SATA PCI card advice

I just purchased a 2TB Western Digital external hard drive that I'd like to set up in RAID 1 (redundancy). I've noticed that with Firewire and USB, the speeds just aren't up to speed. I did some research and decided to get an external hard drive with SATA, but my computer doesn't have an external SATA jack.

So, now I need to get a PCI SATA card for my computer and was wondering if there is any difference in quality between cheap and expensive ones. I found this one for $28.99 at a local computer store, but I'm not sure if that's "too cheap".

http://www.ncix.com …es%20Inc.#Custo​merReviews

Can you not just get a cheap backplate that takes an internal SATA connector to an eSATA port? Something like this?

Yep, since you are in Canada, you need to check out your local NewEgg for something like this:
http://www.newegg.ca …aspx?Item=N82E1​6812226006

or if you have a lot of spare SATA ports on your MoBo:

http://www.newegg.ca …aspx?Item=N82E1​6812226003

in order to set up raid you'll need a raid controller, not just a sata card. Needs to be a SATA/RAID card

beeng has a very valid point (assuming you don't have onboard RAID and don't mind spending on a RAID controller with its own memory), but with eSATA brackets and a eSATA docking port you can achieve de-facto RAID1 (mirror).

I think this topic is now officially more "Computers" than "Accessories".

beeng wrote in post #8839810
in order to set up raid you'll need a raid controller, not just a sata card. Needs to be a SATA/RAID card

The external HD I purchased has a RAID controller onboard.

http://www.wdc.com …/products.asp?D​riveID=410

You only need a RAID controller if you're setting up two standalone drives.

I could always stick with the USB or Firewire connection, but I find those painfully slow for transferring any large amounts of data. I was surprised at how much larger the file sizes are on the 5D Mark II (compared to the 5D) and my hard drive space was getting chewed up really quick.

I used to store photos on my computer, but storage on that (RAID 0) is too unsafe so I've moved everything to external drives. The biggest problem I've found with external drives is the transfer speeds. I'm hoping that eSATA takes care of that.

gjman wrote in post #8839847
I think this topic is now officially more "Computers" than "Accessories".

"Officially?"

hollis_f wrote in post #8839043
Can you not just get a cheap backplate that takes an internal SATA connector to an eSATA port? Something like this?

BINGO...thanks. I just opened up my case and there are indeed free SATA slots. Now that I think of it, I think I may have one of these "pass throughs" lying around. Thanks for the heads up....I'm not sure why I didn't think of that!

It's a little messier, but I suppose I could also just get a cable and have it hang out the back of the computer. Something like this: http://www.ncix.com …Gear%20Technolo​gies%20Inc.

SunTsu wrote in post #8840270
The external HD I purchased has a RAID controller onboard.

I understand what you're trying to do now. Your best bet is to buy yourself an eSata bracket like this one (that is if your motherboard supports SATA).
If your motherboard doesn't support SATA then you'll need to buy yourself a SATA pci or pci-e card (depending on what your board can take). Price doesn't matter much with them, as they have been around for quite some time and pretty much all the bugs have been worked out.

Screw the bracket........ Just get a 6' eSATA to SATA cable, plug it into the motherboard and run it out the back. Works like a charm. I've got 4 coming out the front of my machine to (cut a hole with a dremel tool) and they are fine.....

Questions, shoot me an email.

Mark H

Pretty ghetto :P

Yeah, but really the faceplate covers it and the drives are on the floor.... Drives are fast enough that they are worth it......

Mark H

I am assuming you meant "2" drives and not "a"

SunTsu wrote in post #8838722
I just purchased a 2TB Western Digital external hard drive that I'd like to set up in RAID 1 (redundancy). I've noticed that with Firewire and USB, the speeds just aren't up to speed. I did some research and decided to get an external hard drive with SATA, but my computer doesn't have an external SATA jack.

So, now I need to get a PCI SATA card for my computer and was wondering if there is any difference in quality between cheap and expensive ones. I found this one for $28.99 at a local computer store, but I'm not sure if that's "too cheap".

http://www.ncix.com …es%20Inc.#Custo​merReviews