Drive Caddy | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net KitGuru.net - Tech News | Hardware News | Hardware Reviews | IOS | Mobile | Gaming | Graphics Cards Sun, 19 Apr 2020 09:26:20 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.4.3 https://www.kitguru.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/cropped-KITGURU-Light-Background-SQUARE2-32x32.png Drive Caddy | KitGuru https://www.kitguru.net 32 32 Silicon power launch the A62 Game Drive external storage https://www.kitguru.net/components/hard-drives/james-dawson/silicon-power-launch-the-a62-game-drive-external-storage/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/hard-drives/james-dawson/silicon-power-launch-the-a62-game-drive-external-storage/#respond Sun, 19 Apr 2020 09:22:19 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=462641 With game install sizes increasing all the time, the current crop of games consoles are struggling to fit all this data on their internal hard drives, so external storage is almost a necessity if you want to keep your game library packed with new releases. Silicon Power has a new solution to this problem with …

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With game install sizes increasing all the time, the current crop of games consoles are struggling to fit all this data on their internal hard drives, so external storage is almost a necessity if you want to keep your game library packed with new releases.

Silicon Power has a new solution to this problem with its A62 Game Drive external storage offering a high capacity and flexible plug and play interface. The A62 Game Drive from Silicon Power is available in capacities up to 2TB and is specifically designed to help gamers expand their gaming library with space for up to 50 games on average to be stored on the device.

Not only does it offer huge capacity, but the A62 game Drive also provides lightning-fast access to games and files via a USB 3.2 Gen 1 interface that is capable of data transfer speed of up to 5 Gbps. Plug and Play technology means gamers can connect the A62 Game Drive to a console and enjoy access to games in seconds with this simple setup process.

The A62 Game Drive is available in 1TB or 2TB capacities and is compatible with Windows 10/8.1/8/7/Vista/XP 64-Bit, Mac OS 10.5.x, Linux 2.6.x, PS4 Pro or PS4 (system software version 4.50 or higher) and Xbox One. The compact device measures 131.7 mm x 86.5 mm x 14.9 mm and is available in a black/blue colour scheme with a housing constructed from plastic and rubber.

A62 Game Drive is designed to be tough and meets the US military MIL-STD 810G 516.7 Procedure IV anti-collision standard. It can also resist liquid spillages with its IPX4 water-resistance providing protection against splashing water from any direction, while textured surfaces promote resistance to scratches and fingerprints. Power is provided by the USB connection so no external power supply is necessary and a Free SP Widget software is available for download, which provides 7 major back-up and security functions.

The Silicon Power A62 Game Drive is expected to be available from Amazon UK upon release, however, availability and price is still to be announced.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: External storage is a must for console owners these days and there are plenty of devices on the market already. What do you guys think of this new external HDD from Silicon power?

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TerraMaster TD2 Thunderbolt 3 2-bay DAS Review https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/featured-tech-reviews/simon-crisp/terramaster-td2-thunderbolt-3-2-bay-das-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/featured-tech-reviews/simon-crisp/terramaster-td2-thunderbolt-3-2-bay-das-review/#respond Thu, 05 Mar 2020 12:10:59 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=452821 How good is this Thunderbolt 3 DAS from TerraMaster?

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TerraMaster's TD2 Thunderbolt 3 is a 2-bay DAS (Direct-Attached Storage) drive aimed at professional users and, as the name suggests comes with a pair of Thunderbolt 3 interfaces. TerraMaster's TD2 Thunderbolt 3 looks just like a 2-bay NAS with the obvious exception that the TD2 comes with a very useful carrying handle. The enclosure is built from aluminium which along with the 80mm smart fan helps to keep the unit cool.

 

The TD2 Thunderbolt 3 supports 3.5in discs (up to 16TB at the time of writing) along with 2.5in SATA HDD and SSD's. There's a compatibility list of supported drives on the TerraMaster website. The TD 2 Thunderbolt 3 supports four modes; single disk, JBOD (Just a Bunch of Disks), RAID 0 and RAID 1. To switch between modes you have to turn the mode selection switch and press the reset button.

Maximum read/write performance for the unit obviously depends on the choice of drives but TerraMaster quote reads of up to 760MB/s (using a pair of SSD's in a RAID 0 array) and writes of up to 390MB/s (SSHD in a RAID 0 array).

TerraMaster back the TD2 Thunderbolt 3 with a two-year warranty.

Physical Specifications:
Drive Bays: 2.
RAID support: JBOD, RAID 0, RAID 1.
Interface: Thunderbolt 3 x 2.
Form Factor:  2-bay Tower.
Dimensions: 227 x 119 x 173mm.
Drive Weight: 1.4Kg.

Be sure to check out our sponsors store EKWB here

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TerraMaster announces the Thunderbolt 3 equipped TD2 DAS https://www.kitguru.net/components/hard-drives/james-dawson/terramaster-announces-the-thunderbolt-3-equipped-td2-das/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/hard-drives/james-dawson/terramaster-announces-the-thunderbolt-3-equipped-td2-das/#respond Sun, 26 Jan 2020 14:00:27 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=448746 TerraMaster has proudly announced a new lineup of Thunderbolt 3 equipped direct-attached storage solutions to provide fast video and data access to content creators and multimedia professionals. The new TD2 direct-attached storage (DAS) line from TerraMaster utilises the power of Thunderbolt 3 to allow 40Gbps data transfer in a two-bay plug and play device, ideal …

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TerraMaster has proudly announced a new lineup of Thunderbolt 3 equipped direct-attached storage solutions to provide fast video and data access to content creators and multimedia professionals.

The new TD2 direct-attached storage (DAS) line from TerraMaster utilises the power of Thunderbolt 3 to allow 40Gbps data transfer in a two-bay plug and play device, ideal of Mac Pro media professionals who require large storage solutions with high-speed access in a portable form factor.

TerraMaster has equipped the TD2 DAS with Thunderbolt technology so users can connect multiple devices simultaneously via a daisy chain, allowing you to scale devices from a single source. The TerraMaster TD2 two-bay device supports professional-grade RAID0 or RAID1 configuration for improved performance or data redundancy.

TD2 DAS also supports HDDs up to 16Tb capacity, in both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch format to allow for the use of either SSD or HDD storage devices. Total supported capacity of the TD2 is 32GB, enough to provide large, high-speed and portable storage wherever you are working. Daisy chain allows you to scale your production with up to six TD2's, for a Hugh 168TB total storage capacity.

