Unbiased Computer Hardware Reviews - ThinkComputers.org

Axus FiT RAID 500 Storage Device Review

Bob Buskirk — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 14:30:30 +0000

I myself have not played around with a RAID setup as I’ve never had more than 1 of the same hard drive kicking around to try it out. I have seen RAID in action and some of my buddies love to have RAID setups, but I’ve never really looked into it until now.

When asked what I wanted to look at next in terms of product reviews, I wanted to look at a storage system with redundant capabilities. In my head I thought some sort of RAID system. Bob got back to me and asked if I wanted to look at a RAID enclosure made by a company called Axus. I got to choose between a 3-disk setup and a 5-disk setup, naturally I choose the 5-disk setup known as the FiT 500.

Special thanks to Axus for providing us with the FiT RAID 500 Storage Device to review.

For those wondering what a RAID system is, well it’s fairly straight forward. RAID allows you to group multiple hard drives (preferably of the same size, make, and model) for either creating one larger storage disk or a redundant storage system that will help keep your data safe from failure.

Check out Wikipedia’s definition of what a RAID is for a more in-depth explanation.

Who is Axus?
Axus or AXUS Microsystems Inc. is a manufacturer of professional grade storage products based out of Taiwan. They produce high reliability RAID storage solutions that are affordable to you, the consumer. They also back up their products with superior customer service and great technical support. http://axus.com.tw/

Specifications and Features


RAID Series	FiT 500
Model Number	FiT500E	FiT500F
Bay Numbers	5
Tower/Rack	Tower
RAID Level	0/1/10/3/5/PM/LARGE/CLONE
Event Notification	Buzzer, LCD, GUI
PC Interface	eSATA/USB2.0	eSATA/USB2.0/1394b
Disk Interface	SATA I/II
Disk Size	3.5”
RAW Capacity	Up to 7.5 TB
RAID Management	GUI/LCD/Rotary Switch
Operating System	Windows/Linux/MAC OS (OS independent and transparent)
Power Supply	220W
Electrical	AC Voltage 100~220 VAC / AC frequency 50~60 Hz
Temperature	Operating temperature 5~35 ℃, None-Operating temperature : -40 ~60 ℃
Relative Humidity	20% ~ 80% non-condensing
Dimensions (mm) W x D x H	140 x 242 x 208
Weight (kg)	3.88

Features of the FiT 500 RAID Enclosure

Stylish and Economical design
Easy to Use – Plug & Play setup
High Performance: > 200MB/s
Cost Effective RAID 5 solution
No more restrictions for drive sizes due to the 48 bit LBA addressing
Compact
Multiple RAID Level
On Button Backup
SMART and Noise-Free Fan Module
Hot Swappable Trays

It is a pretty expansive list of features for a RAID enclosure, or at least I think so in my opinion. A couple of features off the bat that got me giddy were the Hot Swappable Trays, Noise-Free Fan module and its size.

I wonder how setting up my first RAID system will go and if the Axus FiT500 will make it as easy as it might sound.

First Impressions
I had to go down to the local DHL location to pick up what I found out to be a pretty massive brown box. I was worried it might not fit into the car to get it home but it easily fit in the back seat.

When I arrived home and opened up the brown shipping box, inside there was a smaller black box surrounded in lots of shipping foam. The actual box for the Axus Fit500 was at least half the size of the box that they had shipped it in.

When I opened up the box, inside the trays were padded with foam, with 2 trays to a layer. This definitely would help against any bumps and bangs the box might receive in shipping.

When I got down to the actually enclosure itself I was surprised at how small it was. It doesn’t sit much higher than one of my flat-panel Monsoon speakers didn’t look like it would take up much desk space either.

What Comes Inside The Box?

FiT RAID Subsystem x1
HHD Trays x5 (FiT500E/F only)
Fan Module x1
Power Cord x1
SATA to eSATA Cable Kit x1
eSATA to eSATA Cable x1
USB2.0 Type A to B Cable x1
User’s Manual & Software CD x1
Quick Installation Guide

Even though it is not mentioned in the contents list, you do get supplied a bag of small screws, which are used to mount the hard drives to the trays. You do get plenty of screws in case you lose one or two.

