Hard drive docking stations

Ray · Jan 26, 2009, 12:33:38

Quote from: Rik on Jan 26, 2009, 12:29:33
That's good to know, Ray. Another item on my gadget list.

Well worth having, Rik, just copied a 3.15Gb file to it via USB connection, took 1min. 50secs. to complete.

Rik · Jan 26, 2009, 12:34:04

Reasonable speed too.

Ray · Jan 26, 2009, 12:37:57

Quote from: Rik on Jan 26, 2009, 12:34:04
Reasonable speed too.

I thought so, Rik, I'll have to try it on my other machine with the eSata ports and see what the difference is.

Rik · Jan 26, 2009, 12:39:21

That should be very fast, or so I've been told.

Sebby · Jan 26, 2009, 13:35:11

Yep, should be significantly quicker.

Ray · Jan 26, 2009, 15:20:28

Well I've tried it with the eSata connection and it moved the same 3.15GB file in 55secs.

Rik · Jan 26, 2009, 15:22:00

Not as much speed gain as I would have expected, Ray, but twice as fast is not to be sneezed at for all that.

Ray · Jan 26, 2009, 15:31:03

Quote from: Rik on Jan 26, 2009, 15:22:00
Not as much speed gain as I would have expected, Ray, but twice as fast is not to be sneezed at for all that.

No it wasn't, Rik, I thought it would be more than that still quite good though.

Rik · Jan 26, 2009, 15:36:25

If my maths is right, SATA is notionally five times faster than USB, but perhaps there are limitations due to the external connection?

Rik · Jan 26, 2009, 15:39:26

Just found this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA

QuoteSome single disks can transfer almost 120 MB/s during real use,[4] more than twice the maximum transfer rate of USB 2.0

Ray · Jan 26, 2009, 16:08:17

Quote from: Rik on Jan 26, 2009, 15:39:26
Just found this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA

Interesting read, Rik, looks like in the real world they are about 2 to 3 times faster.

I've just run HDTune on the disk in my main PC which is an identical Sata II disk with results below: -

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Rik · Jan 26, 2009, 16:09:27

Bring back SCSI, I say.

Sebby · Jan 26, 2009, 19:28:23

There's certainly something to be said for SCSI. Still, I think SATA was a good step forward.

Ray · Jan 26, 2009, 19:58:31

USB 3 is supposedly the next big step forward see here

Sebby · Jan 26, 2009, 20:59:16

Interesting. Thanks, Ray.

Steve · Jan 26, 2009, 21:14:15

Certainly fits in with my impression of eSATA over USB 2, sustained rates are about twice as fast ,certainly worth it if transferring large amounts of data in go. i.e several 100 Gb

Sebby · Jan 26, 2009, 21:15:45

I have my Western Digital MyBook connected via FireWire, incidentally. Although the theoretical maximum transfer rate is less than USB 2.0, it's actually faster.

Steve · Jan 26, 2009, 21:22:27

Biggest nuisance with eSATA I find is its not "hot" pluggable in or out(cached data)

Steve · Jan 26, 2009, 21:59:16

Same drive in Vista slightly quicker

but may be running in a different mode i.e AHCI which can be used in XP but I found it tedious to install but plenty of instructions are around if its an intel controller and in the real world probably doesnt make a jot of difference

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Steve · Jan 26, 2009, 22:05:52

2x 3500320AS Raid0 for comparison

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Sebby · Jan 26, 2009, 23:57:44

Quote from: stevethegas on Jan 26, 2009, 21:59:16
Same drive in Vista slightly quicker but may be running in a different mode i.e AHCI which can be used in XP but I found it tedious to install but plenty of instructions are around if its an intel controller and in the real world probably doesnt make a jot of difference

I thought XP installs the drivers when you install it, so long as AHCI mode is enabled in the BIOS?

Steve · Jan 27, 2009, 07:34:24

That method didn't work for me Sebby, the last XP install I did with AHCI enabled in bios failed even with F6 additional driver input I had to resort to something similar to this I only persisted as that machine was dual boot with Vista already working in AHCI mode. Not sure what the advantages are though? Native Command Queuing and the ability to hot plug neither of which would make life any different for me.

Steve · Jan 27, 2009, 11:52:08

WD 1TB in eSATA and USB2 modes on Scaleo WHS, I presume the difference in cpu activity is related to the method mode of transfer

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Rik · Jan 27, 2009, 14:45:46

Or just the overhead of USB, Steve? Certainly, USB compares better than I would have expected.

Steve · Jan 30, 2009, 10:30:28

Quote from: stevethegas on Jan 24, 2009, 07:44:17
I think I need one My usual method of checking a drive is to attach it to another PC this would save a lot of hassle.There are a few more varieties on Amazon

I'm destined not to get one,ordered from Amazon Saturday>fine, Courier City Link -oh dear. I'm in Tuesday am no sign of it ,apparently attempted delivery @3.10pm (dog ate most of the slip of paper

) I didn't ring to rearrange delivery as wasn't sure when in next. Yesterday am just as I was thinking of phoning them to arrange re delivery found another delivery notice which had arrived whilst I was in the house presumably in the shower at the time. So check the website allegedly they tried on the Wednesday as well.

So this item will go back to Amazon who do not charge a restocking fee or failed delivery fee as I am not going on a 60 mile round trip to pick up an item worth £20

I do try to avoid City Link but failed this time.