The TerraMaster TD2 DAS features a compact and portable form factor that has a allows users an easy transition from laptops while on the go, to your workstation when back at the office or home.  An easy-grip handle on the device allows it to be carried with you wherever you need. The device is also compatible with previous generations via the Thunderbolt-to-Thunderbolt 3 converter to quickly move between devices.

TerraMaster has made the TD2 DAS available to purchase now from its online store, priced at £299.90.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: The TerraMaster TD2 DAS should offer busy professionals more than enough data storage, with its huge 32TB capacity when two drives are installed. What do you guys think of this new portable DAS from TerraMaster?

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Team Group extends product lines and adds more 32GB DIMMs https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/james-dawson/team-group-extends-product-lines-and-adds-more-32gb-dimms/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/memory/james-dawson/team-group-extends-product-lines-and-adds-more-32gb-dimms/#respond Thu, 31 Oct 2019 09:34:57 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=433363 Team Group has updated its product lines with more 32GB capacity DDR4 modules. The new high-capacity DIMMs will be part of the Elite and Elite plus ranges which are targeted towards content creators and professional use. The company’s Elite and Elite Plus products will now feature 32GB DIMMs rated at 1.2 V across the range. …

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Team Group has updated its product lines with more 32GB capacity DDR4 modules. The new high-capacity DIMMs will be part of the Elite and Elite plus ranges which are targeted towards content creators and professional use.

The company’s Elite and Elite Plus products will now feature 32GB DIMMs rated at 1.2 V across the range. The high-capacity DIMMs are Team Group's response to the rise in live streaming and an increase in the number of digital content creators. Team Group has announced other hardware products for creators to provide upgrade options alongside the new 32GB DIMMs.

Team Group's MP34 M.2 PCIe SSD features a new generation PCIe Gen3 x4 High-speed interface, with the latest NVME 1.3 protocol. During multitasking scenarios, it is claimed the MP34 with 1TB capacity is capable of 3000 MB/s read and 2600 MB/s write speeds to offer a stable and smooth experience.

In Addition, Team Group provides large capacity portable storage devices, ideal for live streaming and video content creation. The PD400 portable SSD is tested to meet IP66 dust and water resistance. The device also features USB Type-C connectivity and is compatible with Windows, Mac OS and Android systems. The USB 3.2 Gen 1 transfer speed is suitable for creators who need fast and secure access to data for video creation.

For devices such as digital video cameras, Team Group has the Pro V30 memory card, which is compliant with UHS speed class 3 (U3) and the V30 specification and supports 4k Ultra HD shooting to make it the ideal choice for content creators. With these upgrades, the Team Group range has all types of storage and data processing solutions covered.

Discuss on our Facebook page HERE.

KitGuru says: Team Group has always offered high-performance top-quality products. Refreshing the lineup means the company offers solutions for content creators to enable fast image processing and high speed, reliable access to video and image content on the desktop, or while on the move.

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Crucial introduce X8 Portable SSD https://www.kitguru.net/components/ssd-drives/james-dawson/crucial-introduce-x8-portable-ssd/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/ssd-drives/james-dawson/crucial-introduce-x8-portable-ssd/#respond Sat, 26 Oct 2019 14:00:45 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=432254 For the first time in its long history, Crucial has announced it is to enter the portable SSD storage market with a new device. The Crucial X8 Portable SSD claims to deliver top performance at a competitive price. Crucial, the brand behind Micron’s memory and storage solutions has announced its entry into the portable SSD …

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For the first time in its long history, Crucial has announced it is to enter the portable SSD storage market with a new device. The Crucial X8 Portable SSD claims to deliver top performance at a competitive price.

Crucial, the brand behind Micron’s memory and storage solutions has announced its entry into the portable SSD storage market, with its Crucial X8 Portable SSD. The crucial X8 claims to offer high-performance with read speeds up to 1,050MB/s, which is 1.8 times faster than similar portable SSD devices in the same price category and up to 7.5 times faster than portable HDDs.

The Crucial X8 Portable SSD is compatible with PC, MAC, PS4, Xbox One, iPads, Chromebooks and a range of other Android devices via a USB 3.2 Gen2 interface. X8 Portable SSD claims to offer a range of other benefits including Fast transfer times, high capacity for storing photos, videos, documents and providing simple to use additional storage for console gamers.

“Now, more than ever, consumers want unfettered access to their important data,” said Teresa Kelley, vice president and general manager of Micron Consumer Products Group. “With the advent of faster computers, widespread photo sharing and larger game sizes, it’s time to evolve to faster, more reliable storage solutions. The Crucial X8 leverages the unparalleled quality and vertical integration of Micron to provide unmatched value for our customers.”

All Crucial SSDs are built using NAND from Micron, which is one of the largest flash storage manufacturers in the world. Crucial claims its SSDs undergo thousands of hours of Micron testing and validation before hitting the market, to ensure reliability and durability for consumers.

The Crucial X8 Portable SSD is drop-proof up to 7.5 feet and is backed by a three-year limited warranty. The X8 Portable SSD is available in capacities of 500GB or 1TB from the Crucial web store. The X8 500GB can be purchased from Crucial priced at £117.59 with the 1Tb version priced at £160.79.

KitGuru says: If you are looking for a high-performance portable storage drive, it may be worth checking out at the new X8 SSD series from Crucial. It would certainly offer quick access to a console gamers library for sure.

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Drobo adds Thunderbolt connectivity to its 5D3 DAS for Windows https://www.kitguru.net/professional/networking/nas/andrzej/drobo-adds-thunderbolt-connectivity-to-its-5d3-das-for-windows/ https://www.kitguru.net/professional/networking/nas/andrzej/drobo-adds-thunderbolt-connectivity-to-its-5d3-das-for-windows/#respond Tue, 20 Mar 2018 10:41:32 +0000 https://www.kitguru.net/?p=367790 The Photography show at Birmingham’s NEC is one of the largest of its kind in the world. While the majority of the hall space is given over to the latest and greatest in capture, lighting and editing kit – there is a small, but significant area assigned to back up and storage. Apple users have …

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The Photography show at Birmingham’s NEC is one of the largest of its kind in the world. While the majority of the hall space is given over to the latest and greatest in capture, lighting and editing kit – there is a small, but significant area assigned to back up and storage. Apple users have had access to super-fast products for a while. As file sizes increase, speed is of the essence. Drobo believe the 5D3 with Windows support will give professionals and serious users the back up speeds they need. PLUS there's a chance you can win one in March!

