Friday, August 28th 2009

PhotoFast Unveils Compact mini-SATA Flash Drives

by
btarunr
 Discuss (15 Comments)
Quick-draw Flash storage specialist PhotoFast introduced mini SATA flash drives (essentially compact SATA SSDs that plug into the connectors). The G-Monster mini-SATA and G-Monster mini-DOM drives are about as big as cartridges of retro portable game consoles, measuring 45 x 37 x 7.5 mm and weighing 10 g. They come in capacities of 32 and 64 GB, and offer reasonably good transfer rates at 110 MB/s (read) and 60 MB/s (write). With the standard arrangement of SATA data and power connectors, the G-Monster mini-SATA should plug into any SATA drive docks/enclosures. Apart from being a portable storage medium, it can also be tucked away as a system drive for a NAS server. The G-Monster mini-DOM on the other hand, can plug directly into one of the motherboard's SATA ports, and draw power using its 5V adapter. The two will hit shelves in October. Pictured below are (in order) G-Monster mini-SATA and G-Monster mini-DOM.
Source: TechConnect Magazine

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15 Comments on PhotoFast Unveils Compact mini-SATA Flash Drives

#1
crazy pyro
So you need to actually plug them into a SATA port? Kind of negates the point of them being so small unless you're going to put them in a tiny case doesn't it?
Posted on Reply
#2
lemonadesoda
Can't do that. Which mainboards have a SATA (data) and SATA (power) next to each other? None... at the moment. Perhaps some manufacturers will do that from now on. A (low) power SATA next to a SATA data, right distance apart.
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#3
OnBoard
crazy pyroSo you need to actually plug them into a SATA port? Kind of negates the point of them being so small unless you're going to put them in a tiny case doesn't it?
First you can leave hanging from the sata power cable, the second one plugs straight to motherboard, like one in news couple days back forums.techpowerup.com/showthread.php?t=102388
Posted on Reply
#4
mdm-adph
Oh -- for a second there I thought it would plug into a PCI-E 1X port. That would be cool. :P
Posted on Reply
#5
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
Definitely would be nice for a small machine, such as a NAS. Though the price would be prohibitive, IMO. I'd rather use a cheap 2.5" laptop drive instead. This can't be that much smaller than a 2.5" drive, and I can get 160GB 2.5" SATA drives for $50. Yes, the standard drive probably won't be as fast, but who cares for the applications this thing would be used for?
lemonadesodaCan't do that. Which mainboards have a SATA (data) and SATA (power) next to each other? None... at the moment. Perhaps some manufacturers will do that from now on. A (low) power SATA next to a SATA data, right distance apart.
How hard is it to look at the pictures and see that the one with the SATA data and power connectors use the standard ones like on all drives, so you would connect them to the cables, not directly to the ports?

The other one connects directly to the SATA port, and uses a 5v adaptor.
Posted on Reply
#6
lemonadesoda
newtekie1How hard is it to look at the pictures and see that the one with the SATA data and power connectors use the standard ones like on all drives, so you would connect them to the cables, not directly to the ports?

The other one connects directly to the SATA port, and uses a 5v adaptor.
No shit Sherlock! Did you misunderstand the comment? Perhaps I wasnt clear. If so, apologies. Here goes again: You CANT plug in directly to the mainboard, but IF YOU COULD that would be neat for embedded systems or SFF. That is EXACTLY what some PATA Flash Drives can do. How hard is it to understand that? It would also require swapping male for female connections on the mainboard.
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#7
Disparia
/me must have gotten hit with a case of stupidity

I'm still not understanding what you're getting at :)

I have an SSD with a SATA plug, I put it into the SATA port on my motherboard. Is there a missing step?
Posted on Reply
#8
newtekie1
Semi-Retired Folder
lemonadesodaNo shit Sherlock! Did you misunderstand the comment? Perhaps I wasnt clear. If so, apologies. Here goes again: You CANT plug in directly to the mainboard, but IF YOU COULD that would be neat for embedded systems or SFF. That is EXACTLY what some PATA Flash Drives can do. How hard is it to understand that? It would also require swapping male for female connections on the mainboard.
You really have a hard time with comprehension and looking at pictures don't you?

You CAN plug directly into the mainboard! How is that hard to understand? The second image shows the version that plugs directly into the mainboard. Again, how hard is it to look at the pictures, and read the text?
Jizzler/me must have gotten hit with a case of stupidity

I'm still not understanding what you're getting at :)

I have an SSD with a SATA plug, I put it into the SATA port on my motherboard. Is there a missing step?
The only thing you are missing is plugging the power adaptor in to power the drive. It won't draw power from the port on the motherboard, it needs a seperate adaptor.
Posted on Reply
#9
rampage
edit** was typing up when newtekie1 replied


damn even i am getting confused reading all of this crap

the first drive (left pic) connectls like a standard SATA drive and uses standard SATA power and data cables

the seccond (right pic) plugs directly into the MOBO and draws its power from a specil 5v adapter (not pictured)


the "G-Monster mini-DOM" is the perfect OS/ repair drive for me, its what i was hoping the drive in the news a few days back would be, lets all hope that it falls into the $2>$3 per GB range then ppl will actualy think about buying them
Posted on Reply
#10
btarunr
Editor & Senior Moderator
lemonadesodaCan't do that. Which mainboards have a SATA (data) and SATA (power) next to each other? None... at the moment.
The first one doesn't sit onto the mobo, the second one does. The first one easily goes into docks and enclosures (since they have the data/power connectors placed in that fashion, to let you simply slot in a HDD).
Posted on Reply
#11
t77snapshot
I like it :) Both the mini-SATA and mini-DOM would have a great purpose for my needs.
Posted on Reply
#12
lemonadesoda
btarunrThe first one doesn't sit onto the mobo, the second one does. The first one easily goes into docks and enclosures (since they have the data/power connectors placed in that fashion, to let you simply slot in a HDD).
Thank you kindly for the polite correction and pointing out that the SECOND drive is designed to socket to the mainboard, with an (unshown) power adapter. Yep, I didnt quite read the full text. :toast:

Point remains: SATA specification has no power on the "data connector", and requires separate power. Same is true of eSATA. If the specification had included a (low current) 3.3v or 5v line, esp. on eSATA, then you could power a modern SSD. I wonder if they can make a revision to the standard, so that eSATA can have power, not unlike PoE.

I wonder what this 5V adapter looks like and where and what it plugs in to.

**EDIT**

Throw this into the mix www.everythingusb.com/power-esata-16649.html
Posted on Reply
#13
Basard
for mini-itx typa stuff this would be cool, they should also do this with video cards, haha... eventually maybe.
Posted on Reply
#14
3volvedcombat
i saw the drive without the sata power rapes. the one that need power fails. well a semi fail.
BUT if your a bencher. You would grap your AS5, motherboard, vid card, drive, psu, and plug in ready to go hardrive. Bench it on the dam notice. No extra cable for sata power, and it dosnt take room while benching. Awsome nees. If it was 100 bucks i would pay for it. Itll last till 2011 at least right? lul.... or sata 3 mini'z will come out.
Posted on Reply
#15
pr0n Inspector
3volvedcombati saw the drive without the sata power rapes. the one that need power fails. well a semi fail.
BUT if your a bencher. You would grap your AS5, motherboard, vid card, drive, psu, and plug in ready to go hardrive. Bench it on the dam notice. No extra cable for sata power, and it dosnt take room while benching. Awsome nees. If it was 100 bucks i would pay for it. Itll last till 2011 at least right? lul.... or sata 3 mini'z will come out.
SATA does not provide power. The second one simply uses an adapter instead of the standard SATA power connector.
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