Today we will be going hands on with the Seagate GoFlex 1TB external hard drive along with a few upgrade cables. This line provides the average user with the ability to easily and cheaply upgrade their external hard drive when necessary as well as other upgrades and docks which allow automatic back up etc.

Specifications

Seagate GoFlex 1TB (STAA1000100)

Dimensions 4.71“ x 3.51“ x 087“ (L x W x H)
Weight: 0.62 lb (280g)
Material: Plastic
External Interface: USB 2.0 (480 MB/s max)
Color: Black (Blue / Red / Silver available for other sizes)

Form Factor: 2.5”
Spindle Speed: N/A
Supported OS: Windows & OSX
Warranty Length: 2 Years

Price: $125

USB 3.0 / Firewire 800 / eSATA Upgrade Cables

Internal Interface: SATA
External Interface: USB 3.0, Firewire 800, eSATA

Price: $20 – $40

A Closer Look

Having reviewed Seagate products in the past, we knew what to expect. Each box’s design coordinated well: the box containing the external hard drive was graced with images, and the upgrade cables were displayed through a “window” in each of their boxes. The inside of each box was well organized while it included only the bare minimum.

The GoFlex hard drive as well as the three cables came with a simple to read and well-illustrated instruction manual; however. it would have been more satisfying if Seagate provided a microfiber case to protect the drive after the plastic protection was removed.

Once removed from the packaging we were able to get a better idea of the hard drive’s scale. At first glance it appears to be enormous but upon further inspection it is actually similar to many of its competitors. In general it is wider and thicker than the average external hard drive but it is similar and in some cases even shorter in length.

From a visual standpoint the smooth curves and glossy finish of the GoFlex hard drive coincide with the current trend amongst consumer notebooks. Not only does the glossy plastic ensure that it does not appear out of place but aids in keeping the general weight of the product low.

The downsides of the plastic build are the usual: small scratches and fingerprints appear quickly. Moreover, the overall strength is weakened. In this case the external hard drive is weakest on its largest surfaces, the top and the bottom. Both can be pushed in unison deep enough to reach the actual hard drive inside.

Though, in the end its appearance is great and looks like a chiclet but it does have its drawbacks. A clever design feature of the HDD is its base, though weak due to its slimness, Seagate finished it with hi grade “regular” plastic-. By regular we mean flat and non-glossy which equates to a hard to scratch surface.

Upgrades and Setup

By default the GoFlex hard drive comes with a USB connection. Unlike its faster upgrades, the cable itself is detachable from the connection bar. Connecting either the upgraded interfaces or stock interface is simple. The hard drive has inverted bevel which opens up to the SATA adapter of the hard disk, simply slide the interface adapter until there is a click and it is ready to use.

Each of the adapters has a crisp white LED power indicator light that specifies whether it is connected to a computer or not.

The adapter which caught our eye the most was the eSATA interface adapter because it is a USB/eSATA combo cable. Most eSATA drives and cables do not support power over eSATA but in this case it does by drawing power from the USB port. Therefore, if you have a USB/eSATA combination port you don’t need to hook up the drive to a USB to DC adapter.

After plugging in the hard disk you can install the optional software included by Seagate: Seagate Dashboard. It utilizes Memeo Backup which can automatically back up your data.

The software is simple to operate though designed for beginner or intermediate users. Advanced users may want to use alternative software to get the best out of their Seagate GoFlex external hard drive.

Performance

Thanks to Seagate we are able to provide you with precise performance figures. We were able to benchmark the hard drive with four different transfer methods: USB 2.0, USB 3.0, eSATA and FireWire 800.

EVERY NUMERICAL VALUE IN THE GRAPH BELOW IS REPRESENTED IN MB/s (Read/Write Performance)

Conclusion

Seagate claims the GoFlex lineup is the most versatile external hard drive lineup on the market and we found no reason to disagree. Its upgrade possibilities are abundant but simple at the same time. Our main concerns were with the built-quality but throughout our testing phase we only got slight scratching and a moderate quantity of fingerprints and smudges. On the whole, our impression of the Seagate GoFlex hard drive is positive and we recommend it to any user hoping to maximize their external storage potential.

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Specifications

Silverstone DS221 (SST-DS221B)

Dimensions 6.61 x 4.72 x 1.14 Inches (LWH)
Weight: 370g±10g (without HDDs)
Material: Aluminum
External Interface: USB 2.0 and eSATA
Color: Black

Form Factor: 2.5”
Number of Drives Supported: 2
Supported HDD Height: 9.5mm
Supported OS: Windows 2000 and newer / Mac OSX 9.X and up

Price: $70

A Closer Look

Business experts have always pushed the importance of packaging; it is said that “packaging identifies your brand” and Silverstone successfully accomplished this task. The box was as solid as it can be and coated in a matte black finish resembling the aesthetics of the actual product. Along with the enclosure Silverstone provided a stand, an USB to Mini USB cable, an eSATA cable, a DC to AC 5V wall adapter and a user manual.