DSLR manufacturers like Canon held out as long as possible when it came to the integration of video capture functionality at HD, 4K and beyond.  The 5D Mark II represented a cross-over point. The ability to use a range of high-quality lenses with an affordable capture system proved too tempting for the TV/movie production business. Pretty soon, shows like House were evangelising about the new hybrid technologies – shooting entire episodes on (relatively) low cost DSLRs.

KitGuru’s team pretty much standardised on Panasonic 4K kit a while ago and now even smartphones like the iPhone 8+ are able to capture 4K at 60 frames per second.

All of this is wonderful, but as ultra high quality video becomes easier and cheaper to capture, it’s easy to be oblivious to the file sizes involved. Until you need to back them up.

Using intelligent compression and the latest CODECs, the Apple iPhone 8+ creates the following file sizes ‘per minute’ of video shot:-

We calculated approximate values for the time needed to back up an hour of video with these compression rates. Note that higher quality/broadcast cameras would be generating much bigger files.

At the NEC, we spoke with Drobo's Chief Technical Officer, Rod Harrison, who told us. “Although the change on the outside might seem small, it really opens up a lot of possibilities”.

“When the new drivers, we will enable Thunderbolt performance on a Windows compatible products which should be available to the public in a couple of months. It will be possible to configure a Drobo DAS with multiple mechanical hard drives and still achieve 800MB/sec back up speeds”, he explained.

We got Rod to point out the good bit and we also shot a close up.

When KitGuru looked at the Mac version of this product last Summer, we were very impressed. Even at £739, it still picked up our top award. To celebrate the launch of the Windows-enabling driver version, the Drobo team engaged with designer Lawrence Mann. He created a custom skin for the prize unit, which incorporates the design schematics for the 5D3.

For a chance to win, all you need to do is post a shot of the Drobo 5D3 on Twitter and/or Instagram with the hashtags #DroboLove and #UKPhotoShow. This is a Drobo competition, so nothing to do with KitGuru, but it's got to be worth a punt! Winners will be announced on 30th March 2018 by Drobo. Here's a shot of the 5D3 that we took earlier.

KitGuru says: We're all storing more and more files – so data transfer times are increasingly important for everyone. Apple users have had it good for a while – it's time that the PC posse got some of the good stuff.

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LaCie 5Big 20TB Thunderbolt RAID Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/hard-drives/zardon/lacie-5big-20tb-thunderbolt-raid-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/hard-drives/zardon/lacie-5big-20tb-thunderbolt-raid-review/#comments Tue, 28 Jan 2014 16:47:19 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=174781 Thunderbolt, and lightning, very very frightening me! Tacky ‘Bohemian Rhapsody' quotes aside, it is great to see that the Thunderbolt interface is finally seeing some traction in the PC marketplace, having already experienced great success with Apple's hardware. The major motherboard manufacturers are adopting Thunderbolt on a handful of their latest products, although licensing costs …

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Thunderbolt, and lightning, very very frightening me! Tacky ‘Bohemian Rhapsody' quotes aside, it is great to see that the Thunderbolt interface is finally seeing some traction in the PC marketplace, having already experienced great success with Apple's hardware. The major motherboard manufacturers are adopting Thunderbolt on a handful of their latest products, although licensing costs are still prohibitive. With this is mind, we thought we would revisit the LaCie 5Big Thunderbolt RAID device, in a stonking 20TB capacity. What can a Thunderbolt equipped storage device do for you?

LaCie are a well known company, producing quality enclosures for as long as I can remember. The LaCie 5big 20TB Thunderbolt RAID DAS we are reviewing today is equipped with five (hence the name ‘5Big') 4TB enterprise class mechanical hard drives. They do sell the 5Big in other capacities (5x2TB=10TB, and 5x5TB=25TB), with the less expensive 10TB unit being the biggest seller.

The LaCie 5Big Thunderbolt is shipped preconfigured for RAID 0, giving the fastest speeds possible. Not ideal if you want the most secure backup however, as there is a higher risk of data loss. Raid 1 is also an option, but you lose half the capacity and much of the performance potential. We will look at this in more detail, later in the review.
HB720_AV3
LaCie 5big Thunderbolt RAID overview:

  • Shocking speeds up to 785MB/s
  • RAID 0, 1, and JBOD support with hot swap
  • Dual Thunderbolt ports for daisy chaining
  • Whisper-quiet dual cooling
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Teratrend SST-TS431U 4-bay USB 3.0 Storage Tower Review https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/drive-caddy/simon-telford/teratrend-sst-ts431u-4-bay-usb-3-0-storage-tower-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/drive-caddy/simon-telford/teratrend-sst-ts431u-4-bay-usb-3-0-storage-tower-review/#comments Mon, 30 Sep 2013 09:12:07 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=147614 SilverStone is a company that you will most certainly have heard of. They produce a large range of Cases, Power Supplies and Storage devices. On the other hand, the name Teratrend probably won't mean much to you. Teratrend is a new division of SilverStone dedicated to delivering professional storage solutions. Teratrend currently list 7 products …

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SilverStone is a company that you will most certainly have heard of. They produce a large range of Cases, Power Supplies and Storage devices. On the other hand, the name Teratrend probably won't mean much to you. Teratrend is a new division of SilverStone dedicated to delivering professional storage solutions.

Teratrend currently list 7 products on their website, 4 of which are Tower Storage Solutions. Today's product is the 4-bay USB 3.0 and eSATA version, called the TS413U. Each bay can theoretically cater for 4 TB drives giving an impressive total storage of 16 TB in one enclosure. However, total capacity isn't everything, and we hope the TS413U can deliver good performance as well.

