Eagle Tech Consus D-Series 2xSATA External Raid Storage Review

Other by SidneyWong @ 2007-07-06

The newly released Consus D-Series 3.5inch hard drive enclosure provides room from 2 HDDS, it supports Windows XP/Vista and Mac OS 10.2 or above in Raid 0 or JBOD via USB and Firewire. When high capacity is what you are after together with safe off-site backup, this could be what you are looking for. Now, let´s find out what the D-series can deliver.

Introduction

Introduction:

In our previous article we looked into the T and M Series single 3.5" HDDs enclosures from Eagle Tech. Today, we are taking a good look at the newly released dual-drive USB and Firewire version.

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The package contains:

  • Dual Drives Enclosure
  • Power Supply rated 48W
  • Power cord
  • USB cable
  • Firewire cable
  • Manual
  • CD software

    D-Series has a plastic construction/frame, aluminum satin finish side covers and metal bracket to secure the two hard drives.

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    Features and Specs:

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    The external power supply is similar to most used in laptop, rated at 48 watts.

    Installation is next. ->

    • Installation & Sound Test

    Installation:

    Installation is quite straight foward; the manual does help. It requies the removal of the side cover held by two screws; with the light weighted aluminum cover, one of the screw stripped the thread.

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    A metal tray holds the two HDDs. To install the HDDs, unscrew the 4 screws and remove the tray.

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    A bag is found containing HDD mounting screws and 4-rubber feet is taped onto the tray.

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    The rest becomes easy –>

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    Before you proceed, it is time to decide how you want the HDDs to be used;
    There are two jumpers placed close to the SATA connectors.

  • Raid 0
  • JBOD (spanning>
  • No Raid 0, just two HDDs

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    The left jumper (J-3) connected is for Raid-0; Connecting the right (J-4) is for JBOD; J-4 & J-3 "open" is for Non-Raid.

    If you don't have small/skinny fingers, you will find connecting the SATA and power cables a bit challenging as I found these cables are rather "short". For those who have experienced breaking SATA connector; it becomes easy to do here.

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    Before I proceed further, I measure the sound level of the 60mm fan at close up range.

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    Testing is next -->

    • Performance

    Closer Look & Test Setup:

    The Consus D series employed Oxford OXUF924DSB for USB/Firewire chip and SST39VF400A from SST for software program storage.

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    As commented by JMke (our editor) that software Raid 0 in USB 2.0 and Firewire would not benefit much of a speed increase. Let's find out if he speaks the "truth" :)

    Windows XP Test Setup
    Case and Cooling Sonata II:
    - 120 mm exhaust
    CPU AMD Opteron 165 @2.82 Ghz, 1.40vcore
    Motherboard DFI LanParty UT Ultra D (2x40mm fan added over PWM)
    Memory GSKill PC4400 4x512Mb
    Other
  • DVD R/W
  • 7900GS
  • WD 250GB SATA HDD
  • AMD Stock Heatsink Fan
  • XP Pro SP2 + latest updates


    • I am using two Seagate 500GB HDDs supplied by Geeks Computer Parts reviewed here.

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    Test Methodology and Results:

  • Files read/write I use 10.7 GB Assortment (11671 files 653 folders)
  • DVD read/write I use "Shooter & Taking Lives" 13.2 GB
  • HD Tach

    USB 2.0 Read/Write

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    I am not going to list the read/write performance using Firewire, because they are identical with very minimal difference of a few seconds.

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    HD Tach - Raid 0 2x500GB


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    HD Tach - Single Drive 500GB


    There is no gain in using Raid 0; in fact, it shows a slight gain in using single drive on average read speed of 36.1MB/s versus 35.8MB/s in favor of single HDD.

    • Temperature/Exhaust & Conclusion

    Temperature/Exhaust:

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    The front air intake grill has 5 slots with which you could hardly slide in a piece of letter size paper tells you how restrictive if any air could get in.

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    The exhaust is less restrictive in comparison, but not much better. Using an external probe, I measured 48°C HDD surface temp on the one that is "on top" at 24°C room temp.

    Conclusion:

    Is two better than one when you have two extra small capacity SATA hard drives sitting around after an upgrade? At a retail price of ~$70 you could get two Eagle Consus T or M series for less; especially when software operated Raid 0 does not give any speed increase over JBOD spanning or Single Drive via USB or Firewire.

    It would be a different story if Raid 1 was implemented instead of Raid 0, since there is no gain in using Raid 0 for the sake of more secure data protection.

    PROS
    Ability to use two HDDs in a single external housing
    USB & Firewire connections

    CONS
    Software Raid 0: no speed increase, higher data loss risk.
    Restricted air flow

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    I like to thank Eagle Tech for the review sample, and Geeks Computer Parts for supplying us the Seagate HDDs in this review.

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