Sifting through the user manual we quickly appreciated its contents. Not only did it come in several languages and provides detailed specifications but it also explains the installation and set up of the enclosure. Since the enclosure supports multiple raid settings that novice users and some experienced users alike may struggle to understand, the explanations of each setting and to the actual set up process are beneficial and welcome.

Immediately we noticed that the enclosure is in effect an aluminum brick. Although we use the word “brick” the footprint of the enclosure is rather petit. It is only about 150% larger than an average 2.5” external hard drive enclosure. As for the body it is made out of solid aluminum with exception to the ends which are made out of ridged plastic. Along the narrow sides of the aluminum, there are nearly 200 holes designated for ventilation to ensure the thermal integrity of the two hard drives inside. Fortunately those holes are not only well integrated into the aesthetics of the DS221 but also accent it.

The enclosure is entirely brushed aluminum and coated in a beautiful black coating which a photo cannot do justice for. Similar to the ventilation holes the plastic “chromed” parts of the enclosure add an exquisite feeling to it. Whether used on the stand provided or not the hard drive should blend into most office and personal setups.

As for the rear of the enclosure, it plays host to various ports and a switch. From the bottom to the top there is a switch to control the mode of the enclosure, a USB 2.0 mini port, an eSATA port, and a DC5V port to provide enough power to sustain the two hard disks.

Installation

Neglecting the two shiny strips, the front of the enclosure pertains specifically to installation and setup. Opening up the enclosure is simple: by pulling down the silver square the latch will pop open. Inside it is evident that the drive is designed to last. It is framed with thin sheets of metal with holes punched in to lighten the product and provide more passive cooling.

Installing the hard drives could not be any simpler. The design is completely tool free: open the latch, peek into the enclosure to align the hard disk, and then close the latch. The hard disk will automatically sink into the SATA adapter when the latch is closed. If a hard drive is inserted in the wrong direction it will only go half way in and the latch will not close.

The only regret we found in relation to the hard disks is that you cannot use a 125mm tall hard drive. Both drives must be 95mm or they will not fit.

Setup

Setting up the DS221 for computer usage, is just as simple.

First choose the mode that you would like to use:

1. Jbod
Jbod mode is not raid but is similar to Raid 0 without the performance benefits. Both drives are read as one large drive but performance is not increased.

2, Raid 0
Raid 0 is performance oriented. The two hard drives are read as one large hard drive. For example if you have two 1Tb hard drives it will read them as one 2TB hard drive while at the same time providing higher performance.

3. Raid 1
This final mode is optimized for data security. Each disk mirrors each other, and, therefore all data is saved on Disk A as well as on Disk B. In other words, if one of the hard drives fails no data will be lost.

After switching to the mode of your preference and/or needs, press the reset button. The reset button is located in the front of the enclosure. It must be pushed every time the mode is changed.

For initial setup and after each mode switch, the enclosure should be connected to a computer via USB 2.0. After it is recognized, it is safe to switch to eSATA and unleash its high speeds.

To indicate when the disks are active or powered there are blue and red lights adjacent to the reset button and when activated in tandem they offer a sparkling soft purple glow.

Performance

With its ability to run in Raid 0 we expected higher than average performance from the SilverStone DS221 and it didn’t disappoint. We ran several benchmarks in each mode using both connection options to ensure accurate test results.

We used two 500Gb 5400 RPM hard disks manufactured by two separate companies to conduct the tests.

ALL NUMBERS IN THE GRAPHS BELOW ARE MEASURED IN MB/s

As displayed in the graph above, USB 2.0 benchmarks are fairly similar.  This is due to the speed limits of USB 2.0.  Both Raid modes hit the speed cap whilst JBOD showed lower performance.

  eSATA is where we really saw the enclosure shine.  Heck in Raid 0 mode it spanked all the other benchmarks we have ran in the past year.  We expected to see performance gain but boy were we surprised to see it excel to this point.

From a performance standpoint we simply did not expect this much out of it and were pleasantly surprised.

Conclusion

Being an aesthetic delight for most tastes and accomplishing the difficult task of simplifying complicated and powerful settings, makes the DS221 attractive to anyone who is in need of extreme performance, data security and/or capacity. Without any doubt the SilverStone DS221 is a class of its own!

It is the latest cooler to join the growing netbook cooler battle and it comes fully loaded: it packs a 140mm fan with four blue LEDs and is composed of plastic and aluminum.