DSCF0411 copy
Specifications:

Model No.
TS431U
Enclosure material
Aluminum + SECC
Color
Black
Fan size
60mm cooling fan x2
HDD size support
3.5”HDD/SSD
HDD interface support
SATA III/SATA II/SATA I
Enclosure interface
USB3.0 (Max. 5Gbps) compatible with USB 2.0
eSATA ( Max 3Gbps )
*For recognizing multiple separate HDDs (Non-RAID) with eSATA port, SATA multiplier is required
Power Supply
Internal universal power supply design(115V/230V)
Input: AC 100-130V / 200-260V, 50Hz/60Hz
Output:DC +5V/6V +12V/11A
Net Weight
3300±20g
HDD Drive Support
Up to 4TB per HDD is supported
Certifications
CE、FCC、RoHS compliance
Dimension
266mm (D) x 187mm (W) x 130mm (H)
LED indicator
Power LED – Blue for power on
HDD status LED – Blue for HDD detected
Red flashing for HDD access
Environment
Operating Temperature: 5°C ~ 35°C
Operating Humidity: 20%RH ~ 80%RH
Storage Temperature: -20°C ~ 50°C
Storage Humidity: 20%RH ~ 80%RH
Accessories
TS431U (hard drives not included)
USB 3.0 cable x 1
e-SATA cable x 1
Power cord x 1
User manual x 1
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Patriot Gauntlet Node Portable Wireless 2.5″ HDD Enclosure Review https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/featured-tech-news/luke-hill/patriot-gauntlet-node-portable-wireless-2-5-hdd-enclosure-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/featured-tech-news/luke-hill/patriot-gauntlet-node-portable-wireless-2-5-hdd-enclosure-review/#comments Tue, 11 Dec 2012 08:22:04 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=117772 Turning towards the computing industry's storage segment, Patriot's latest drive enclosure aims to offer the flexibility of a portable hard drive with the convenience of a wireless streaming function. Can the Patriot Gauntlet Node portable wireless HDD enclosure establish itself as one of the market's firm contenders? Offering support for 2.5″ HDDs and SSDs, the Gauntlet Node is capable of sending …

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Turning towards the computing industry's storage segment, Patriot's latest drive enclosure aims to offer the flexibility of a portable hard drive with the convenience of a wireless streaming function. Can the Patriot Gauntlet Node portable wireless HDD enclosure establish itself as one of the market's firm contenders?

Offering support for 2.5″ HDDs and SSDs, the Gauntlet Node is capable of sending a drive's data across a built-in WiFi 802.11 b/g/n adapter. A USB 3.0 connection allows users to quickly transfer files from a computer to the Gauntlet Node's internal drive.

With dimensions only slightly larger than most average 2.5″ HDD caddies and a battery life of up to 5.5 hours, can the Patriot Gauntlet Node prove itself as a convenient and effective portable wireless drive enclosure?

Specifications:

  • Wifi 802.11 b/g/n
  • USB 3.0 port for high speed wired connection
  • Connect up to 8 devices at a time
  • Supports internet connection through a home or business Wi-Fi network (Internet Pass-thru)
  • Lithium-ion Battery
  • Up to 5.5 hours of operation on a full charge
  • 2.5″ HDD or SSD drive, NTFS formatted, maximum 9.5mm height
  • Dimensions: 3.39” (D) x 5.47” (W) x .96” (H) or 8.62cm (D) x 13.9cm (W) x 2.44cm (H)
  • Weight: 182.5 grams
  • Warranty: 2 years
  • Compatible with: iPad, iPhone (3GS or higher), iPod Touch (4th generation or higher) running iOS 4.2 or higher
  • Compatible with: Android phone with v2.3 or higher, or Android tablet with v3.0 or higher
  • Compatible with: Kindle Fire
  • Compatible with: PC running Windows XP/Vista/7/8 or higher, or Apple Mac running OSX 10.5 or higher
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ADATA DashDrive Elite 500GB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/hard-drives/simon-telford/adata-dashdrive-elite-500gb-usb-3-0-external-hard-drive-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/hard-drives/simon-telford/adata-dashdrive-elite-500gb-usb-3-0-external-hard-drive-review/#respond Tue, 20 Nov 2012 09:05:22 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=114948 The ADATA DashDrive Elite HE720 500GB USB 3.0 external enclosure is the slimmest of its kind, measuring in at only 8.9mm thick. It also sports a professional-looking brushed Stainless Steel surface with a scratch resistant coating. The company have also added a ‘One Touch Backup' which as the name suggests allows the user to back …

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The ADATA DashDrive Elite HE720 500GB USB 3.0 external enclosure is the slimmest of its kind, measuring in at only 8.9mm thick. It also sports a professional-looking brushed Stainless Steel surface with a scratch resistant coating. The company have also added a ‘One Touch Backup' which as the name suggests allows the user to back up essential data with a single touch.

Couple all this with a USB 3.0 connection, some simple backup software and it should offer great all-round performance.

Specifications

Capacity 500GB
Color Titanium
Dimensions (L x W x H) 117 x 79 x 8.9mm (4.6 x 3.1 x 0.4in)
Weight 164g (0.4 lb)
Interface (USB) SuperSpeed USB 3.0 (backward compatible with USB 2.0)
Interface (HDD) 2.5″ SATA II
System requirements Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7 / Mac OS X 10.6 or later / Linux Kernel 2.6 or later
Temperature Operating 5ºC~50ºC; Storage -40ºC~60ºC
Accessories USB 3.0 cable; Quick Start Guide
Texture Stainless steel metal brushed surface, plus mirror-like polish
Warranty 3 years
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ICY Dock 5.25″ Hot Swap Drive Caddy for 2.5″ and 3.5″ Drive Review https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/drive-caddy/simon-telford/icy-dock-5-25-hot-swap-drive-caddy-for-2-5-and-3-5-drive-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/drive-caddy/simon-telford/icy-dock-5-25-hot-swap-drive-caddy-for-2-5-and-3-5-drive-review/#comments Thu, 15 Nov 2012 09:43:39 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=99471 Today we are looking at a slightly different device from the ICY Dock line of products. The ICY Dock MB971SP-B is a hot swap drive caddy that can fit both a 3.5″ and a 2.5″ drive at the same time. ICY Dock's reasoning for creating a product like this is more often than not people have …

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Today we are looking at a slightly different device from the ICY Dock line of products. The ICY Dock MB971SP-B is a hot swap drive caddy that can fit both a 3.5″ and a 2.5″ drive at the same time.

ICY Dock's reasoning for creating a product like this is more often than not people have a spare 5.25″ bay. Therefore, instead of having two docks residing on your desk (one for 3.5″ drives and one for 2.5″ drives) you have this device installed into your chassis. This gives the flexibility to use 1 x 2.5″ drive or 1 x 3.5″ drive, or both.

The advantage of having the ICY Dock Hot Swap Drive Caddy installed into the chassis is that it plugs directly into your SATA ports and doesn't use an interface such as USB 3.0 or eSATA. As such, the performance is likely to be less restricted.

As the ICY Dock MB971 features two data channels it can transfer data between both the 3.5″ drive and the 2.5″ drive at the same time, giving you (in theory) the perfect external solution.

