wireless wrote: > I looked at the schematic and saw nothing. I saw > the USB, but wanted SATA, as in a home-built > Netbook type of application was my immediate desire.
I think you'll have to settle for USB unless you're prepared to build an expansion board. But seems expansion will be USB as well. > With that kind of processing power and DVI & HDMI out, I > had a hard time believing there is no SATA native > or hacked hardware solution. I think you'll have to believe it. :) SATA requires transceivers in about the same class as DVI/HDMI. I can certainly imagine that only one set of transceivers would fit the chip area/price point, and I think graphics was the right choice in that case. > It's intended for mobile, so why not support sata (for laptop size HD)? I think it's too "clunky" for the intentions of the OMAP. And using a mechanical device in a mobile project is a bad idea. SSDs sure, but they are only an afterthought since many devices already use hard drives. If making a new platform or a new device, then best not go that route, better use the flash controller and some NAND. > Hard to believe that was missed or is not forthcoming, imho. Maybe someone will make a SATA daughterboard, but since there's no PCI bus it would have to be based on one of the USB->SATA chipsets which are all pretty crappy. It could certainly be done though. > I looked at the url above and saw no listing of sata. I would look at something like the block diagram instead: http://pandaboard.org/sites/default/files/PandaBoard_block_diagram.png > This is the right community, since it is > clearly posted in the handbook. I didn't try to say that your question was inappropriate, I meant that the "upstream" pandaboard.org community would know way more about the topic, including past ongoing and future efforts, so it would likely be more rewarding to ask there. > I will post elsewhere and > I have already asked TI directly about sata support on that > OMAP family.... but no answers yet. Have a look at the documentation that they have published.. Google OMAP4430, first hit: OMAP™ 4 Platform - OMAP4430/OMAP4440 http://focus.ti.com/general/docs/wtbu/wtbuproductcontent.tsp?contentId=53243&navigationId=12843&templateId=6123 First link on that page: Chip Block Diagram http://focus.ti.com/en/graphics/wtbu/OMAP4430_zoom.jpg > Much of the information and docs are just too new > to be complete. Most of TIs docs are nearly two years old. > No doubt, since the gerbers et. al. exist, it wont be long before > somebody puts a SATA bus interface, to this project. I guess the ease of a $15 USB->SATA converter will mean most don't bother. > Me, I can think of DNS servers (sata not required); AND mail > servers and media servers where SATA is critical, Hehe. I wouldn't trust SATA drives for critical things. But I certainly agree that Cortex-A will reach into the server market! > just off the top of my head. Sure USB is ok, but native sata would > be much cooler, imho. Hm, why? > So sorry if I ruffled your feathers..... No feathers ruffled the least, just a thought that you could better information elsewhere. Sorry if I was too terse and came off as hating. I also think the board is very nice! :) //Peter