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Specifications

Enermax Aeolus N14 CP002 Netbook Cooler

Dimensions: 8.66 x 10.63 x 1.77 inches (D x W x H)

Weight: 1.1 lbs

Material(s): Plastic and Metal

Noise: N/A

Input Voltage: 5V / 500mA

Color(s): Black/Silver/ 4 x Blue LED

Supported Sizes: Up to 33.78 cm /13.3″ Notebooks, Netbooks & Tablets

Fan

Fan Quantity: 1

Individual Fan Size: 140mm

Bearing Type: N/A

RPM: 1850 rpm ±10%

Price: $30

A Closer Look

Like any box should, the Enermax N14’s box displays various images of the product and lists all the necessary specifications. Inside, the cooler is held between two styrofoam forms like a notebook. Along with the cooler there is a pair of extra grips and a USB to USB cable included.

Right out of the package, it was clear that Enermax put a lot of thought in to the development of the design. The frame of the cooler consists of plastic with various finishing’s placed strategically. The front of the cooler has a brushed metal plate for aesthetic appeal while the cooling surface combines a honey comb grill enclosed by matte plastic and glossy groves. The rear of the cooler comes back towards the front like a Z and is the only part of the cooler that is fully glossed. Since it is the back, fingerprints are no problem because it is very unlikely anyone will be looking at it for too long.

The overall design of the cooler makes it one of the best-looking and best-designed coolers from an aesthetic standpoint. Its design matches nearly any environment from the office to the gamers lounge. Accenting the overall design are the four LED bulbs integrated into the fan giving off an ideal blue glow. The light only seeps out of the front and sides enough to notice but not enough to become a distraction or nuisance.

Than angle at which the cooler is skewed at is perfect for smaller notebooks. As many netbooks have keyboards that are roughly 90% to 97% smaller than the average notebook keyboard a larger angle could hamper typing comfort and ability. Also in regard to practicality only positive things can be said. The lip on the front of the cooler which is designed to help hold the notebook/ netbook onto the cooler is significantly lower than most coolers leaving any ports in the front easily accessible. Moreover, rather than just putting in one USB port to power the cooler, they put two. This is beneficial for the majority of users as the number of “required” peripherals has increased while many notebooks and netbooks only have 3 ports. There is no power button though we believe it is unnecessary as the cooler is so silent that the only way to tell if it is running or not is to put your ear within an inch of it or look for the blue LED lights. And if it is really necessary to turn the cooler of, it can be easily unplugged from the notebook/ netbook. As mentioned previously, there are two extra grips provided to increase grip on the top of the N14, though there are a total of 5 grips on the base which keep the cooler in place on the desk and prevents any scratching.

The build of the cooler is solid to say the least. There are no “loose ends” and all the cables are tucked away nicely. On the underside the fan is protected by a fan guard that is easily removable in case the fan needs to be cleaned. Everything is held together firmly and holds its shape like it should.

It would have been nice to see the overall size of the cooler expanded by an inch or so. Its size fits a 10.2” netbook comfortably, though 11 and 12” netbooks would have some overhang.

From a cooler perspective Enermax carried over the single fan concept from the CP001. The Aeolus N14 uses a single 140mm fan in the center of the cooler that draws air from directly below then pushes up to the notebook.  The amount of air moved decent and cool.  Even though the fan is concentrated on the center area of the grille, the entire metal surface remained cold to the touch. Moreover it is one of the quietist notebook coolers to surface on our review bench. If you take the sound of your quietist breath and reduce its volume by 20% or more then you have reached the silence of the N14.

Performance

As usual we ran four separate tests to benchmark the performance of the Enermax Aeolus N14.  The cooler performed very well considering that the test netbook only had two narrow stripes of air intake and proved its cooling ability.

Conclusion

The Enermax Aeolus N14 is a delight of a netbook/notebook cooler. Its design is practical and pleasing while it matches nearly any netbook from the classy Asus N10 to the powerful gaming Alienware M11x. It was clear to us that Enermax put a good amount of effort in designing this cooler and that made it hard for us to find any flaws.  The only improvement we could come up with was expanding the surface by an inch.  In the end there were no corners cut on the cooler as build quality was great and has a long list of positive things going for it.

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Fortunately thanks to 3^rd party peripheral manufacturers such as Vantec there are methods to “update” your notebook. The Vantec 2-Port SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ExpressCard/34 slots into your notebook’s ExpressCard slot and provides two USB 3.0 ports.

Specifications

Vantec 2-Port SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ExpressCard/34 (UGT-UC302CB)
Dimensions (LWH)
W/O ExpressCard/54 Adapter: 4.57 x 1.58 x 0.59
W/O ExpressCard/54 Adapter: 4.57 x 2.13 x 0.71
Weight: N/A
Material: Metal and Plastic
External Interface: ExpressCard/34/54 and 2 X USB 3.0
Color: Black / Silver

Price: Around $50 (USD)

A Closer Look

Inside the sporty red and black box lays the ExpressCard Adapter itself, an ExpressCard/54 Adapter, a driver DVD and an instruction manual. The ExpressCard comes in what we believe to be an anti-static bag protecting it from any static electricity.