Specifications:

  • Model Number: MB971SP-B
  • Color: Black
  • Drive Fit:
    • 2.5″ SATA HDD or SSD x 1
    • 3.5″ SATA HDD or SSD x1
  • Host Connection: 7 pin SATA port x 2
  • Device Space: 5.25″ half height device bay
  • Transfer Rate: Up to 6 Gbit/s. (depending on hard drive speed)
  • Structure: Metal body w/ partial plastic
  • Power Connector: 15pin SATA Power
  • Power Indicator: Solid Green LED
  • HDD Access Indicator: Flashing Amber LED
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ICY Dock Blizzard MB080U3S-1SB 3.5” USB 3.0/eSATA External Enclosure Review https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/drive-caddy/simon-telford/icy-dock-blizzard-mb080u3s-1sb-3-5%e2%80%9d-usb-3-0esata-external-enclosure-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/drive-caddy/simon-telford/icy-dock-blizzard-mb080u3s-1sb-3-5%e2%80%9d-usb-3-0esata-external-enclosure-review/#comments Mon, 05 Nov 2012 08:17:15 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=99138 Today we are looking at an enclosure by ICY Dock, the Blizzard (MB080U3S-1SB), a creatively designed single 3.5″ bay featuring both USB 3.0 and eSATA connectivity. ICY Dock have built this new enclosure from the ground-up to have an elegant appearance but yet incorporate a large 80mm cooling fan. The advantages of this design? With …

The post ICY Dock Blizzard MB080U3S-1SB 3.5” USB 3.0/eSATA External Enclosure Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>

Today we are looking at an enclosure by ICY Dock, the Blizzard (MB080U3S-1SB), a creatively designed single 3.5″ bay featuring both USB 3.0 and eSATA connectivity.

ICY Dock have built this new enclosure from the ground-up to have an elegant appearance but yet incorporate a large 80mm cooling fan. The advantages of this design? With the fan positioned at the front and the vents at the rear it can create a tunnel of fast moving air … much like a turbine engine, allowing all sides of the hard drive to be cooled very efficiently.

ICY Dock have also managed to create an enclosure which can house a 3.5″ drive securely without the use of any tools – great if you want to switch drives at any point.

Specifications

Model Number :
MB080U3S-1SB
Color :
Black
Drive Fit :
Single 3.5″ SATA I / II / III hard drive
Drive Capacity :
3TB+
Host Interface :
1 x eSATA 3Gb/s port
1 x USB 3.0 port (USB 2.0 compatible)
Transfer Rate (max. bus speed):
Up to 3Gb/s via eSATA
Up to 5Gb/s via USB 3.0
Up to 480Mb/s via USB 2.0
Drive Cooling :
80mm fan
Fan Speed Control :
High/ Low/ Auto
HDD Access Indication :
Flashing orange LED
Power Indication :
Green LED
Over Heat Indicatior :
Red ambient LED light (when temperature reach 50° C)
OS Requirement :
Windows XP/ 2003/ VISTA/ 7
Mac OS 10.22.8 and higher
Power Supply :
12V/2A power adapter
Structure :
ABS shell with metal frame
Dimension (L x W x H) :
237.5 x 126 x 146 mm
Weight :
646g
The post ICY Dock Blizzard MB080U3S-1SB 3.5” USB 3.0/eSATA External Enclosure Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
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ICY BOX External 2.5″ HDD USB 3.0 Enclosure Review https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/drive-caddy/simon-telford/icy-box-external-2-5-hdd-usb-3-0-enclosure-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/drive-caddy/simon-telford/icy-box-external-2-5-hdd-usb-3-0-enclosure-review/#respond Wed, 17 Oct 2012 07:52:57 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=106999 We have reviewed several USB 3.0 enclosures recently, this time is the turn of a 2.5″ device from ICY BOX. With the price of SSD's falling constantly, a 2.5″ HDD enclosure has never been more tempting. With a 60 GB SSD recently being retailed at under £30, it certainly wouldn't break the bank to have …

The post ICY BOX External 2.5″ HDD USB 3.0 Enclosure Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
We have reviewed several USB 3.0 enclosures recently, this time is the turn of a 2.5″ device from ICY BOX. With the price of SSD's falling constantly, a 2.5″ HDD enclosure has never been more tempting. With a 60 GB SSD recently being retailed at under £30, it certainly wouldn't break the bank to have an ultra fast USB 3.0 external hard drive. Of course, if you want more capacity then 500 GB 2.5″ mechanical HDD's are available for less than £50.

ICY BOX is a sub-brand of Raidsonic, specifically focused at storage solutions, media players and multimedia accessories.

Specifications

  • Premium hard synthetic material (Polycarbonate), glossy finish
  • USB 3.0 up to 5 Gbit/s
  • Downwardly compatible with USB 2.0/1.1
  • USB powered – no power supply necessary
  • LED for power and HDD access
  • HDD up to 9.5 mm height
  • Capacity no limit
  • Supports Windows XP/Vista/7
  • Plug & Play and Hot Swap
  • Including silicone protection sleeve
The post ICY BOX External 2.5″ HDD USB 3.0 Enclosure Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
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Icy Dock MB559U3S External 3.5″ SATA Hard Drive Enclosure Review https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/featured-tech-reviews/simon-telford/icy-dock-mb559u3s-external-3-5-sata-hard-drive-enclosure-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/tech-news/featured-tech-reviews/simon-telford/icy-dock-mb559u3s-external-3-5-sata-hard-drive-enclosure-review/#comments Mon, 27 Aug 2012 07:49:12 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=99463 ICY Dock are continually improving their line-up of Hard Drive Enclosures, hoping to find the perfect solution for a wide audience. Today, we are looking at an External Bay enclosure which holds a 3.5″ SATA hard disk drive. The MB559U3S features an ultra-slim design which offers great portability and reduced footprint. In fact, it is …

The post Icy Dock MB559U3S External 3.5″ SATA Hard Drive Enclosure Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>

ICY Dock are continually improving their line-up of Hard Drive Enclosures, hoping to find the perfect solution for a wide audience. Today, we are looking at an External Bay enclosure which holds a 3.5″ SATA hard disk drive.

The MB559U3S features an ultra-slim design which offers great portability and reduced footprint. In fact, it is only 3 centimeters wide, meaning it can sit in the corner of a desk without demanding space.

