How can I determine if I have the capacity for an eSATA drive?

timmoriarty · 05-02-2008, 11:33 AM

This is my first post ever to this site, so if I'm in the wrong forum, please just tell me!

I just tripped into video and I need space in a big way.

My Dell XPS400 has twin 320gb RAID-0 (not my choice!) drives occupying 2 of the 4 SATA connectors on the mobo. Dell's documentation states clearly that this machine's capacity is 2 hard drives, despite the 2 empty SATA connectors.

How can I tell if I can use the 2 empty connectors - as eSATA perhaps? Might Dell be indicating its 2-drive limitation based on the power supply? If that's their reason, I could get more power from an eSATA enclosure, right?

Thanks for any help you can offer.

nagstaku · 05-02-2008, 01:55 PM

You can get sata ---> esata adapters if you want to use an external enclosure to house those drives.

Are you sure the drive limitation isn't just because theres nowhere else to mount extra drives? you might be able to get a device that fits into a CD drive slot and holds a 3.5" device.

I highly doubt the PSU is the limiting factor.

05-02-2008, 11:33 AM	#1 (permalink)
timmoriarty Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 1 OS: xp sp2	How can I determine if I have the capacity for an eSATA drive? This is my first post ever to this site, so if I'm in the wrong forum, please just tell me! I just tripped into video and I need space in a big way. My Dell XPS400 has twin 320gb RAID-0 (not my choice!) drives occupying 2 of the 4 SATA connectors on the mobo. Dell's documentation states clearly that this machine's capacity is 2 hard drives, despite the 2 empty SATA connectors. How can I tell if I can use the 2 empty connectors - as eSATA perhaps? Might Dell be indicating its 2-drive limitation based on the power supply? If that's their reason, I could get more power from an eSATA enclosure, right? Thanks for any help you can offer.

05-02-2008, 01:55 PM	#2 (permalink)
nagstaku Registered User Join Date: May 2008 Posts: 3 OS: many	Re: How can I determine if I have the capacity for an eSATA drive? You can get sata ---> esata adapters if you want to use an external enclosure to house those drives. Are you sure the drive limitation isn't just because theres nowhere else to mount extra drives? you might be able to get a device that fits into a CD drive slot and holds a 3.5" device. I highly doubt the PSU is the limiting factor.