Last Updated 5/Oct/2009
Review: Belkin ExpressCard SATA II F5U239
Don Bradbury looks to the Belkin ExpressCard, F5U239, to do the job
| Product | SATA II ExpressCard, part number F5U239 |
|---|---|
| Company | Belkin |
| Web | www.belkin.co.uk |
| Price | £59.99 (inc VAT); £39 at Dabs |
| We like | Simple Vista setup by auto-detection and driver installation from Windows Update |
| We don't like | No claimed support for Windows Vista on Belkin pack or web site |
| Rating | 9/10 |
| Requirements |
While USB 2.0, and capable alternatives such Firewire 400 and 800, have until recently been relied upon for most peripherals connectivity and data transfer duties, the arrival (on the notebook scene in particular) of the ExpressCard has offered a new aspect to these functions because the eSATA interface, sometimes referred to as SATA-300, is so much more capable.
It achieves this capability by quadrupling the available bandwidth compared with USB 2.0. Offering single-lane data transfer rates of up to a theoretical 3 Gbps in comparison with USB 2.0’s 480Mbps and Firewire 800’s 800Mbps, the Serial ATA-300 controller interface that’s employed provides the potential for a huge leap in performance. We say ‘potential’ because that’s provided your data recording device can keep up with it. But modern hard disks, and the recent rise in availability of high performance SSD’s (Solid State Drives) of more reasonable price, have contributed to this mini-revolution.
In comparison with the old CardBus standard, for example, the gains to be had from pressing the new ExpressCard technology into service are adequately typified in Belkin’s somewhat over-stating graphic below, leading to faster music downloads, smoother streaming video, fast access to data storage devices and so on:
This Belkin eSATA device, part number F5U239, is typical of the application of ExpressCard technology to this duty, so although there was no confirmation of compatibility with Windows Vista from the pack or Belkin themselves, we took one for review to see how things went.
Installation
Belkin claim compatibility for this device only up to Windows XP on the pack, but a quick search around the web showed that later versions of Windows were also supported, without access to the supplied driver CD, so we tried it on a Vista notebook. We booted the notebook, slipped the device into the 54mm ExpressCard slot, selected the default option that was offered by Vista’s auto-running Add Hardware wizard, and waited.
The OS took a little while detecting and searching, finally looking automatically to the Windows Update web site. It determined that it was looking at a Silicon Image mass storage device, took a minute to load the driver, and finally declared that all was ready to use.
As ever with such procedures, it’s always best to check in Device Manager that all has gone well, and under the Storage Controllers section we found the appropriate Silicon Image Sil 3132 SATALink Controller entry to confirm the installation.
Device Manager’s drivers page showed the additions in more detail.
Classed as ‘hot-swappable’, this type of adapter should be ‘safely removed’ before dismounting, and that can be done using the same wizard as for a USB device. If you do, an attached SATA II disk drive may be activated again via either a reboot or by removing and then re-inserting the card itself to let the OS detect it.
In conclusion
This SATA 11 ExpressCard worked well with no user intervention. Installation proceeded automatically when Vista detected the device, downloading and installing the drivers from the Windows Update web site. While the device provides twin SATA II ports, which should be more that satisfactory for most users, the possible downside to bear in mind is that your ExpressCard slot will not be available for other duties - and on some notebooks, the CardBus slot as well, by overlap, and that included our Acer 5520. Be that as it may, those wanting the quickest data transfer technology available to date will willingly accommodate such factors.
