add sata drive by hanging cables out of computer case

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add sata drive by hanging cables out of computer case any problem with running cables from mobo & pwoer supply?

#1 nadelaney

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Posted 31 July 2011 - 06:11 PM

First, let me apologize if this is not the appropriate forum. It seemed to fit in a couple of places.
Here's the thing: I no more room for another hdd drive in my small footprint computer case, but want to add another sata drive. (I prefer three smaller to 2 larger drives). So, I want to just hang the sata cable and power cable out the back of the computer, and hook up the hdd there. No hot swapping - just leaving it there as a back-up drive. I have upgraded the power supply, the cpu cooler, & the case fan, so don't think it will overwhelm the system in any way - and I know there is a 1 meter limit to the length of the cable. I just want to know if anyone knows of any caveats about a hookup like this.

I don't want to go with any esata-to-sata adapters if I don't have to... and I have an empty drive shell to house the drive so it will be physically protected.
Anyone have an opinion about this? Am I missing any reason why this isn't a good idea?

PS. I'm running WinXP SP3 if it makes any difference.

Thanks much!

#2 tg1911

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Posted 31 July 2011 - 07:16 PM

It can be done, but I wouldn't advise it.
My major concern, no matter how remote the possibility, is snagging the cables and damaging the motherboard, power supply, or both.
Damage of the mobo is even more of a possibility, if you use the SATA cable that locks into the mobo.
I'm always leery of this mean little fellow that runs around, named Murphy.
He can wreck havoc on just about anything.

A better/safer option would be an eSATA controller card similar to this, if you don't already have an available eSATA port on your computer.

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#3 hamluis

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Posted 01 August 2011 - 10:59 AM

FWIW: I have hard drives connected outside my cases (two systems) but I have the side panels off and the drives are properly connected and either flat or perpendicular on the floor or a table. No excess tension at all on any of the drives.

"Hanging" is not something I would suggest for a hard drive...outside the case well-supported presents no problem.

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#4 nadelaney

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Posted 01 August 2011 - 11:44 AM

Thank you both for quick. insightful comments (and the reminder about Murphy!) I'm going to look into that e-sata adapter. Thanks again!

#5 Blaze413

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Posted 01 August 2011 - 10:41 PM

Ever just thought about an external USB HDD? Just saying lol

#6 tg1911

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Posted 01 August 2011 - 10:50 PM

eSATA is much faster than USB.
That's why all my externals are eSATA.

#7 killerx525

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Posted 02 August 2011 - 12:44 AM

How fast exactly esata is compared to usb? My external is a usb 2.0 and the fastest i've seen it transfer is around 25mb.

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#8 tg1911

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Posted 02 August 2011 - 01:30 AM

The same speed as your internal SATA drives, if you're pulling from the mobo SATA connectors.
If using a card, it depends on the cards capabilities (SATA I, SATA II, etc.)

#9 killerx525

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Posted 02 August 2011 - 01:41 AM

My new build has a front e-sata port but i don't have any e-sata devices, also my laptop even has one too :thumbsup:

#10 tg1911

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Posted 02 August 2011 - 01:48 AM

My case came with 1, and I added 4 more.
eSATA info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ESATA#eSATA

#11 Platypus

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Posted 02 August 2011 - 03:05 AM

My 3.5" external drive enclosure is both eSATA & USB. It's definitely best to avoid using the standard SATA connectors. They are fragile, being designed only for limited cycles of connection/disconnection.

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#12 killerx525

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Posted 02 August 2011 - 07:19 AM

Grr, need to buy a enclosure with e-sata.

#13 tg1911

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Posted 02 August 2011 - 11:25 PM

Platypus, on 02 August 2011 - 03:05 AM, said:

.... It's definitely best to avoid using the standard SATA connectors. They are fragile, being designed only for limited cycles of connection/disconnection.

Good point, Platypus.
That's something else nadelaney should be made aware of; life-cycle of the 2 different cables.
From the article I linked to:

Quote

The external connector and cable have a design-life of over five thousand insertions and removals, whereas the internal connector is specified to withstand only fifty.

#14 killerx525

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Posted 03 August 2011 - 12:43 AM

Isn't some enclosures has both esata and usb? I think my local shop has one like that because some computers don't have esata port. Have you ever wonder if a 3TB hard drive would work in a enclosure if you plug it into a computer that does not support hard drives up to 3TB?

#15 nadelaney

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Posted 06 August 2011 - 12:11 PM

I looked into a ton of connectors/cardsw/adapters. i had been using 2 usb ext drives (500gb each - one WD, one Seagate) but discovered that the thoughput of external usb drives is WAY slower than esata. And that's just what I experienced: WAY WAY slow!!!! THen I checked out a few flavor combinations of pci cards, esata enclosures, etc.

Since I don't intend to use the drive as a "portable" (hence, I won't be plugging/unplugging it) - but just don't have room in my case for another drive, I've decided to:
cushion the drive outside the case (nice little piece of foam...

connect directly to one of the empty sata ports on the mobo,
hook up either internal molex or external power (I have all the gizmos to connect either way)
and MAYBE put a little fan on the drive.

It'll cost me only for the fan - oh... and the drive (waiting for delivery from NewEgg)

Thanks for all thoughts.