As the title indicates the ExpressCard adapter has two USB 3.0 ports; both have the popular blue plastic trim on the inside. Moreover on the side there is a standard 5v power adapter which is optional. The quality of the materials used is solid and ready for the bumps and scrapes of daily life.

The general build of the ExpressCard is great, both plastic ends are durable. The weakest part of the build is the metal; though the connection between the metal and plastic segments is inseparable and inflexible.

Setup and Installation

If your notebook has ExpressCard 34 then there is no need to attach the ExpressCard 54 size adapter. Most of the larger notebooks, however, have the 54 variant where the size adapter has to be used. For those who plan to put the size adapter away the metal hook on it collapses inwards and tucks away in order to protect it from being bent when detached.

Generally, without looking at the manual installation is confusing, but if the instructions are followed it becomes simple positioning and clipping.

On the other hand, installing the software is much simpler than one expects. There are no options that need deciding. All that has to be done is to agree to the terms and then the installation itself.

Performance

To test the ExpressCard’s performance we ran benchmarks with a single hard drive used in two separate enclosures: a USB 3.0/2.0 enclosure, and a eSata enclosure.  All speeds are in MB/s (Mega Bytes Per Second.

USB 2.0	USB 3.0	eSATA
	ATTO Bench
Highest Transfer Speed: 22	Highest Transfer Speed: 66	Highest Transfer Speed: 74
	HD Tune
Average Transfer Speed: 21.2	Average Transfer Speed: 57	Average Transfer Speed: 64.5
	Crystal Disk Mark
Average Read: 22.29 Average Write:19.74	Average Read: 64.77 Average Write:43.33	Average Read:70.37 Average Write:69.97

Conclusion

The Vantec 2-Port SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ExpressCard/34 is a great option for those looking for higher transfer speeds and do not have a built in eSATA port or USB 3.0 Port. Setup and usability is simple while performance and its quality are top notch.

Specifications

Scythe Kamazo

Dimensions 5.3 x 3.23 x 0.63 Inches (LWH)
Weight: N/A
Material: Aluminum and Plastic
External Interface: USB 3.0
Color: Black / Silver

Form Factor: 2.5”
Supported HDD Height: 9.5mm
Supported OS: Windows ME/2000/XP/Vista or Mac 10.2 above

Price: Around $30 (USD)

Rather than going simple, Scythe has loaded the box with information and descriptions. Graphs and images depict the new aspects of USB 3.0 while all else is described in words. Inside the box, packed in an organized matter, was the enclosure: a USB 3.0 to USB 3.0 cable, a USB to DC cable, eight screws and screw driver, Japanese “manual” and a carrying case.

For us it was pretty straight forward, though the manual was not really a manual. It was generally text about the product and included a warranty card as well. Otherwise it mentioned very little about set up and if so only in text format without any supporting images which makes set up harder for the average consumer.

The other accessories bundled with the enclosure are similar to those provided by competitors’ enclosures. Though one little bonus is the fact that they included a spare of both screw types in case you lose one. It was also great to see the plastic parts of the enclosure had been protected with stickers in order to prevent any possible scratching within the box.

The name of the enclosure “Kamazo” consists of two Chinese characters or “Kanji” 鎌 and 蔵. 鎌 (Kama) refers to a sickle or a scythe, just like the brand, while the 蔵 stands for collection. Therefore 鎌蔵 means sickle collection.

The design of the enclosure is not that unique though its subtle design is appealing. The majority of it is fabricated of metal, aiding its heat transfer and dissipation, while the ends are built out of glossy plastic. The long edges of the enclosure differentiate as one side is curved and the other is flat. The flat side is engraved spiked lines spread along the surface. The flat side allows the hard drive to sit propped up on the side to cut back on clutter around your notebook.

On the base of each plastic end there are tiny feet to prop the hard drive off the desk, nonetheless, they are too small to be useful. On one end is a circular blue power indicator light and on the other are two screw holes, a USB 3.0 port and a DC input port. The enclosure can be powered by either using both the USB 3.0 and DC connection or the USB 3.0 connection on its own.

To distinguish itself from any similar USB 2.0 enclosures the enclosure and cable uses blue plastic inside the metal connector. The main USB cable is also thick; in fact it is as thick as a three prong power cable. Even though there are eight wires opposed to the four used by USB 2.0, it makes the cable heavy and less flexible thus less portable.

A positive note about the cable is although there is no standard that manufacturers must use for port and cable options, Scythe’s enclosure uses a simple USB to USB cable which should be available for years to come.

