Saturday, July 16, 2011

Vantec USA NexStar CX 2.5-Inch SATA to USB 3.0 External Hard Drive Enclosure (NST-200S3-BK)


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Vantec introduces the NexStar® CX 2.5" SuperSpeed USB 3.0 External Hard Drive Enclosure, ideal for anyone in need of storing and transferring large amounts of data. Support all the latest 2.5" hard drive -- 7mm, 9.5mm, 12.5mm, SSD; this enclosure does it all. Integrated with the latest USB 3.0 technology, performance is increased by 10 fold offering maximum speeds of up to 5 Gbps. In addition, the sleek aluminum casing not only protects the drive from overheating but also provides sound dampening qualities to minimize vibrations. The Vantec NexStar® CX 2.5" SuperSpeed USB 3.0 External Hard Drive Enclosure is great for anyone who requires a high performance, lightweight, and durable external storage solution.

This review is from : Vantec USA NexStar CX 2.5-Inch SATA to USB 3.0 External Hard Drive Enclosure (NST-200S3-BK)
NexStar CX Superspeed 2.5" Sata to USB 3.0 External Enclosure . I bought this item from a store, but since the Product ID's match I don't see how it could be different.

This is my first fore into USB 3.0 and I have to say I'm a little upset. Although my motherboard has USB 3.0 ports and Windows 7 x64 sp1 supports said USB 3.0 it doesn't. So after a few days of trying everything I almost had a break through. I got the USB 3.0 working for about 12 minutes. Then the drivers crashed. I'm guessing USB 3.0 is probably best left to add-in cards for now.

While the USB 3.0 was working I only got 28MB/s out of it. USB 2.0 maxes at 16-18MB/s. When this drive (NOT THE ENCLOSURE) was hooked to eSata it ran at 55MB/s so I know it isn't the drive. I'll chuck it up to the USB 3.0 ports on the motherboard. My mother board is a MSI 870A-G54. Just a warning to those who own it, the NEC drivers don't work correctly in either Windows 7 x64 sp1, or Windows XP x64 sp2.

With that said, the USB 2.0 worked fine. Something that the description and box doesn't mention is the need for two USB ports on the system. One port is for data, the other is for power. At least that's what I presume. I've managed to get USB 2.0 running without the second USB plug, but the drive makes an underpowered sound after a few seconds. This is a let down since other USB 2.0 enclosures only need one cable. Technically a USB 3.0 device shouldn't need two plugs either since more power comes from the port by standard. The instructions make no note about this. It's left up to experimentation.

The case is hard aluminum and feels firm. One point regarding the USB cable. It uses a full size USB plug, so even when running the drive in USB 2.0 mode, the user will need a USB 3.0 cable.

I give this device a 4 out of five stars. It's a decent device, though until USB 3.0 gets fully standardized I suggest a USB 2.0 or eSata/USB 2.0 enclosure. eSata is a proven technology along with USB 2.0. Laptops have add-on cards that add eSata ports, and most laptops have all USB 2.0 ports. In the future this may be a great product, but for now I'd say pass on this for something that WILL work no matter what.


Feature Vantec USA NexStar CX 2.5-Inch SATA to USB 3.0 External Hard Drive Enclosure (NST-200S3-BK)

  • Supports ALL 2.5" Hard Drives -- 7mm, 9.5mm, 12.5mm, SSD
  • Backwards-Compatible with USB 2.0 or 1.1
  • Hi-Quality Shielded USB 3.0 Cable Ensures Data Integrity and Speed
  • Attractive Blue LED Indicates Power & HDD Activity
  • Aluminum Casing Cools Down Your Hard Drive




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Product Details

EAN : 0844767012896
UPC : 844767012896
MPN : NST-200S3-BK
Brand : Vantec
Weight : 1 pounds
Height : 2 inches
Length : 7 inches
Width : 5 inches
Binding : Personal Computers
Manufacturer : Vantec USA
Model : NST-200S3-BK
Publisher : Vantec USA
SKU : ARASI112534B22112
Studio : Vantec USA

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