MODTHEBOX.COM - Canada's Premier Case Modding Source - Reviews - SilverStone MS02 2.5" Hard Drive Enclosure Review

Click image for larger view

The final steps to finish the installation process is to simply connect the USB "Y" cable to one end of the MS02 and the other end of any free USB port. Once everything is connected, the unit will power ON automatically and built-in Plug n' Play detection should take place. The SilverStone MS02 2.5" Hard Drive Enclosure will become instantly available and can be accessed via Windows Explorer to view the system properties or change the drive assignment.

Click image for larger view

Testing:

To start performance tests, I assembled the following pieces of hardware to complete the system:

Gigabyte GA-8IG1000MK Motherboard

Intel Pentium 4 2.4A Processor w/NT03 CPU Cooler

Albatron Gigi FX5900XTV 128MB Video Card

2GB Kingmax PC-3200 DDR400 SDRAM

1 x Maxtor DiamondMax 9 60GB Hard Drive

1 x Maxtor DiamondMax 10 200GB Hard Drive

LG 52x32x52 DVD CD-RW w/ SuperLink

VLSystem L.I.S POP LCD Indicator

Kingwin Alpha Power AP-450 PSU

I will be running tests using HDTach 3.0 and SiSoft Sandra Pro 2007 SP1 in USB 2.0 mode. HD Tach 3.0 from SimpliSoftware is a physical performance hard drive test for the Windows platform that reads from areas all over the hard drive and reports an average speed. In USB 2.0 mode, the MS02 provided an average sequential read speeds of 24 MB/s which is slightly slower than conventional SATA and SCSI hard drives.

SiSoftware Sandra 2007 SP1 (System Analyzer, Diagnostic and Reporting Assistant) is an information and diagnostic utility which allows the user to retrieve information about the CPU, Chipset, Video adapter, Ports, Printers, Sound Card, Memory, Network, Windows internals, AGP, ODBC Connections, USB2, 1394/Firewire and more. I ran the MS02 through the Removable Storage Benchmark. Overall test results again here were not to surprising and I contribute most of dismal performance to the slow 5400 RPM speed of the Fujitsu MHT2030AT 30GB notebook hard drive.

Click image for larger view

To round out the MS02 package SilverStone bundles the unit with an software application program called BackupKingX. The software offers the very basic fundamentals for those consumers looking for a simple backup solution. BackupKingX guides the user with a simple job creation process which can be scheduled for any time or date. The frequency of the jobs range from daily, weekly and monthly. Consumers are required to provide the path to both destination and source directories for each job. Once a job has been activated, the main screen provides an updated progress report. BackupKingX offers the ability to backup files, restore missing files from a previous backup and synchronization for files which are updated constantly.

Conclusion:
The SilverStone MS02 2.5" Hard Drive Enclosure represents a unique product for consumers and administrators looking for a simple but effective storage solution. The product is available in two different colour formats and offers consumers quick and easy Plug n' Play USB 2.0 support. Consumers will appreciate the compact size of the unit and SilverStone's consistent high quality construction consisting of an attractive two piece aluminum housing. Overall installation is very simple and can be completed in less than 10 minutes but requires complete disassembly and reassembly prior to use. The MS02 documentation is very easy and covers all the aspects of installation except use of the BackupKingX software application. Add in the packaged USB "Y" cable and the vinyl carrying case and you have a good product from start to finish. As previously mentioned, the BackupKingX software application does provide the very basic fundamentals of a easy to use backup solution. If your needs are very small the software is more than capable of doing the job but pails in comparison to more robust 3rd party backup applications currently on the market. Overall I was extremely pleased with the SilverStone MS02 2.5" Hard Drive Enclosure and award MTB's Seal of Approval with a final rating of 8.5 out of 10. If you have any questions regarding this review, be sure to visit the SilverStone Technology website for more information or discuss them in our forums.

MTB Award

Pros:

Quality construction and design
Very compact size
One button backup solution
Includes good assortment of accessories
Price
Easy installation

Cons:

BackupKingX is not as robust as alternative backup solutions currently on the market
No support for Firewire or SATA