Which eSATA cable do I need?

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Which eSATA cable do I need?

I've never used a SATA device before and am confused about which type of cable I need to connect my external hard drive to my computer's SATA port.

The external drive is a 1TB Acomdata pureDrive with an eSATA interface ( here are its specs). My computer is a Macbook Pro 5,5; I bought it in September of 2009, so I'm assuming it's the mid-2009 model. Thanks for any tips. The more specific you can get, the better, as I have no idea what I'm doing!

MacBook Pro 5,5, Mac OS X (10.6.3)

Posted on Apr 16, 2010 1:57 PM

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Answer 1

Apr 16, 2010 2:15 PM in response to toiletresin

Your drive uses a 7-pin eSATA connector. This cable will work:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/StarTech.com-ESATA6-Shielded-External-eSATA-Cable/1307 8073?sourceid=1500000000000003142050&cisrc=14110944&cisku=13078073

Is this your computer?
http://www.everymac.com/systems/apple/macbook_pro/stats/macbook-pro-core-2-duo-2 .8-aluminum-17-mid-2009-unibody-specs.html

If so, you have an ExpressCard 34 expansion slot, so you can buy this
to add an eSATA connector to your computer:
http://www.walmart.com/ip/Sonnet-TSATAII-E342P-TEMPO-2-Port-eSATA-Express-Card-P C/13216233?sourceid=1500000000000003142050&cisrc=14110944&cisku=13216233

If your computer doesn't have an ExpressCard 34 slot, boo-hoo!
You'll have to try to get this to work with your Firewire connector,
but then it will have Firewire speed:
http://firmtek.stores.yahoo.net/spyderhub.html
if it works.

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Answer 2

js2010

Level 1

0 points

Apr 17, 2010 4:30 AM in response to stuckfootage

Is this eSATA card also working in MacBook Pro running Windows OS ?
Because I can not find any one which is working in MacBook Pro running Windows OS !

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Answer 3

Apr 17, 2010 11:07 AM in response to js2010

I don't know about Macs running Windows. Here's the manufacturer link:
http://www.sonnettech.com/product/temposataexpress34.html

Maybe you should ask them.

Les

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Answer 4

Apr 17, 2010 11:27 AM in response to stuckfootage

Oh, wait a minute. The MacBook Pro 5,5 doesn't have an ExpressCard slot.
I think you're out of luck.

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Answer 5

eww

Level 9

53,052 points

Apr 17, 2010 12:42 PM in response to toiletresin

toiletresin: Your computer doesn't have an eSATA port to which your drive can be connected, and there's no way to equip it with one. You would be wise to exchange the drive for one that has a FireWire 800 port, if possible. If that isn't possible, then you'll need an eSATA-to-FireWire adapter like the Seritek unit that stuckfootage has linked above — which unfortunately costs more than most external hard drives. So a FireWire drive is your best option. Good luck.

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