Zalman CNPS10X Performa CPU Cooler Review

Frank Stroupe — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 14:30:26 +0000

In midsummer of 2009, our friends at Zalman released the CNPS 10X Extreme, a 5-heatpipe 120mm tower cooler with a built-in PWM fan controller. Though it wasn’t terribly different in the realm of tower coolers, it was a radical departure for Zalman, who hadn’t previously had a conventional-styled tower cooler in their lineup. I found the 10X Extreme to be an excellent cooler, easily keeping the extreme heat of the 130 watt LGA 1366 i7 to manageable levels.

Zalman has based some other coolers off of the 10X Extreme. Today I will be looking at the Zalman CNPS 10X Performa, a more budget-minded version of the earlier 10X Extreme, which not only ended up being the best air cooler I cooled the LGA 1366 i7 with, but also the most expensive. Will the Performa live up to the expectations we have for Zalman coolers? Read on to see!

Special thanks to Zalman for providing us with the CNPS10X Performa CPU Cooler to review.

Specifications:
Model: CNPS 10X Performa
CPU Compatibility:
-Intel LGA 1366/LGA 1156/LGA 775
-AMD Socket AM3/AM2+/AM2/939/940/754
Dimensions: 132mm x 100mm x 152mm
Weight: 784g (1.728 lbs)
Dissipation surface area: 7900cm2 (1224.5 sq in)
Heatpipes: 5 x 6mm copper heatpipes
Materials: aluminum fins, copper base
Fan: 4-Pin 120mm PWM Fan
Fan Bearing: Long life bearing
Fan RPM: 900-1350RPM (w/RC24P connected) 900-2000RPM (w/o RC24P connected)
Fan Noise Level: 17~24dBA ±10% (w/RC24P connected) 17~36dBA ±10% (w/o RC24P connected)

Packaging:
The Zalman CNPS 10X Performa is packaged in a sharp looking hanging cardboard box that would definitely catch your eye in a retail store.

Inside, the cooler is well protected with foam.

Antec P183 Advanced Mid Tower Case Review

Bob Buskirk — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:30:47 +0000

Antec’s Performance One series cases have been a staple in the computer case industry for quite a while. I know quite a few people that have had their Antec P180 and P182 cases for years now. Antec has once improved their current Performance One cases with the new P183. It features new front door vents, air filters on the entire front of the case and more room for longer power supplies. Besides all of these new improvements you get Antec’s superior quality and sleek style. So let’s take a look at the P183 Advanced Mid Tower.

Special thanks to Antec for providing us with the P183 Advanced Mid Tower Case to review.

Features & Specifications

Dual chamber design isolates heat and noise: the power supply resides in a separate chamber to isolate heat and reduce system noise
No power supply included
Power supply option: comes with a power supply mounting adapter to mount either a standard size power supply or Antec’s exclusive CP Series power supply
Innovative three-layer, sound-deadening side panels and front door (aluminum, plastic, aluminum) dampen noise and ensure Quiet Computing™
11 drive bays
- External 4 x 5.25″; 1 x 3.5″
- Internal 6 x 3.5″ for HDD
Cooling system:
- 1 rear (standard) 120mm x 25mm TriCool™ fan
- 1 top (standard) 120mm x 25mm TriCool™ fan
- 1 lower front chamber – 120mm fan (optional)
- 1 upper front chamber – 120mm fan (optional)
- 1 middle chamber – 120mm fan (optional)
Cable organizers behind motherboard tray minimize cable clutter
Front-mounted ports provide convenient connections:
- 2 x USB 2.0
- 1 x eSATA
- Audio In and Out (HDA and AC’97 compatible)
Double hinged door opens up to 270º
7 expansion slots
0.8mm cold rolled steel chassis for durability
Maximum video card size: 15.5″/394mm (Note: some video cards may require removal of the adjacent hard drive cage)
Compatible Motherboards: Mini-ITX, microATX, Standard ATX
Case dimensions:
- 20.25″(H) x 8.1″(W) x 19.9″(D)
- 514 mm (H) x 205 mm (W) x 507 mm (D)
Net weight: 30.9 lbs / 14 kg
What’s new in the P183:
-Front door vents, as well as wider vents along the door frame, improve airflow into the chassis.
-Filters and filter doors are integrated as one unit. The doors themselves have been modified to provide greater airflow, resulting in cooler system temperatures.
-Drive bay covers are vented and include air filters to provide better airflow.
-Lower chamber fan is now located in front of the hard drive cage, allowing for installation of longer PSUs as well as easier cable routing between the lower HD cage and the power supply.

