GA-MA790XT-UD4P "Yellow" SATA -vs- "Purple" GSATA Question

[bjmarler]

Hello all.  I'm a bit new at all this, so please bear with me as I ask a few questions about the "yellow" -vs- "purple" SATA ports on my mobo.

On my GA-MA790XT-UD4P mobo, when I set in the BIOS the GSATA-II ports to AHCI, my Western Digital My Book 500GB external drive that is connected via ESATA dissappears.  The ESATA port is connected to on of the "purple" GSATA-II ports on the mobo.  When I switch the GSATA-II port back to IDE in the BIOS it reappears and works properly.  Can somone explain to me why that happens?

I guess I have a few additional questions.  Can, or should, I switch the ESATA port that the WD MY Book is on, to one of the other "yellow" SATA channels?
 
Can I connect a new SSD that Im getting soon to the GSATA-II port internally, of should an SSD be hooked up to the normal yellow SATA ports also?

If all that is true, then what are the "purple" GSATA-II ports supposed to be used for?

So, it's not a big deal, just wondering why it does that if anyone has a quick answer for me so I can continue learning.

Thank you in advance for any help.

Brian

[autotech]

Some i can answer. Your SSD should be in the sata  SATA2_0  Set to ACHI also google SSD set up tweaks, there is alot of good info and most of it is easy. Will improve speed.

Can, or should, I switch the ESATA port that the WD MY Book is on, to one of the other "yellow" SATA channels?   YES try it might just solve your problem.


 
 what are the "purple" GSATA-II ports supposed to be used for:  go to page 47 of the online manual explains it there. Also more on page 48.

[bjmarler]

TY Autotech.  Very helpful and informative!

[autotech]

you are more than welcome if you have any more questions please post them here or start a new thread. There are some very helpful admins and users in this forum first place i go to for help myself.