Other by stefan @ 2011-06-06
The new ZM-VE200 HDD enclosure comes to help the people that use frequently CDs or DVDs at work or at home, for performing different tasks like installing OSes on many computers, programs and why not, even games. The only thing that needs to be done is to convert the disks into ISO images, transfer them on the 2.5'' HDD and mount any of them in a matter of seconds, by using the lateral jog switch.
At first I would like to thank Zalman for offering me their ZM-VE200 External HDD Case for testing and reviewing.
"Zalman tech co., Ltd. was founded in 1999 and introduced to the computer industry the concept of “Noiseless computing.”In a world filled with noisy computers, “silent” cooling solutions were sought everywhere and contributed to Zalman's rapid growth into the world's leader of high performance, ultra quiet PC cooling solutions.
Zalman continues to lead in the industry through decisive R&D investments, peerless craftsmanship, intensive global marketing, and generous customer support.
Business diversification with innovation such as 2D/3D Convertible LCD monitors, Heatpipe Cooled Power Supplies, Notebook Coolers, Surround Sound & Dual Stereo Headphones, and FPS GUN Gaming Interface holds true to Zalman's promise to provide “Cool Innovations.”"
High Performance USB Controller
The USB 2.0 interface supports quick and reliable data transfer to and from a PC.
USB Powered
USB power, eliminates the need for additional adaptor cable for convenience.
Plug & Play
Supports Plug & Play, enabling the device to be removed without turning the computer’s power off.
Fully Compliant with eSATA or Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Connection
Supports data transfer rates up to 3Gbps through eSATA or 480Mbps through USB 2.0 interface.
Replaces existing CD/DVD drive or player with the use of any ISO files
Convert current CD/DVDs into ISO files and then load on ZM-VE200’s ‘virtual drive’.
CD/DVD image (ISO files) loading software pre-installed
Does not require any software installation to mount any ISO files for loading on a PC. (change setting in CMOS to boot first using ‘External HDD’ for OS installation.)
Convenient HDD Installation
2.5” HDD can be replaced conveniently and securely fastened using screws to prevent accidental opening of case.
Write Protect Key
To prevent accidental deletion the data can be protected by enabling the write protect function.
Protective Casing
ZM-HE100 and ZM-VE200 comes equipped with a protective casing for scratch prevention and portability.
The Zalman External HDD Case with Virtual Drive capabilities is shipped inside a small cardboard box, with a photo of the product on the frontal side (which can come in two variants: silver and black), along with the code name:
On the back of the package, we can see some of the product components described, along with the list of product features, supported OSes and technical specifications:
The product is further packaged inside a white box, for added protection:
In the middle, we can find the enclosure itself, surrounded by a cardboard frame, and under it there is the rest of the bundle:
Along with the main product, we can also find a protective casing, a driver with two screws, a Quick Guide, one USB 2.0 cable, an eSATA cable and a small transparent protective plastic that can be used on the bottom of the HDD, for avoiding shortcircuits:
Inside the Quick Guide, we can find the steps we need to perform for installing a 2.5'' HDD inside the enclosure, but also how to operate it:
The HDD case itself has a very clean and modern look, mostly built from aluminium:
On the bottom of the frontal side, we can find the Zalman logo:
On the left lateral, we can find a jog switch; with its help we can navigate through the options listed on the LCD display:
The right lateral does not have any extra buttons:
On the bottom, we can see a sticker with the code name of the product and its serial number:
The top side has one eSATA port, a small Firmware Reset button, the activity LED (blue color), a lock/unlock switch and the miniUSB port:
The top side with the LCD display can be removed really easy, by lifting it off the aluminium casing:
Here is how the display/electrical board do look after they have been removed from the casing; on the bottom there is the power/data connector:
The 2.5'' HDD can be plugged right in; if necessary, we can also use the small protective plastic on the bottom of the PCB, for added protection:
In the next part of the installation, we need to use the included screws and the driver, provided in the package:
To be able to access the holes for securing the HDD inside the case, we need to lift a bit some of the rubber on both laterals:
In the holes on both sides we can insert the provided screws, after sliding in the drive inside the case:
After we have connected with the provided cable the enclosure in a spare USB 2.0 port, we can see that the LCD screen has been powered up and shows us some useful information. On the top left corner we can see a small lock, which tells us if the enclosure is in the locked (writing or deleting files is not permitted) or unlocked position (unlimited access); the circle when appears tells us that an image has been mounted; the small D after it represents Dual Mode and on the right corner we can see the current HDD temperature and a small V sign which tells us that the HDD status is good. On the left we can also see displayed the current image that has been mounted. In the Dual Mode, the enclosure will be seen by the computer as a normal HDD, but we will also see an extra disk drive appearing, where the ISO image of our choice will be mounted:
With the jog, we can navigate through the available images (which must be placed inside an _iso folder, manually created by us, on the HDD); they will be displayed in alphabetic order and when we reach the end, an “End of List” message will appear:
By using the jog, we can also display some extra information on the LCD display, like the HDD code name, HDD serial number, enclosure serial number or the firmware version:
To get the latest fixes, we can download the newest firmware from the Zalman website; the firmware is also an ISO file, but it will be recognized correctly by the enclosure and flashing will start right away, when the file is mounted:
To confirm that the flash has been successfully completed, we can check the firmware version, which has changed compared to the original:
By using the jog, we can also go into HDD – Mode; in this mode the computer will see the enclosure like a normal HDD, without the extra virtual drive:
In the ODD mode, we will see only a small circle pictogram and we can navigate through the available ISO images; by pressing the jog, we can mount any one of them:
The enclosure has also a MODE SELECT option available and with its help, we can navigate between the available operating modes (Dual Mode, HDD Mode, ODD mode). However, the device can be started in a mode of our choice, before connecting the USB cable, by holding the jog in a certain position ( dual mode with the jog pushed, HDD mode with the wheel down and ODD mode with the wheel up):
When connecting the enclosure on eSATA, we must first connect the eSATA cable, and after that the USB cable to provide power to the device; however, in eSATA mode we won't be able to choose the special functions, and only eSATA MODE will appear on the LCD display.
The testbench was composed from the following hardware:
CPU: Intel I7 Retail @ stock
Motherboard: Foxconn BloodRage with G42 BIOS
RAM: 3x2GB Patriot PVT36G1600LLK 1600MHz
Video: Sparkle GTX 470 with stock and OMNI A.L.C.
Power Supply: Nexus RX-8500 850W modular
HDD: Seagate Barracuda 500GB 7200.11 & Patriot TorqX 64GB SSD
Case: Thermaltake Armor+ LCS, stock cooling
OS: Windows 7 Ultimate x64
ASUS U3S6
To test the enclosure transfer speeds, we have installed inside it a Hitachi Travelstar 5K250 250GB 5400RPM HDD. For a comparison, we will also test the same HDD inside the ADATA USB 3.0 enclosure, found in their Notebook Pack for the S599 SSD.
The Zalman ZM-VE200 External 2.5'' HDD Enclosure comes with an unique feature: the ability to mount our own ISOs, without the need of installing 3rd party applications. The product can also behave as an optical drive for installing different OSes, faster than reading from a disk. Also, a write protect switch is located on the top side of the enclosure for safety purposes. The temperature monitoring on the LCD display is also a nice addition.
The enclosure does not need extra power when connected on USB 2.0 mode; however, when using the eSATA connectivity, the USB cable must remain connected for providing power to the device. The ISO mounting feature does not work when connected on eSATA.
The ADATA USB 3.0 enclosure had better speeds on USB 2.0, but when switching to eSATA, the speeds were identical with the ones on USB 3.0.
The protective casing is a nice addition for scratch prevention and portability.
During testing, the drive remained at acceptable temperatures (did not exceed 39 degrees Celsius), and the aluminium body became warm to the touch shortly after the enclosure was turned on.
The things that I did not like were the rubber elements on both sides of the enclosure, which cover the screw holes; these cannot be lifted very easy when the case is secured with the two provided small screws and can be scratched with the nails on the outside surface when removing them. To avoid scratching, I recommend raising them using a sharp device like a small knife.
The Zalman ZM-VE200 External HDD Enclosure can be found in shops for about 36 Euros.
I would like to thank again to Zalman for making this review possible!