They usually provide two eSATAp ports, with port multiplier functionality, and hot-swap capability.ĮSATAp cables are available with wide connectors to plug directly into the power and signal connectors of a bare drive, providing a 12 V supply in the case of a desktop machine. This can lead to confusion if users are not aware of the distinction.ĮSATAp PCI and PCI-e add-on cards are available for desktop computers. Others, such as 3.5-inch drives, also require 12 V they can be powered from a desktop eSATAp port, but require an external 12 V power supply if used with a laptop computer. Some devices, such as 2.5-inch drives, can operate off the 5 V supplied by laptop eSATAp ports.
Some manufacturers refer to these ports as eSATApd, where d stands for "dual voltage". Desktop computers, with 12 V available, have a port with two additional pads, placed against the plug's "horns", which provide 12 V. Most laptop computers do not have 12 V power available, and have an eSATAp port which provides only 5 V. There are only two versions of this port. The USB port is fully compatible with USB 5 Gbit/s (USB 3.0), USB 480 Mbit/s (USB 2.0) and USB 12 Mbit/s (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. eSATAp ports (bracket versions ) can run at a theoretical maximum of 6 gigabits per second (Gbit/s) and are backwards compatible with devices such as eSATA 3 Gbit/s (SATA Revision 2) and also at 1.5 Gbit/s (SATA Revision 1). ( October 2011) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)ĮSATAp throughput is not necessarily the same as SATA, many enclosures and docks that support both eSATA and USB use combo bridge chips which can severely reduce the throughput, and USB throughput is that of the USB version supported by the port (typically USB 3.0 or 2.0). Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Cables are available to both connect and power a SATA device from an eSATAp port (including 12 V power if available). Devices requiring more power than is available via the Expresscard, 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. On many notebook computers only a limited amount of power at 5 V is available, and none at all at 12 V. 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 disks (HDD) using one eSATA cable. If advanced functionality such as a port multiplier is required, a PCI Express add-on card can be used. No change is required to drivers, registry or BIOS settings and the USB support is independent of the SATA connection. 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 sources of SATA, USB, and power at 5 V and 12 V. ĮSATAp combines the functionality of an eSATA and a USB port, and a source of power in a single connector. eSATA is a SATA connector accessible from outside the computer, to provide a signal (but not power) connection for external storage devices. SATA is a computer bus interface for connecting host bus adapters to mass storage devices such as hard disk drives and optical drives.
As of 2011 the organization responsible for the SATA specification, SATA-IO (Serial ATA International Organization), is working to define the eSATAp specification. The USB Implementers Forum states it does not support any connector used by other standards, hence such 'combo' ports are to be used at one's own risk. The socket has keyed cutouts for both types of device to ensure that a connector can only be plugged in the right way.Īs the port is designed to work with both SATA and USB, both organizations have formally approved it. An eSATA or USB device can be plugged into an eSATAp port. In computing, eSATAp (also known as Power over eSATA, Power eSATA, eSATA/USB Combo, eSATA USB Hybrid Port/ EUHP) is a combination connection for external storage devices.
JSTOR ( October 2011) ( Learn how and when to remove this template message)ĮSATA, Power over eSATA, Power eSATA, eSATA/USB Combo, eSATA USB Hybrid Port (EUHP) External Serial ATA (SATA)/Universal Serial Bus (USB) with Power.Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. This article needs additional citations for verification.