The MB559U3S uses a passive cooling system and is built around an aluminium body with a ventilation grill on top. It is available in two colours, and both feature USB 3.0 and eSATA connections.

Specifications

Model Number :
MB559U3S-1SB
Color :
Matt Black
Drive Fit :
Single 3.5″ SATA I / II / III hard drive
Host Interface :
1 x eSATA 3Gb/s port
1 x USB 3.0 port (USB 2.0 compatible)
Transfer Rate (max. bus speed):
Up to 3Gb/s via eSATA
Up to 5Gb/s via USB 3.0
Up to 480Mb/s via USB 2.0
Insert & Extract connection Via :
Direct SATA hard drive connection
Structure :
Aluminum body w/ partial plastic
Drive Cooling :
Aluminum heat dispersion w/ top ventilation panel
LED Indication :
Device Power: White LED
Drive Activity: Flashing White LED
OS Requirement :
Windows 98/SE/ME/2000/XP/VISTA/7
Mac OS 9.0 or higher
Dimension (L x W x H) :
191 x 142.6 x 31.2 mm
Weight :
1.16 lbs.
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Marvell unveils world’s fastest NAS technology https://www.kitguru.net/components/hard-drives/harrison/marvell-unveils-worlds-fastest-nas-technology/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/hard-drives/harrison/marvell-unveils-worlds-fastest-nas-technology/#respond Fri, 13 Jan 2012 08:07:18 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=73783 We're used to seeing Marvell and Sandforce going head to head in the SSD space. Each new generation brings innovation – which directly leads to improved performance. But, to be honest, SSDs are bloody quick already. We're more likely to notice an improvement on a part of our everyday-use network, that is a genuine bottleneck. …

The post Marvell unveils world’s fastest NAS technology first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
We're used to seeing Marvell and Sandforce going head to head in the SSD space. Each new generation brings innovation – which directly leads to improved performance. But, to be honest, SSDs are bloody quick already. We're more likely to notice an improvement on a part of our everyday-use network, that is a genuine bottleneck. Cue Marvell and its work with Tuxera.

Even for Gurus of the Kit, it's hard to know which of the thousands of unknown technology companies will become world famous off teh back of a small innovation. With Marvell and Sandforce, they have become (geek)household names off the back of the SSD performance war that has no raged for two years.

But when you look around your office/home network, surely the NAS box is the slowest device. We know that our video guys spend ages waiting for mega-large files to move around the backup systems. If only they were quicker. Well, according to Marvell, now they are.

At least according to the latest joint statement from these companies.

Marvell  and Tuxera have announced the industry’s fastest full-featured NAS solution. Built on the Marvell Kirkwood and Armada chipsets, Tuxera’s optimized XFS and NTFS technology offers superior performance compared to competing Linux solutions.

Marvell and Tuxera’s joint solution is designed to reduce overall development cost and enable faster time to market for customers’ NAS platforms. The achieved gains in speed enable a new generation of NAS applications that offer a seamless user experience-as well as full portability across NTFS and other storage formats. The solution marks a significant breakthrough as consumers and businesses seek more efficient means to store and serve volumes of data and multimedia files across networked devices.

When asked about the benefits, each company was on standby with typically awkward sounding corporate statements.

“Our collaboration with Tuxera, who delivers industry-leading file system solutions for NAS, reinforces Marvell’s leadership and commitment to breaking barriers in the storage space,” said Paul Valentine, vice president of marketing for the Enterprise Business Unit at Marvell Semiconductor, Inc. “We understand performance is paramount for NAS customers, and we believe features such as file system optimizations-combined with both companies’ reputations for quality and support-place Marvell and Tuxera well ahead of the competition.”

“Tuxera is pleased to integrate XFS and NTFS technology with Marvell’s market-leading application processors,” said Mikko V?m?, CEO of Tuxera. “Over the past year, Tuxera’s experts in XFS, ARM, network, Samba and performance tuning have worked diligently with Marvell engineers to reach a new industry record in speed. Together, we give manufacturers top-flight, fully-supported NAS solutions they can trust.”

At 129 megabytes per second, Marvell and Tuxera’s NAS solution offers the fastest 2 GHz NAS performance on the market. In addition, Tuxera has optimized and tuned XFS for Marvell customers’ most common workloads. Tuxera’s NTFS technology is the industry’s only solution of this speed to come pre-integrated with Marvell’s Kirkwood and ARMADA chipsets.

XFS is a mature and scalable file system designed for use with multiple CPUs and disk arrays (RAID). NTFS is currently the most popular, scalable interoperable storage format for external backup.

These NAS boxes are really, really slow. Would be nice if they were quicker

KitGuru says: We can't wait to see how much impact these improvements will have on the lives of people like video editors who want to munch and crunch and bunch gigabytes of data to and from their NAS devices. We have a vested interest.

Comment below or in the KitGuru forums.

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Akasa Elite S and Integral S 2.5″ Hard Drive Enclosures Review https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/henry-butt/akasa-elite-s-and-integral-s-2-5-hard-drive-enclosures-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/henry-butt/akasa-elite-s-and-integral-s-2-5-hard-drive-enclosures-review/#comments Mon, 18 Apr 2011 16:01:58 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=38918 Many people will opt for the simple route when purchasing an external hard drive, purchasing a pre-assembled unit from the likes of Western Digital or Seagate.  But the more tech-savvy users out there may decide to purchase the enclosure and hard drive separately to reduce the cost or to achieve better levels of performance. Today …

The post Akasa Elite S and Integral S 2.5″ Hard Drive Enclosures Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>

Many people will opt for the simple route when purchasing an external hard drive, purchasing a pre-assembled unit from the likes of Western Digital or Seagate.  But the more tech-savvy users out there may decide to purchase the enclosure and hard drive separately to reduce the cost or to achieve better levels of performance.

Today we are going to look at two of Akasa's 2.5″ hard drive enclosures which both support USB3.0 connectivity.  These are perfect for those who need an ultra-fast SSD based external drive or those who want to make the most of a traditional mechanical drive.  We will also be taking a brief look at a front bay Card and Drive reader from Akasa that supports a number of memory card standards alongside 2.5″ hard drives.

