ESATAp
Encyclopedia
In computing
Computer
A computer is a programmable machine designed to sequentially and automatically carry out a sequence of arithmetic or logical operations. The particular sequence of operations can be changed readily, allowing the computer to solve more than one kind of problem...

, eSATAp (also known as eSATA/USB, USB/eSATA, or power over eSATA) is a high speed connection for external storage
External storage
In computing, external storage comprises devices that temporarily store information for transporting from computer to computer. Such devices are not permanently fixed inside a computer....

 devices. It is a combination of serial port
Computer port (hardware)
In computer hardware, a port serves as an interface between the computer and other computers or peripheral devices. Physically, a port is a specialized outlet on a piece of equipment to which a plug or cable connects...

 connectors into which an eSATAp, eSATA or USB devices can be plugged. The port has keyed cutouts for both types of device to ensure that a connector can only be plugged in the right way round.

Standard

As the port is designed to work with both SATA and USB, neither organization has formally approved it. USB-IF states it does not support any connector used by other standards, these combo ports are to be used at your own risk, and SATA-IO (Serial ATA International Organisation), the organization responsible for the SATA specification, is , working to define the eSATAp specification.

Implementation

SATA
Sata
Sata is a traditional dish from the Malaysian state of Terengganu, consisting of spiced fish meat wrapped in banana leaves and cooked on a grill.It is a type of Malaysian fish cake, or otak-otak...

 is a computer bus
Computer bus
In computer architecture, a bus is a subsystem that transfers data between components inside a computer, or between computers.Early computer buses were literally parallel electrical wires with multiple connections, but the term is now used for any physical arrangement that provides the same...

 interface for connecting host bus adapters
Host adapter
In computer hardware, a host controller, host adapter, or host bus adapter connects a host system to other network and storage devices...

 to mass storage devices such as hard disk drives and optical drives. eSATA is a SATA connector accessible from outside the computer, to provide a signal (but not power) connection for external storage devices.

eSATAp combines the functionality of an eSATA and a USB port, and a source of power in a single connector. eSATAp can supply power at 5 V and 12 V.

On a desktop computer the port is simply a connector, usually mounted on a bracket at the back accessible from outside the machine, connected to motherboard
Motherboard
In personal computers, a motherboard is the central printed circuit board in many modern computers and holds many of the crucial components of the system, providing connectors for other peripherals. The motherboard is sometimes alternatively known as the mainboard, system board, or, on Apple...

 sources of SATA, USB, and power at 5 V and 12 V. No change is required to drivers, registry or BIOS
BIOS
In IBM PC compatible computers, the basic input/output system , also known as the System BIOS or ROM BIOS , is a de facto standard defining a firmware interface....

 settings and the USB support is independent of the SATA connection.

If advanced functionality such as a port multiplier
Port multiplier
A Serial ATA port multiplier is a device that allows one to connect multiple SATA devices to a single SATA host port in a similar manner to that of a USB hub...

 is required, a PCI Express
PCI Express
PCI Express , officially abbreviated as PCIe, is a computer expansion card standard designed to replace the older PCI, PCI-X, and AGP bus standards...

 add-on card can be used. If it has port multiplier support, an eSATAp port allows a user to connect to a multi-bay NAS (network attached storage) machine with multiple hard disk
Hard disk
A hard disk drive is a non-volatile, random access digital magnetic data storage device. It features rotating rigid platters on a motor-driven spindle within a protective enclosure. Data is magnetically read from and written to the platter by read/write heads that float on a film of air above the...

s (HDD) using one eSATA cable.

On many notebook computers only a limited amount of power at 5 V is available; an additional external power source is required if 12 V, or more 5 V power than is available, is required. Devices requiring more power than is available via the Expresscard
ExpressCard
ExpressCard is an interface to allow peripheral devices to be connected to a computer, usually a laptop computer. Formerly called NEWCARD, the ExpressCard standard specifies the design of slots built into the computer and of cards which can be inserted into ExpressCard slots. The cards contain...

, or an additional 12 V supply as required by most 3.5" or 5.25" drives, can be driven if an additional power supply is used. Cables are available to both connect and power a SATA device from an eSATAp port (including 12V power if available).

Compatibility

eSATAp throughput
Throughput
In communication networks, such as Ethernet or packet radio, throughput or network throughput is the average rate of successful message delivery over a communication channel. This data may be delivered over a physical or logical link, or pass through a certain network node...

 is necessarily the same as SATA, and USB throughput is that of the USB version supported by the port (typically USB 3.0 or 2.0). eSATAp ports (bracket versions) can run at a theoretical maximum of 6Gbps (bits per sec) and are backwards compatible with devices such as eSATA 3Gbps (SATA Revision 2) and also at 1.5Gbps (SATA Revision 1). The USB port is fully compatible with USB 5Gbps (bits per sec) (USB 3.0), USB 480 Mbps (USB 2.0) and USB 12Mbps (1.1); USB 3.0 devices are compatible, but will operate at USB 2.0 speed if internal USB 3.0 connector is not connected.

+12V issue

There exist two versions of this port. The first one, usually built in laptops, provides only +5V through USB connection. The other one has additional two pads, placed against the plug's "horns", which provide +12V. The second one is needed if one want to plug a 3.5 in. HDD or 5.25 in. optical drive to eSATAp port. Also cables are built with or without +12V support. This leads to customers confusion as they are usually unaware about the details of +12V power delivery.

Naming

The following names are used by different manufacturers for the same port:
  • eSATAp (Delock, Dynex, Lindy, Addonics)
  • Power over eSATA (Delock, Micro-Star International
    Micro-Star International
    Micro-Star International Co., Ltd is a Taiwan-based electronics company and one of the world's largest motherboard and video card manufacturers.-Overview:MSI is one of the top three motherboard and video card manufacturers worldwide...

     (MSI))
  • eSATA/USB (Gigabyte Technology
    Gigabyte Technology
    Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. is a Taiwan-based manufacturer of computer hardware products best known for its motherboards. The company is publicly held and traded on the Taiwan Stock Exchange .-Company:...

    )
  • SATA on the go (Asus
    ASUS
    ASUSTeK Computer Incorporated is a multinational computer technology and consumer electronics product manufacturer headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan. Its product range includes motherboards, desktops, laptops, monitors, tablet PCs, servers and mobile phones...

    )


Other computer manufacturers are shipping computers and motherboards with eSATAp ports including Lenovo, Dell
Dell
Dell, Inc. is an American multinational information technology corporation based in 1 Dell Way, Round Rock, Texas, United States, that develops, sells and supports computers and related products and services. Bearing the name of its founder, Michael Dell, the company is one of the largest...

, Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....

 and HP.
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