Computer PCI eSATA Disk Controllers & RAID Cards

Improve Your Data Rates With an eSATA External Interface Card for PCI

Computers need to be able to access external data drives. While USB connections might feel more common, they slow the process and add superfluous elements to a configuration. An external interface card can enable any computer to access external drives through the standard SATA format.

External serial advanced technology attachment, or eSATA, is an external attachment for serial ATA or SATA connections. As the name suggests, it enables SATA drives to connect to external ports on a computer. This enables hard drives, flash drives, and other storage devices to bypass USB, FireWire, and other connection types. Ultimately, it enables substantially faster data transfers. SATA connections can handle higher data rates than most other connection types, and connecting drives in their native format saves on time losses related to data conversions. PCI expansion cards enable this access for computers that do not already possess an eSATA port.

There are a number of different connection types. Their data rates are:

• eSATA: Designed to eliminate any externally slowing factors, eSATA can return rates of 6Gbps. This is the same as high-end platter disk drives.
• USB 2.0: Still a standard connection on many computers, this version of USB delivers speeds of 480Mbps. This is less than 1/12 the speed of eSATA.
• USB 3.0: The upgraded version of USB, 3.0 hits a top speed of 5Gbps.
• FireWire: FireWire is an older format that tops out at 800Mbps.

There is no theoretical limit on the number of eSATA ports that a computer can handle. Ultimately, space will be the deciding factor, and that will vary with the design and configuration of the computer being used. PCI expansions come with varying numbers of eSATA slots each. Common expansion cards will have anywhere from one to eight ports each, and even higher port-per-card numbers are possible. You can also add more than one PCI card when needed. This brings the total number of eSATA ports to a standard PC into the dozens. Optimized servers can go far beyond these numbers.

The short answer is yes. The steps necessary to complete a RAID configuration will depend on the hardware setups. Many eSATA expansion cards have RAID configuration built into their designs. Even when this isn't the case, RAID controllers can be used to array the external drives as needed.