The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    New SS USB 3.0 external Drive

    Discussion in 'Alienware 17 and M17x' started by Azureal, Jul 4, 2011.

  1. Azureal

    Azureal Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    59
    Messages:
    236
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hey folks,

    For fun this weekend, I picked up a 2.5" Seagate Momentus 750GB SATA II drive and a SIIG SS 3.0 USB external drive enclosure.

    Like I really need another external USB drive, I must have nearly a dozen after years of upgrades, etc.

    But this one is using the SuperSpeed USB 3.0 and it really is quite fast. Using CrystalMark, the external Momentus has sequential read/write times faster than SATA II drives in other Latitude machines I have. It is benching at about 120MB/s read and 117MB/s write.

    It's really quite fast. I have used it so far to perform a system backup and drive image.

    Probably just a waste of another 130 bucks, but one has to keep entertained!

    The drive enclosure was only large enough for a 9mm drive, they were out of stock on another enclosure which could handle the 12.5mm drive so I could not get the 1TB 2.5" Momentus. Purchased at Micro Center in Columbus.

    The enclosure came with a cable for the SS3.0 USB. Basically an 'A' type connector on both ends. I suspect there are more ground lines for better sheilding of the higher clock rates. The cable is thicker than the 'A' to mini cable (the ones we all have two dozen of ...)

    This cable also came with a second USB connector for higher power applications which as I have read is completely unnecessary as the SS3.0 USB spec states the connector can source up to an amp, possible more. This little SATA II Momentus drive is probably rated at 300 milli amps at the most. I used a nice sharp pair of dikes to snip the extra connector off, works fine.

    Has anyone else been experimenting with USB 3.0 external storage yet?
     
    Azureal, Jul 4, 2011
    #1
  2. Joe85

    Joe85 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    587
    Messages:
    1,024
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    56
    i bought a WD 750gb USB 3.0 external drive and to be honest i dont notice the difference. Its probably because it running the really annoying WD software in the background, whihc does a back up everytime you connect it. Im gonna unistall the back software as soon as i get a chance to see the difference but overall, so far, not impressed.
     
    Joe85, Jul 4, 2011
    #2
  3. darkloki

    darkloki Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    412
    Messages:
    1,829
    Likes Received:
    182
    Trophy Points:
    81
    I'd still suggest you throw out the USB 3.0 and switch it up for the Seagate ESATA, I like that alot better. It's an add on, for about 18 dollars, well worth it as I'm quite happy with mine.
     
    darkloki, Jul 4, 2011
    #3