Hi, I also have a W520, and the eSATAp connector on it provides +5V (perfect with a cheap esatap to sata cable from mono price for 2.5" drives).
http://www.monoprice.com/products/product.asp?c_id=102&cp_id=10226&cs_id=1022607&p_id=8492&seq=1&format=2 The connector on the W520 is rather universal. You can use a standard esata cable, such as to connect to an external HD, HD dock, etc, you can use an esatap for +5volt drives, or even USB2 via the USB part of the connector. On the enclosure side, you would need an esatap compatible enclosure, and I have no clue where to find one, and it would only work for a 2.5" drive. Harry On 4/9/12 4:23 PM, Gary Udstrand wrote: > In short, I am not sure. I myself have very little experience with eSataP > and have found information tough to come by. > > Longer story, after a recommendation on this list I bought a Thinkpad W520 > and as part of the build I replaced the optical drive with an additional > hard drive via a caddy, When I bought the caddy (NewmodeUS) they also > recommended a kit that allowed me to use the optical drive as an external > drive. When I initially ordered this kit I got the USB version, and only > later discovered that they had an eSATA option. So, I returned it and > ordered the eSATA one. Much, much faster. > > Because of the performance increase it got me thinkining I should get a > different external drive enclosure (2.5" version). It was at this point > that I found there is a difference between eSATA and powered eSATA. It > took a lot of digging but I finally found an enclosure that would work with > powered eSATA. The enclosure though does not come with the powered eSATA > cable, but rather a split cable that connects to the USB port for power. > So, after more searching I ran across the two cables above. Shortly > after that, I saw your post so I sent along the links. :-) > > I am still trying to decide if I should go with the above enclosure of just > get one that supports USB 3.0. My brother just bought a USB 3.0 external > drive and he says it is very, very fast. How it compares to eSATA I don't > know but I am certainly going to look into it. :-) > > -- > Gary > http://www.twigsandtracks.com > Twigs snap and tracks fade, a photograph reacquaints > Twigs and Tracks Blog: Superior > Sunrise<http://blog.twigsandtracks.com/2012/03/08/superior-sunrise/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=superior-sunrise> > > > On Mon, Apr 9, 2012 at 6:06 PM, Gary <[email protected]> wrote: > >> The first cable says 5v..........is there a 12v cable? >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: [email protected] >> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Gary >> Udstrand >> Sent: Monday, April 09, 2012 5:04 PM >> To: [email protected] >> Cc: [email protected] >> Subject: Re: [H] External power eSTATa >> >> You can use either but if you want to use the power in the esatap port you >> have to use a power over esata cable: >> >> >> http://www.amazon.com/Micro-SATA-Cables-Power-eSATA/dp/B0037J88SW/ref=pd_bxg >> y_e_text_b >> >> or >> >> >> http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-3-Feet-Power-eSATA-Cable/dp/B00213KF8G/ref=pd >> _sim_cps_2<http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-3-Feet-Power-eSATA-Cable/dp/B00213KF8G/ref=pd_sim_cps_2> >> >> -- >> Gary >> http://www.twigsandtracks.com >> Twigs snap and tracks fade, a photograph reacquaints >> Twigs and Tracks Blog: Superior >> Sunrise< >> http://blog.twigsandtracks.com/2012/03/08/superior-sunrise/?utm_sour >> ce=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=superior-sunrise<http://blog.twigsandtracks.com/2012/03/08/superior-sunrise/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=superior-sunrise> >> >> On Mon, Apr 9, 2012 at 1:44 PM, Gary <[email protected]> wrote: >> >>> I'm confused about my power esata port. >>> >>> Does this port require a special cable? If I want to connect an external >>> powered esata dock, will a normal esata cable work? >>> >>> Gary >>> >>> >>
