GA-X58A-UD3R rev2 - do any of the internal SATA ports support eSATA?

[foxyrick]

I'm about to buy a GA-X58A-UD3R rev.2 this weekend for a full system upgrade, but I've just realised that I might have an issue with my current two eSATA hot-swap caddies that I would want to use on it. They fit in 5 1/4" bays in the case and connect internally to my current MB, a GA-965p-DQ6 which allows me to hot-swap the HD's easily.

Do any of the MB's internal SATA ports support eSATA?

It looks like the Marvel 9128 chip is capable of eSATA, but I don't know if Gigabytes implementation supports it.

Cheers,
Rick.

[Dark Mantis]

Well on my board the UD7 Gigabyte actually supply a back panel extra eSATA connection and power ports. This is connected to a SATA port internally. So I would think the same would be done for yours as they use the same Marvell 9128 chip. However there have been posters on here who have not been able to get the hot swap function to work. I think it was on another board but the chip was the same. You might want to do a search for that thread. It was only recently.

[foxyrick]

Thanks for the reply.

The external eSATA ports on the GA-X58-UDR3 are with the rear connector cluster and are handled by a separate JMB362 chip, not the Marvell. However, if the Marvell ports on the UD7 are intended to be used for eSATA, then maybe I can do the same on the UDR3.

I'll have a look for that thread, thanks.

[Wonderwrench]

I would think any SATA 2/3 internal port would work as an eSATA port and support hot swap as long as AHCI is enabled on the controller in the bios.

[Dark Mantis]

Thanks for the reply.

The external eSATA ports on the GA-X58-UDR3 are with the rear connector cluster and are handled by a separate JMB362 chip, not the Marvell. However, if the Marvell ports on the UD7 are intended to be used for eSATA, then maybe I can do the same on the UDR3.

I'll have a look for that thread, thanks.

Yes I understood that there are fixed ports on the rear panel, the point i was making was that on my board there is also an optional connector block. Any SATA port will work it is only whether you can get the hot swappable option to enable that may be a problem.