Installation

When the enclosure is opened up a green board the size of the enclosure pops out with controllers soldered to the end. On the opposite end there is the led light. Generally installing the hard drive is pretty simple except for the fact that the light is in the way. We were forced to bend it in order to get the hard drive into the SATA adapter.

Once it was in, however, screwing the hard disk on to the board and screwing the enclosure shut was a breeze.

Benchmarks

Since USB 3.0 is backwards compatible we decided to do two benchmarks. One while connected through USB 2.0 and the other while connected to an express card USB 3.0 adapter.

Since most users would not carry around a 5v power adapter we decided to run the tests using only the USB 3.0 cable. (Click to enlarge graphs)

USB 2.0	USB 3.0
Crystal Disk Mark	Crystal Disk Mark
Read: 25.38 MB/s Write: 24.30 MB/s	Read: 69.19 MB/s Write: 48.72 MB/s
ATTO Bench	ATTO Bench
Read Peak: 23 MB/s Write Peak: 22.5 MB/s	Read Peak: 71 MB/s Write Peak: 52 MB/s
HD Tune	HD Tune
Average Transfer Rate: 22.7 MB/s	Average Transfer Rate: 57.9 MB/s
HD Tach	HD Tach
Average Transfer Rate: 23.9 MB/s	Average Transfer Rate: 65.6 MB/s

As you can see in the benchmarks above, USB 3.0 boasts an average of two to three times the speed. This is a huge boost as it makes the hard drive the bottleneck rather than the transfer method.

Conclusion

The Scythe 2.5” Kamazo USB 3.0 external hard drive enclosure is part of the first generation of USB 3.0 peripherals. Although the enclosure is on the bulky and heavy side, its design makes up for it. Its bullet black appearance and ability to stand up on its side sans stand help make it an attractive enclosure for prospective buyers.

Fortunately there is a large assortment of coolers available for $30. We have rounded up what we consider the top 10 notebook coolers for the price range. Though it will be up to you to determine which will work best in tandem with your notebook. If you need help please refer to our Notebook Coolers’ Buyers’ Guide or post in our Forum.

* The “Supported Sizes” are our recommendations, a larger notebook will fit but may hang over the edges of the cooler

Cooler Master NotePal X2

The Cooler Master X2 has received much praise. Its significantly improved design over the X1 has made it a powerful “even airflow” notebook cooler. The 140mm fan’s speed is adjustable anywhere between 700~1400 RPM. Unfortunately for a 140mm, however, the fan is on the loud end of the scale and can be heard over music or games.

Specifications Dimensions: 14.76 x 11.42 x 1.7 inches Weight: 1.98lbs Material: Plastic / Metal Fan Size: 140 x 140 x 15mm Fan Quantity: 1 RPM: 700 ~ 1400 RPM Noise: 15 dBA (Min.) Supported Sizes: Up to 15.4” Notebooks Pros Even airflow design, Good CFM, Adjustable fan speed Cons Noise, Plastic build

Zalman NC1500

Zalman has begun to replace its notebook cooler line in the past year and the NC1500 was the first one to join the aging NC1/2000 series coolers. Like its predecessors the NC1500 has even airflow and silence going for it. As one of the most quiet notebook coolers on the market it is seen as a good option for many. Its body is comprised of plastic on the base and the surface is heat dissipating aluminum.

Specifications Dimensions: 13.58 x 11.77 x 2.0 Weight: 1.74lbs Material: Aluminum / Plastic Fan Size: N/A Fan Quantity: 2 RPM: 1,100 – 1,500rpm ± 10 % Noise: 18.0 – 23.5 dBA ± 10 % Supported Sizes: Up to 15.4” Notebooks Pros Decent build quality, Quiet, Even airflow, Adjustable fan speed Cons CFM on the weaker side, Gloss can lead to fingerprints and a messy look

Cooler Master NotePal U2

The Cooler Master U2 is arguably the most customizable cooler on this list, and even on the market. It features an aluminum grill with two 80mm fans that can be placed just about anywhere on the cooler. This allows the user to target their hot spots and cool their laptop. Its main criticism is its small form factor, although it’s very portable it is hard to fit notebooks larger than 15.4”.

Specifications Dimensions: 13.5 x 10.5 x 2.3 inches Weight: 1.3lbs Material: Aluminum / Rubber Fan Size: 80 x 80 x 10mm Fan Quantity: 2 RPM: 2000 Noise: 25 dBA Supported Sizes: Up to  15.4” Notebooks Pros Portability, Customizable fan location Cons Noise, Size of stand is on the small side

ThermalTake Massive23 ST

The Massive23 ST is the cheaper version of the Massive23 CS. The key differences between the two are the materials used to build the cooler and the available lighting colors. Both have the same fan which means the cooling capacity it similar though the plastic edges around the fan on the ST leaves less room for breathing. In the end it is not a comparison between the two as the ST has a lower price point making it a great option on this list.

