Utilize Z68 Chipset or Marvel Controller For eSATA

[bobni]

The mobo is an Intel DZ68BC Z68 Extreme Series. For backup I have an external one drive enclosure with an eSATA connection , the enclosure also came with a rear expansion bracket to provide an additional eSATA rear port. The mobo eSATA is controlled by a Marvel controller and is not hot swap capable. I have unused internal Z68 chipset SATA ports and could utilize one to connect the eSATA bracket and provide eSATA support from the Z68 chipset as opposed to the Marvel. The bios has an option to make any of the Z68 SATA ports hot swap capable. At that point I would disable the Marvel controllers since neither the eSATA or internal ports are needed. I have read many opinions to disable the Marvel if not needed and utilize the native Z68 ports if possible. Wondering if anyone has experience doing this or thoughts about the tradeoffs?

 

[Diogenes2]

I think hot-swap capability is the deciding factor. Plus the Intel ports usually offer better, if not significant performance..

 

[VirtualLarry]

The board vendor used a chipset for the eSATA, that isn't hot-swap capable? I think perhaps you are mistaken, the marvell ports probably do support hot-swap, once you load their drivers.

Edit: My point was that just because the Intel controller ports have a HotSwap BIOS option for each port, and the Marvell BIOS settings seem to lack it, doesn't outright mean that the Marvell ports aren't capable of HotSwap.

 

[bobni]

The Z68 chipset has a bios setting to enable or disable hot-swap for each of its 6 SATA ports. Bios settings for the two Marvel controllers consist of enable /disable the controllers and mode options for IDE, RAID and AHCI. The Marvel option ROM was no help. Is a rear eSATA port set to hot-swap by design with no setting needed once the drivers are loaded? Are there any advantages to useing a Marvel controller in this situation?

 

[bobni]

Thanks for the info guys. It turns out the marvel ports are hot-swap capable.