Akasa Elite S

Features

  • Super Speed USB3.0 connection
  • Leather Finish with brushed aluminium fascia
  • Aluminium housing for good heat dissipation
  • Suitable for all 2.5″ SATA HDD and SSD
  • Backward compatible with USB2.0

Specification

  • Dimensions: 132 x 90 x 16mm
  • Max HDD Height: 9.5mm
  • Internal interface: SATA
  • External Interface: USB3.0
  • Transfer rate (up to): 5.0Gbps (USB3.0) and 480Mbps (USB2.0)
  • Power requirements: +5V DC (from USB)
  • Plug & Play, hot-swappable
  • OS Support: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7, Mac OS X 10.3+

Akasa Integral S

Features

  • Super Speed USB3.0 interface
  • Sleek aluminium body for good heat dissipation
  • Suitable for all 2.5″ SATA and SSD drives
  • Backward compatible with USB3.0
  • Plug & Play, Hos-swappable
  • Blue LED access and power indicator

Specification

  • Dimensions: 136 x 80 x 16mm
  • Max HDD height: 9.5mm
  • Internal interface: SATA
  • External interface: USB3.0
  • Transfer rate (up to): 5.0 Gbps (USB3.0) and 480 Mbps (USB2.0)
  • Power requirements: +5V DC (from USB)
  • OS Support: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7, Mac OS X 10.3+

Akasa BayMaster Card and Drive Reader

Features

  • 2.5″ SATA HDD / SSD Dock
  • 4-slot card reader
  • choice of fascia colour
  • Plug and Play, hot-swappable

Specification

  • Compatibility: 3.5″ Drive Bay
  • Interface: USB2.0
  • Max transfer speed: 480 Mbps
  • Max drive height: 9.5mm
  • Power requirement: +5V DC
  • Connectors: motherboard USB plug, SATA power
  • LED: Card Reader and HDD Access
  • OS Support: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7
The post Akasa Elite S and Integral S 2.5″ Hard Drive Enclosures Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
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Akasa DuoDock 2S USB3.0 Hard Drive Docking Station Review https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/henry-butt/akasa-duodock-2s-usb3-0-hard-drive-docking-station-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/henry-butt/akasa-duodock-2s-usb3-0-hard-drive-docking-station-review/#comments Fri, 15 Apr 2011 10:46:48 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=38907 There are a lot of people out there who would benefit greatly from purchasing an external hard drive as a form of storage for backing up their files and storing large media files.  But the benefits of owning a hard drive docking station are constrained to a much narrower segment of the market. Today we …

The post Akasa DuoDock 2S USB3.0 Hard Drive Docking Station Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>

There are a lot of people out there who would benefit greatly from purchasing an external hard drive as a form of storage for backing up their files and storing large media files.  But the benefits of owning a hard drive docking station are constrained to a much narrower segment of the market.

Today we have the Akasa DuoDock 2S hard drive docking station on our test bench which lets you hook up two hard drives to your machine via a USB3.0 interface.  Both hard drive slots support both 2.5″ and 3.5″ hard drives, making this product as flexible as possible.  We will also be taking a look at Akasa's USB3.0 two-port ExpressCard notebook adapter which lets users add USB3.0 functionality to their laptop without significant cost.

Features

  • Simple connection for 2.5″ and 3.5″ SATA and SSD drives
  • Takes two hard drives simultaneously
  • Super speed USB3.0 connection
  • Backward compatible with USB 2.0
  • Stylish blue LED illumination with on/off switch

Specification

  • Dimensions: 120 x 140 x 73mm
  • HDD Interface: SATA
  • External Connection: USB3.0
  • Max Data Transfer Rate: 5 Gb/s (USB3.0) and 480Mb/s (USB2.0)
  • Power requirement: +12V DC
  • Power adapter: 100 – 240V AC
  • Plug & Play: Hot Swappable
  • OS Support: Windows 2000/XP/Vista/7, Max OSX 10.3+
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Startech InfoSafe 4x 3.5″ (RAID) External Hard Drive Enclosure Review https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/henry-butt/startech-infosafe-4x-3-5-raid-external-hard-drive-enclosure-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/henry-butt/startech-infosafe-4x-3-5-raid-external-hard-drive-enclosure-review/#comments Fri, 08 Apr 2011 08:35:45 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=38670 External hard drives have grown in popularity in the last year, allowing users to expand storage capacity with minimal effort and at a very low cost.  The external solution is ideal for ‘offline' data backup or to share media and data files quickly across multiple machines. Today we are going to look at one of …

The post Startech InfoSafe 4x 3.5″ (RAID) External Hard Drive Enclosure Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>

External hard drives have grown in popularity in the last year, allowing users to expand storage capacity with minimal effort and at a very low cost.  The external solution is ideal for ‘offline' data backup or to share media and data files quickly across multiple machines.

Today we are going to look at one of Startech's external hard drive enclosures which has room for four 3.5″ SATA hard drives in a RAID configuration.  This is designed specifically for corporate users so it uses the royalty free eSATA interface exclusively rather than USB3.0.  As numerous corporate users only upgrade their PC systems every few years, Startech includes an eSATA expansion card with the InfoSafe which can be installed into a PCI slot.

Specification

  • Model Number: SAT3540ER2
  • Enclosure Type: Aluminium
  • Number of Drives: 4
  • Compatible Drives: 3.5″ SATA
  • Max Drive Capacity: Tested up to 2.0GB
  • Supported RAID Modes: BIG, CLONE, JBOD, RAID0, RAID1, RAID10, RAID5
  • Fans: 1x 80mm
  • Dimensions: 170 x 230 x 149 mm (W x L x H)
  • Host Connector: 7-pin eSATA DATA Male
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Adding a little style to your data backup routine https://www.kitguru.net/components/hard-drives/faith/adding-a-little-style-to-your-data-backup-routine/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/hard-drives/faith/adding-a-little-style-to-your-data-backup-routine/#respond Thu, 10 Feb 2011 06:38:07 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=33140 As technology develops more and more, style and design becomes more important. AData’s SH02 range started in simple Black, White and Pink – but going forward there will be a lot more variation. KitGuru turns Fashion TV on in the background and investigates. External hard drive caddies have been built like Cylon warriors for a …

The post Adding a little style to your data backup routine first appeared on KitGuru.]]>
As technology develops more and more, style and design becomes more important. AData’s SH02 range started in simple Black, White and Pink – but going forward there will be a lot more variation. KitGuru turns Fashion TV on in the background and investigates.

External hard drive caddies have been built like Cylon warriors for a very long time.

Not a bad place to start really. If you’re going to trust your data to a tiny device, maybe it should look like it can survive a knife fight/the hard vacuum of inter-galactic space.

Only problem is that most people don’t have a 2 meter high metallic suite to match. Enter AData’s design team.