Specifications Dimensions: 14.7 x 12.56 x 2.05 inches Weight: 1.96lbs Material: Plastic / Metal Mesh Fan Size: 200 x 200 x 20 mm Fan Quantity: 1 RPM: 600 ± 200 RPM Noise: 17 dBA Supported Sizes: Up to 15.4” Pros Quiet, Gamer Appearance Cons Plastic edges don’t allow for airflow

Enermax Aeolus CP001

The Enermax Aeolus is one of the original large single fan notebook coolers. Its full aluminum and steel body is solid as a rock and can support notebooks comfortably up to 15.4” without any overhang. The 200mm fan covers the entire center portion of the cooler providing an adequate and consistent flow of air. Due to the size of the fan the noise produced is minimal. The only warning there is about the Aeolus is that if you have ports in the front of your notebook they may be blocked by the palm rest built into the cooler.

Specifications Dimensions: 13.78 x 13 x 1.8 inches Weight: 2.86lbs Material: Aluminum Fan Size: 220 x 220 x 15mm Fan Quantity: 1 RPM: 650 ~ 850 RPM Noise: 17 – 20 dBa Supported Sizes: Up to 15.4” Pros Quiet, Solid aluminum build, Two fan speeds Cons Square design can mean overhang

Antec Notebook Cooler To Go

The Antec Notebook Cooler To Go is not only extremely portable but also extremely versatile and effective. Rather than forcing air though the notebook the cooler ensures cool airflow underneath the notebook which in turn ensures that cool air is sucked in by the notebook. Its design also gives it a ton of flexibility as a notebook does not have to fit on top of it; though users should be aware that the cooler is on the louder side so use at a quiet public location such as a library is not recommended

Specifications Dimensions: 10 x 4 x 1.25 inches Weight: 0.8lbs Material: Plastic Fan Size: 80 x 80 x 17mm Fan Quantity: 2 RPM: 8.5 ~ 13 RPM Noise: 23 – 27 dBa Supported Sizes: Up to 15.4” Pros Portable, Simple design Cons Noise

Evercool Zither

The Zither NP 801 is similar to the Antec Notebook Cooler To Go, which is also on this list, but a bit flashier. Its body is formulated with a good balance between glossy piano black plastic, chrome accents and an ominous blue glow from the output. Once again it outputs cool air to the under part of the notebook forcing warm air away from the area. Also like the Antec Notebook Cooler To Go the Zither may not be appropriate for quiet public locations.

Specifications Dimensions: 14.1 x 3 x 2 inches Weight: 1.2lbs Material: Plastic Fan Size: 70 x 70 x 10 mm Fan Quantity: 2 RPM: 2000 ± 10% RPM Noise: 19 dBA Supported Sizes: Up to 15.4” Pros Portability, Sleek Design Cons The glossy plastic can appear cheap and dirty quickly if not maintained, Noise

Choiix Air-Through Stash

This chic cooler isn’t well known for its cooling ability though for its ability to provide some sort of cooling while expanding storage. Its storage solutions include a 2.5” hard drive bay and a few spare USB ports for any other storage devices or peripherals. The dimensions of the cooler are optimized for small notebooks or netbooks which the 120mm fan should be sufficient for.

Specifications Dimensions: 9.05 x 12.59 x 1.96 inches Weight: 1.3lbs Material: Plastic Fan Size: 80 x 80 x 15mm Fan Quantity: 1 RPM: 2000 RPM Noise: 25 dBA Supported Sizes: 7" to 12.1" Notebooks Pros Built in 2.5” SATA bay, USB Hub, Great color and pattern selection, Durable build Cons Cant be used with larger notebooks

Cooler Master Notepal Infinite

The Infinite has been around since 2007. It is one of the oldest cooler’s still in production. It is powered by a single 90mm fan that spreads airflow the outer edges of the cooling surface. It has three separate speed settings, low, medium and high. At high the noise may be slightly overwhelming to some. Much like Cooler Master’s other offerings the Infinite caters best to mid-sized notebooks up to 15.4”.

Specifications Dimensions: 14.96 x 11.81 x 1.97 inches Weight: 1.54lbs Material: Plastic / Aluminum Fan Size: 90 x 90 x 25 mm Fan Quantity: 1 RPM: 1000 ~ 2000 RPM Noise: 15 – 20.5 dBA Supported Sizes: Up to 15.4” Pros Three fan speed options, Sleek design, Quiet at lower speed levels, Great color selection Cons Noise at highest fan speed

Vizo Xena II

The Vizo Xena II is surprisingly efficient for its design. Its design props up the notebook while a 70mm fan clears warm air away from the base some of the cool air makes its way through the notebook’s cooling system. The Xena II’s structure limits the cooler to notebooks between 12” and 15.4”. Though even a 15.4” notebook tends to feel tipsy on the cooler and we recommend notebooks between 12” and 14” for the cooler. The Xena II also has a 360 degree rotational base which is great when sharing the image on your screen with others.