Packaging
The P183 comes in Antec’s always interesting retail packaging. The front of the box has a picture of the P183 and the back has a list of specifications that we have listed above.

Opening up the box the case is nicely protected by 2 large pieces of Styrofoam and cardboard. When you get the case out the front and both sides have plastic on them to protect from scratches.

Kingston SSDNow V-Series 30GB Solid State Boot Drive Review

Bob Buskirk — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 15:30:02 +0000

Upgrading from a normal hard drive to a solid state drive can be quite expensive and for most people it really does not make that much sense. Solid state capacities are getting larger, but that just brings the price of the drives up even higher. Kingston wants to help people out who want to take advantage of the blazing speeds of solid state drives, but don’t want to break the bank. They have just released the SSDNow V-Series 30GB solid state boot drive. This drive will retail at around $100 and will allow you to load your operating system and applications on it for fast load times, and then you can just put all of your media on a normal SATA drive. This is a great upgrade option for people looking to get a solid state drive, but might not have that much extra money for one.

Features and Specifications
Sequential Speed: up to 180MB/s read, 50MB/s write
Performance: enhances productivity; makes users more efficient
Innovative: 2.5” for factor; uses NAND flash memory components
Silent: runs silent and cool with no moving parts
Reliable: less likely to fail than a standard hard drive
Shock Resistant: no moving parts; handles rougher conditions than a hard drive
Supports S.M.A.R.T.: Self-monitoring, Analysis and Reporting Technology
Guaranteed: three-year Kingston warranty, 24/7 tech support
Capacity: 30GB
Storage temperatures: -40C to 85C
Operating temperatures: 0C to 70C
Vibration operating: 20G peak, 10-2000Hz, (20min/Axis)x3 Axis
Vibration non-operating: 20G peak, 10-2000Hz, (12Cycle/Axis)x3 Axis, x 20min.
Power Specs:
- Read: 1.4W (TYP), 2.5W (MAX)
- Write: 1.7W (TYP), 4.2W (MAX)
- Idle, standby, sleep: 55mw (TYP)
Life expectancy: 500,000 hours MTBF

Packaging
The 30GB V-Series boot drive comes in Kingston’s retail packaging. The front of the package tells us that it’s a 30GB drive and that we received the desktop upgrade kit. On the back there is a list of features and package contents.

Opening the package up everything is nicely protected in a plastic clamshell. Opening that up we have the 30GB drive, 3.5-inch brackets, SATA power and data cable, mounting screws, and the CD that contains the installation guide and cloning software.

In Win Fanqua Mid Tower Chassis Review

Greg Baden — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 15:43:21 +0000

In Win isn’t a widely known company, but it is slowly starting to get to there. Their unique cases are a different from the norm and the In Win Fanqua Mid Tower Chassis that we have to review today is no exception. Supporting up to nine drives the Fanqua houses four fans: three 120mm and one 220mm blue LED fan which lights up the entire case. In Win has also developed many tool-free devices to help ensure a fast and easy installation. Read on further to find out more about this case.

Special thanks to In Win for providing us with the Fanqua Mid Tower Chassis to review.

Features

Excellent Thermal Solution

The Fanqua gaming chassis utilizes a 22cm side panel fan to accelerate air through and out of the chassis to keep components cool. The vented bezels on the front panel, a ventilated floor panel, and a top vent with a 12cm fan provide the optimal airflow on both intake and exhaust.

Advanced appearance

Its unique dark metallic paint and the bright stunning light on the huge fan satisfy all pompous PC enthusiasts.

Tool-Free Mechanical Design

Screw-less I/O expansion slots make assembling a fun, easy, and enjoyable experience.

Dust-proof meshes

The air filter meshes are built into the front bezel, side panel, top panel, and floor which keep out the dust and extend the life of components.

Bottom-Mounted PSU VS. Vent Holes

Bottom-mounted PSU design with independent air ventilation hole.

