Does W520 support port-multiplier, how?

[MikeD001]

Hi everyone,

I have a Thermaltake BlacX Duet which hooks up to e-sata and allows you to have two drives.  The pre-requisite is your sata should support port-multiplier.   I thought the QM67 had port-multiplier support.    I'm currently only able to see one of the two drives.   Has anyone had success getting an external array on the W520?   I'd like to know your configuration.

Thanks!

[s3ntin3l]

I'm interested in this as well.

According to the Thermaltake website: " When utilizing eSATA interface, Port Multiplier feature is required on the host system’s eSATA controller for two hard disk drives to be seen at the same time. "

So it seems the w520 doesn't support port multiplier. Can anybody confirm this?

[davidhbrown · Accepted solution]

It does not. All five of the [e/m]SATA ports are connected to the QM67 chipset which does not support port mutlipliers. (In Intel's QM67 datasheet, when talking about setting the SATA controller registers, it says, "The PCH SATA controller does not support Port Multipliers. BIOS must clear this bit by writing a 0 to this field.)

I have the NexStar dual USB/eSATA dock from Vantec, and it makes my W520 rather unhappy if I connect it over eSATA, even with only one drive plugged in. (USB is fine with two drives, but it's only USB 2.0.)

I believe there are one or two ExpressCard eSATA adapters that support port multipliers (and more that don't)... but since I don't actually need it yet, I'm waiting for a ExpressCard v2 / SATA III / 6Gbps variant before I get one. (If one is ever made.)

[MikeD001]

Thanks for the reply david. I did notice the W520 would pause on boot until the Duet is powered off. That's unfortunate, I'll have to find an express card that that supports it (Addonics or Startech).

[mlm38grk]

Not sure how well this works as claimed but here is one. Doesn't seem there are many choices of ExpressCard that supports SATA II. 

StarTech ECESAT32 2 Port SATA 6 Gbps ExpressCard eSATA Controller Card:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16839158039

BTW is StarTech a reputable manufacturer that makes repliable laptop add-ons?