Third stack from the left, consists of two E-SATA connectors. These are
the rear E-SATA ports, ready to use, and are likely driven by the
JMB363 separate chip.
http://images17.newegg.com/is/image/newegg/13-138-135-S02?$S640W$
The ICH10 also supports ESATA. This is from the datasheet 319973 for ICH10
family.
"ICH10 supports external SATA. External SATA utilizes the SATA
interface
outside of the system box. The usage model for this feature must
comply
with the Serial ATA II Cables and Connectors Volume 2 Gold
specification
at
www.sata-io.org. Intel validates two configurations:
1. The cable-up solution involves an internal SATA cable that connects
to the SATA motherboard connector and spans to a back panel PCI
bracket
with an e-SATA connector. A separate e-SATA cable is required to
connect
an e-SATA device.
2. The back-panel solution involves running a trace to the I/O back
panel
and connecting a device via an external SATA connector on the
board."
To use one of the ordinary looking Intel motherboard SATA ports, for
ESATA,
you'd use an adapter like this. Or use that SATA to ESATA front panel
thing.
The essential ingredient, is that the transmit and receive voltage levels,
include enough budget for the longer allowed ESATA cable.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816111064
When purchasing external ESATA cabling for outside the computer, and using
the Intel ICH10 ports for such a purpose, it might be best to limit
overall cable length to 1 meter. The Intel datasheet doesn't meet the
500mV
minimum transmit level, which may not be a problem. To be safe, you can
limit the length of cabling used on the front setup.
+--------------+
(Rear X T-force |
Ones) X X58 | Computer case wiring,
+-------------+
| | SATA to ESATA, front panel External ESATA
cable | |
| ICH10R --->X------------------------------X
X-----------------------X X Drive |
| X
| Enclosure |
| | <---------------- ~ 1
meter -----------------------> | |
+--------------+
+-------------+
The Jmicron JMB363 might be what is driving the "real" ESATA ports
on the I/O area at the back of the computer. They're supposed to support
Gen1m and Gen2m (ESATA 150 and ESATA 300), and if you wanted to use
a 2 meter cable there, that might be OK. Since there aren't electrical
specs available, to check the transmit and receive voltage levels, it
is hard to verify how "real" the ESATA ports are.
http://www.jmicron.com/Product_JMB363.htm
E-SATA is a slight tweak on voltages, allowing higher loss via a longer
cable. So it shares much with ordinary SATA. If you are unsure of the
authenticity of the electrical interface, the best solution is to use
shorter cables with it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E-sata#External_SATA
"eSATA, standardized in 2004, provides a variant of SATA meant for
external connectivity. It has revised electrical requirements in
addition to incompatible cables and connectors:
* Minimum transmit potential increased: Range is 500–600 mV instead of
400–600 mV.
* Minimum receive potential decreased: Range is 240–600 mV instead of
325–600 mV.
* Identical protocol and logical signaling (link/transport-layer and
above),
allowing native SATA devices to be deployed in external enclosures
with
minimal modification
* Maximum cable length of 2 metres (6.6 ft) (USB and FireWire allow
longer distances.)"
The higher minimum transmit (500) and lower minimum receive (240)
sensitivity,
is what gives a longer cable (loss) budget.
Paul