Specifications

Case Size:

Mid Tower

Material:

SECC Steel (0.6mm )

Dimension(HxWxD):

456 x 225 x 480 mm

Power Supply:

PS/2

I/O Expansion Slots:

7 Slots

Thermal Solution:

1. Front HDD 12 cm Fan*1 (Max. support 12 cm Fan*2)

2. Side cover 22 cm LED Fan with LED switch*1 (Support 12 cm Fan*2)

3. TOP 12CM FAN*1

4. REAR 12CM FAN*1

Driver Bays:

1. up to total 9

2. External 5.25” Drive Bay: 5 or 2

3. External 3.5” Drive Bay: 1 (Converted from one 5.25” drive bay)

4. Internal 3.5” Drive Bay: 3 or 6

Front I/O:

1. HD/AC’ 97 Audio

2. USB2.0 × 2

3. e-SATA×1

M/B:	1. ATX 2. Micro ATX

Packaging
Like all In Win products the Fanqua comes in a beautiful package, full of colors and design. The front of the package shows an image of the case with a background of red clouds. The foreground shows the Fanqua logo and explains what Fanqua stands for: Fan, Airflow, Neat, Quality, User Friendly, and Affordable. The sides of the box cover the different features and specifications of the case.

The case is protected by a plastic bag and secured inside the box by two pieces of hard foam.

A Look at the New ThinkComputers Office

Bob Buskirk — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 20:42:59 +0000

Running ThinkComputers is a full time job and sometimes it is hard to do that job when you are not very comfortable sitting at your computer every day. If you didn’t know ThinkComputers is mainly based in Pittsburgh, PA and I run the website out of my house. I have turned the extra bedroom into an office for ThinkComputers. When I first moved in I had the room setup a completely different way than what it is now. Originally I had the 2 desks separated, one in each corner of the room. This really did not work at all, things just became too cramped and my desk was really cluttered. Mainly because I had my 4 external drives on the desk, which was not the best idea. Below is a photo of what my old desk looked like.

While this setup was nice it really did not leave that much room in the office and it sort of divided things, which I didn’t like. So a week ago or so I totally redesigned the office as well as cleaning it. I basically took everything out of the office, cleaned it, then put everything back. So here is what the office looks like now…

As you can see I have moved both the desks together to form 1 large desk and yes those are Ikea desks! On the side of the desk facing out we have our test systems, so this is where we do all of our hard drive, enclosure, display, power supply, etc testing. Before we go over to my desk on the other side of the room I have a table setup that I use to take product photos on and makes for a good assembly table for building systems.

I really try to keep my desk clean, like I said its hard to get work done when you are working on a messy desk! I have a dual-monitor setup, which I don’t think I could live without! I really helps with multitasking and makes it easy to keep track of everything. If you are wondering I use Logitech’s diNovo Edge wireless keyboard and their MX Revolution mouse. My tower actually sits beside the desk on an end table.

My current system is comprised of an Intel Core i7-920 processor, ASUS P6T motherboard, Sparkle Calibre P980X+ geForce 9800GTX+, 3GB of Kingston HyperX T1 Series DDR3 memory, Thermaltake Toughpower 1200W Modular Power Supply, NZXT Panzerbox ATX Gaming Case and the NZXT Sentry LX Fan Controller. To keep clutter off my desk I have all 4 of my external drives sitting under the end table.

After all of the changes the office is a great place to work on new systems, install and test new products and of course write reviews. If you have any questions about the office please leave them in the comments below…

Speck CorePack Fly Laptop Messenger Bag Review

Bob Buskirk — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 18:19:50 +0000

One of the biggest pains of traveling is going through security. I hate having to always take my laptop out of my bag. Usually my bag is stuffed with gear so its always a struggle to get it out without something getting into the way. Lately we have seen many companies come out with “checkpoint safe” laptop bags that make it so you don’t have to take out your laptop when going through security. The thing about these bags is that they are noit attractive at all. This is where Speck comes in with the CorePack Fly bag, which is available in 2 very attractive colors.

Special thanks to Speck for providing us with the CorePack Fly Laptop Messenger Bag to review.