The SH02 range of 2.5” (laptop to you and I) external drives started in bright pink and texture black or white. Now, inspired by complex, inlaid patterns of inlaid wood (from days of yore?), they are launching new variants into the market.

This, er, stylish shot was created by dropping the interestingly named SH02 onto a background shot of the Grimaldi Centre in Monte Carlo. You can just make out a palm tree on the right. Art. Innit.

These drives will cost you around £60, depending on the capacity and come with a range of software – including OS-to-GO which lets you create an installable Windows 7 image on the drive from your original disk and HDD-to-GO to instantly synchronise your data.

KitGuru's never understood the feeding frenzy at fashion shows, but it seems that people from far and wide get very excited to see the latest stuff on stage. This chap's come a long way, eh JJ?

In this promo pic, it actually looks good in the young lady’s jean pocket, but we’re not sure we’d recommend testing the tensile strength of the caddy against the bending pressure generated by the average KitGuru’s arse when attempting to sit. Surely your data’s worth more than that?

That's one way to carry your intimate memories. Not recommended.

The new designs will be in stores soon enough, so if looks are as important to you as content, definitely worth a look. For KitGuru, size and speed makes us more fruity – so we’ll be bringing you something a little more hardcore later.

KitGuru says: If only I could find the handbag and gloves to match.

Comments below or in the KitGuru Forum.

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Kingston HyperX Max 3.0 128GB Drive Review https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/zardon/kingston-hyperx-max-3-0-128gb-drive-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/lifestyle/mobile/laptops/zardon/kingston-hyperx-max-3-0-128gb-drive-review/#comments Mon, 22 Nov 2010 14:30:00 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=24049 Kingston have impressed us recently with many of their products, especially the low cost, high performance SSDNow V100 128GB SSD drive. Today we are looking at their new external storage solution called HyperX MAX 3.0 which utilises the latest USB 3.0 superspeed interface. According to Kingston the HyperX Max 3.0 drives (MLC) can achieve speeds …

The post Kingston HyperX Max 3.0 128GB Drive Review first appeared on KitGuru.]]>

Kingston have impressed us recently with many of their products, especially the low cost, high performance SSDNow V100 128GB SSD drive. Today we are looking at their new external storage solution called HyperX MAX 3.0 which utilises the latest USB 3.0 superspeed interface.

According to Kingston the HyperX Max 3.0 drives (MLC) can achieve speeds of up to 195 MB/s read and 160 MB/s write which will be tantalizingly desirable for demanding performance users on the move. The life expectancy of the drive is said to be 1,000,000 hours and it will support Windows Vista (SP1, SP2), Windows 7 and Windows XP (SP3). To get maximum performance you obviously need a USB 3.0 capable motherboard or expansion card, but it is fully backwards compatible. All models have a 3 year warranty with free 24/7 support.

Kingston will be offering models 64GB, 128GB and 256GB in size and we are looking today at the 128GB model.

Key selling points:

  • Impressive write speed of up to 160MB/sec.
  • Read speed up to 195 MB/s
  • SuperSpeed Certified USB 3.0 – 10x faster than the transfer speed of USB 2.0
  • Shock-Proof
  • No moving parts means no mechanical failures
  • Portable
  • Mobile design, USB port powered; no external power supply required
  • Dimensions: 73.49mm x 118.60 mm x 12.00 mm : 2.89” x 4.67” x 0.47”
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Akasa DuoDock S & USB 3.0 PCIe Card Review https://www.kitguru.net/components/hard-drives/ironlaw/akasa-duodock-s-usb-3-0-pcie-card-review/ https://www.kitguru.net/components/hard-drives/ironlaw/akasa-duodock-s-usb-3-0-pcie-card-review/#comments Mon, 01 Nov 2010 12:19:29 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=21445 After an eight year wait, the third version of the universal serial bus (USB) is finally available on the retail market. Sadly because of the high pricing – low end and many mainstream motherboards often do not often incorporate USB 3.0 controllers and many enthusiast users are unwilling to perform a major upgrade to their …

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After an eight year wait, the third version of the universal serial bus (USB) is finally available on the retail market. Sadly because of the high pricing – low end and many mainstream motherboards often do not often incorporate USB 3.0 controllers and many enthusiast users are unwilling to perform a major upgrade to their system just for USB 3.0 support.

Some would say that the high speed of the USB 3.0 controllers is currently only really useful for file transfers. What if you are one of those people who already have a high end PC with USB 3.0 support and perhaps a few, unused hard drives sitting idle?

Akasa have created two products which are just right for enthusiasts who want to adopt the USB 3.0 standard and especially for those with a couple of external storage devices.

First, the AK-PCCU3-01 PCIe extension card which adds two USB 3.0 ports to any system with an PCIe slot to spare. Second, the DuoDock S, the upgraded version of the very versatile HDD docking station. We are going to examine both devices and their performance thoroughly in this review.

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Integrated hard drive caddies. Useful. Honestly. https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/faith/integrated-hard-drive-caddies-useful-honestly/ https://www.kitguru.net/peripherals/faith/integrated-hard-drive-caddies-useful-honestly/#comments Sat, 19 Jun 2010 08:30:25 +0000 http://www.kitguru.net/?p=5558 We’ve all got too many disks with too much data in too many places. We’re always promising ourselves that we’ll tidy up. Consolidate. Get everything organised. But how many of us actually do? Moving gigabytes of data across a network is time consuming. Thermaltake has a handy answer for your next build. Next time you’re …

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We’ve all got too many disks with too much data in too many places. We’re always promising ourselves that we’ll tidy up. Consolidate. Get everything organised. But how many of us actually do?

Moving gigabytes of data across a network is time consuming. Thermaltake has a handy answer for your next build.

Next time you’re bored, put a couple of PCs on your wireless home network and see how long it takes to move just 5GB of photos. Far too long. Drive caddies are all well and good, but it just means more cables trailing across your work/play/sleep space. Many systems have card readers, so why not a disk reader?

Thermaltake top loading hard drive caddy
Thermaltake's integrated hard drive caddy

KitGuru says: Not sure this will catch on with every manufacturer, but with hard drives becoming more and more prevalent at the same time that more and more of us are working in multiple locations – there does seem to be a case for integrating a caddy in the chassis. Especially if there is little/no price penalty.

Is this feature really as useful as KitGuru believes? Are there any drives lying around out there without a home? Let us know in the KitGuru forums.

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