Specifications Dimensions: 12.6 x 11.81 x 0.98 inches Weight: 1.29lbs Material: Plastic Fan Size: 70mm x 70mm x 15 mm Fan Quantity: 1 RPM: 2300 RPM Noise: 20 dBA Supported Sizes: 12"~15.4" Notebooks Pros Great cooling concept, portable (thin), 360 degree swivel Cons Plastic build could be more durable

Although Computex has wrapped up there are still a few more products finding their way online. Enermax has widened their notebook cooler line while new memory solutions from PNY and PQI are slated to hit the market.

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Enermax Aeolus CP003

Enermax introduced the Aeolus CP003 notebook cooler for 17” notebooks. The CP003 has a monster 10” fan and large aluminum base to holster the notebook. Its fan is 2” larger than Enermax’s current offerings. Moreover, its front design has a slight overhaul; the front has been curved and lowered so that ports in the front of a notebook can be accessed.

Like Enermax’s other coolers the CP003’s fan features blue LEDs, a spare USB port and an adjustable fan switch. There is no word on availability or pricing for the time being.

PQI releases their USB 3.0 storage devices

PQI released four USB 3.0 storage devices: the S533-E is a SSD solutions while the H566 is virtually the same but with a hard drive. The other two U-Series are USB 3.0 thumb drives. The U339V weights under 13 grams making it the lightest USB 3.0 flash drive in production.

PNY Magic Bean USB drives

Cute as a jelly bean the PNY Magic Beans come in yellow, green, blue, purple and red. Yellow represents luck and has 2GB of storage space, while green represents wisdom and has 4GB of storage; blue symbolizes wealth and comes in 8GB, the final two, beauty and love come in 16GB and 32GB varieties. We don’t know when they will be released but we do know we cant wait to have these cute little beans in our pocket.

However, this year has proven to reflect the current economic conditions. The release of new peripherals has been sluggish, with only a few interesting developments. The show has been saturated with tablets aimed at tackling the Apple iPad.

Here the most interesting non-tablet releases of this year’s Computex so far:

Gigabyte

Joining the parade of brands reinforcing their gaming gear, Gigabyte released the Aivia line of PC Peripherals.

Gigabyte Aivia K8100 Gaming Keyboard

The K8100 is styled like an exotic sports car styling a red or black paint job and bringing a sense of speed to your desk with its sharp. It features 4MB or onboard memory and preloaded Ghost macro engine software to accommodate memorized macros. There are 5 macro keys per mode that allow for up to 25 sets and 5 modes which equates to a 100 programmable macros. Lining the top is a touch sensitive volume control and a pair of USB ports for connecting further USB devices.

It is expected to hit the market in July for under $80.

Gigabyte Aivia M8600 Wired/Wireless Gaming Mouse

The M8600 has the latest in gaming mouse technology. Like the Razer Mamba it can switch between wireless and wired connections in an instant. The plug on the mouse is a mini-USB port which shuts off its wireless connection and communicates over USB. Its 6000 DPI engine and 1000Hz polling rate makes it a leader in sensitivity among high-end gaming mice.

From an aesthetic point of view the M8600 is edgy much like the K8100. The tire like scroll wheel, pointed buttons and ominous glow give off a gaming vibe.

The battery is said to last up to 24 hours and features a charging dock that acts as a wireless receiver. A final interesting feature is the easy removability of the battery; by simply sliding off the back a user has instant access to the battery.

Overall it appears as if it will be able to push its way through the high end gaming mouse market and hold its ground. From what we have been able to gather it features a minimum of a dozen buttons! Pricing is expected to be in the $100 range, and it should be released in September.

Choiix Comforter Lapdesk

This is Choiix’s second appearance at Computex. This time they have brought along many of their developments from CeBIT but there is one new comer to the party: the Choiix Comforter Lapdesk. The Comforter Lapdesk can support notebooks from 9” all the way up to desktop replacement 17” notebooks.

The design adapts to multiple postures and positions. Whether on the sofa or on a lap it should bring comfort. The rear of the stand features a dip to hold cables or even the power adapter in some cases. Unfortunately there is not yet any information on availability and pricing.

Pretech P240 USB 3.0 Multi Card Reader

SD card are set to see a huge boost in speed. The P240 is the world’s first USB 3.0 card reader. The reader supports SD, SDXC, CF and other major formats. It is slated to enter mass production sometime in August. There is no MSRP available at this moment.

