSATA port without adding a new controller card to your PCIe bus. A simple adapter plate that mounts in your back slots just connects a cable to one of you unused internal SATA ports and gives you an eSATA connector on the back of your case. Examples:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812200500&cm_re=eSATA_adapter_plate-_-12-200-500-_-Product
Has 2 such eSATA connections on one plate, Standard Profile case only

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812400101&cm_re=eSATA_adapter_plate-_-12-400-101-_-Product
Single connector, LOW PROFILE case only, has locking connector for internal connection to mobo.

OP, very often one of these eSATA adapter plates is INCLUDED with an enclosure you might buy, so check for that before ordering an extra.