Samsung 18.5” USB Monitor

Samsung has launched the largest USB display thus far. Its 18.5” screen prides itself with as 1,366 x 7600, 1000:1 contrast ratio, 250 cd/m^2 maximum brightness and LED backlight illumination. What may be its most impressive feature is that it can do all that through a USB connection without requiring any external power source!

Its display’s power draw is only a mere 6.3 watts. The only negative point about the display is its estimated lifetime. Average LCD panels have a usable life of approximately 50, 000 hours, though this screen is said to accomplish only 30,000 hours.

For notebook users this really brings the possibility of multiple screens on the go.

We don’t know what its price will be, but we do know it will be released some when in 2011.

Team Group TP1023 External Sport Disk

Team is showing off their TP1023. Like Gigabytes latest peripherals it cries, Ferrari, Lamborghini, and Maserati; it even has vents styled into its surface. It will be offered in four capacities: 500GB, 640GB, 750GB, and 1TB 5400 rpm varieties. It will be available in USB 2.0 and USB 3.0

First off we would like to thank Cooler Master for providing us with the A-DATA 32Gb XPG SSD review sample. To test the performance of the A-DATA 32GB XPG SSD, we will, firstly, clone an image of an existing hard drive on to the SSD using the Choiix Air-Through Stash, and, secondly, we will fully benchmark the SSD in real life usage and using synthetic benchmarks.

Specifications

A-DATA 32GB XPG SSD Review (ASX1032GSUMAL)

Dimensions 3.94“ x 2.76“ x 0.36“ (100.0 x 70.1 x 9.2 mm)
Weight: 85+/-1g
Material: Aluminum
Interface:
>Mini USB 2.0 (480 Mb/s max)
>SATA I/II (Read up to 170MB/s, Write up to 100 MB/s)
Operating Temp.: -10°C~70°C
Shock Resistance: 1500G/0.5ms
MTBF: 1,500,000 hrs.
Color: Silver

Form Factor: 2.5”
Spindle Speed: MLC
Warranty: 2 Years

Price: N/A

Safely sheathed in a small and shiny box is the metal encased SSD. The package includes the SSD, a USB A to B cable and the necessary documents. The SSD its self is comprised of a light weight aluminum casing protecting the MLC NAND flash memory and controller inside.

Although MLC chips do not perform as well or last as long as SLC chips, the majority of consumer SSDs use MLC chips much like the A-DATA XPG SSD. This is due to the price: SLC SSDs tend to be exceptionally expensive putting them out of range for most average consumers.

There are two connectors on the SSD, one is the standard SATA connector and the other is a USB port. Both cannot be plugged in together at the same time though both allow for data transfer between the SSD and another storage solution.

Performance

To test the SSD we decided to clone an existing hard drive and then benchmark it. To clone the hard drive we used the Choiix Air-Through Stash and Acronis True Image Trial. We installed the SSD into the Air-Through Stash and connected it to our Asus N10 netbook.

Cloning the hard drive was simple, and with a few clicks we were able to get the process going. To calculate the speed of the transfer we used basic mathematics. We put the size of the cloned image on top of the number of seconds it took to transfer and created a fraction which equaled 32MB/s. (While transferring the files the fan of the Air-Through Stash was running.)

From there we removed the SSD from the cooler and installed it into the netbook. Moreover, we moved the original drive into the Choiix Air-Through Stash to expand our overall storage space.

It is important to note that the Asus N10 has a limited SATA Bus

Real Life Performance

The startup time of the netbook shaved several seconds and general performance significantly improved. For example, browsing through files or even the web on the Asus N10 is bottlenecked by the overall hardware of the netbook. The SSD picked up enough of the workload to smooth out the performance.

Battery and Temperature

In regards to battery life it was only increased by 10 minutes. It is a common misconception that installing any SSD will improve battery time significantly.

From a temperature perspective the XPG SSD helped cool down the system. It does not have a temperature sensor, but by looking at the other hardware such as the CPU, we noticed a temperature drop of an average 4C while idle and 7C while under load. This is due to the heat produced by the SSD being less than by the previous hard disk.

Synthetic Benchmarks

We used four separate benchmark programs to test the performance of the SSD.  We began with Crystal Disk Mark 3.0 which has become the most popular standard for benchmarking solid state drive.  Following it we ran ATTO Bench, HdTach and HD Tune.

ATTO Bench	HdTach	HD Tune

Conclusion

Overall the A-DATA 32Gb SSD proved to be a decent budget oriented SSD. It provides acceptable performance and runs cool. It installed easily and the Choiix Air-Through stash makes a perfect partner for a lower capacity SSDs ~40GB. After removing the original hard drive, it can be installed into the Air-Through and connect it to the netbook to provide storage for your files.