Features
- Designed to fit up to a 15″ MacBook Pro or similar-sized notebook
- Cool, comfortable and spacious messenger-inspired design
- Quick-access extra-plush micro-fleece padded notebook compartment
- Media player pocket/organizer with headphone cord pass-through
- Tuck-away carry handle and expandable water bottle pocket
- Convenient detachable key leash fob
- Deep-well pockets, zippered pouches and plenty of organizers
- Durable exterior with double-needle stitched bindings
- Comfortable detachable shoulder strap and vented body padding
- Duraflex high-performance buckles
- Extra-secure velcro and buckled front flap closure
- Holds notebooks sized up to 1.5″ thick, 9.5″ deep, 14″ wide
- One year Speck limited warranty

Specifications
Length: 16.5 inches
Width: 7.0 inches
Height: 12.0 inches
Weight: 3 lbs. 2.0 oz.
Colors: Restart Greyscale Pixel, Speakeasy Grey Pinstripe
SKUS: NBAG-CORE15-PXLGRY, NBAG-CORE15-PINGRY

Packaging
Most laptop bags really do not come in packaging, we received the CorePack Fly directly from Speck and it came in a large box covered is plastic for protection. Also attached to the bag is a small users guide that will go over all of the features of the bag.

February 2010 in Review

Bob Buskirk — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 19:20:07 +0000

Another month has gone by here at ThinkComputers! This month was a really bad month for weather here in Pittsburgh, one of the worst storms in memory hit us and things haven’t got much better, it has been snowing almost every other day. Besides the crazy weather we had a lot of really cool reviews this month. My favorite would have to be the Lenovo ThinkPad Edge 13-inch notebook. It is a great consumer based laptop, but at the same time it has many business features people will like. Also make sure you check out the Is Android Taking Over article. Read on to see the top content, traffic sources, etc for February.

Popular Content
So what was everyone checking out this month? Let’s take a look…

Install Windows 7 From a USB Flash Drive

ASUS P7H55D-M EVO Intel H55 mATX Motherboard Review

Is Android Taking Over?

Corsair Obsidian Series 800D Case Review

Intel Core i5 661 Dual Core LGA 1156 Processor Review

Great to see some of the new reviews and articles getting a lot of traffic

Traffic Sources

Thanks everyone for posting our news!

Post Numbers
We published a total of 17 posts this month, so who posted the most?

Stats

+43

-3

Site Updates
- Added a row of banners towards the bottom of the sidebar

Old Reviews Moved to the New Site
- Rosewill RX355-X2 External Hard Drive Enclosure Review
- Lenovo ThinkPad W700ds 17-inch Laptop Review
- In Win Matrix mATX Case Review
- Sparkle Calibre P980X+ geForce 9800GTX+ 512MB Video Card Review
- VIA ARTiGO A2000 Storage Computer Review

Thermaltake V3 Black Edition Case Review

Bob Buskirk — Sun, 28 Feb 2010 18:01:36 +0000

A couple of years ago Thermaltake released the V9 gaming case and later the V9 Black Edition. Today we are taking a look at another case in their V-Series the V3. The V3 is designed to be very functional, but at a very low cost. You can pick this case up for $50 online! This is an extremely low cost for any case, especially a Thermaltake case. This case features an all black design, mesh front bezel, and a 120mm blue LED fan. Let’s see if this is the perfect case for your next budget build.

Features
- Black coating makes stylish inside look
- Bottom-placed PSU design for better and easier installation
- Metal mesh front bezel for maximum air intake
- Built-in filter in 5.25″ drive bay and PSU to keep dust away
- Rear 120mm silent fan with brilliant Blue LED

Specifications


Case Type	Mid Tower
Material	SECC
Front Bezel Material	Plastic
Color	Black
Side Panel	Windowed
Motherboard Support	MicroATX Full ATX
Motherboard Tray	No
5.25″ Drive Bay	4
Ext. 3.5″ Drive Bay	1
Int. 3.5″ Drive Bay	4
Expansion Slots	7
Front I/O Ports	USB 2.0 x 2, HD Audio ports
Cooling System	- Front (intake) : 120 x 120 x 25 mm (optional) - Rear (exhaust) : 120 x 120 x 25 mm TurboFan (1300 rpm, 17 dBA, 50.0 CFM) - Top(exhaust) : 120 x 120 x 25 mm (optional) - Bottom(intake) : 120 x 120 x 25 mm (optional)
Liquid Cooling Capable	No
Liquid Cooling Embedded	No
Power Supply Supported	Standard ATX PSII(optional)
Power Supply Included	No
Dimension (HWD)	430(H) x 190(W) x 473(L) mm 16.9(H) x 7.5(W) x 18.6(L) in
Net Weight	4.8 kg 10.6 lb.

Packaging
The V3 Black Edition comes in Thermaltake’s typical case packaging, very colorful and informative.

The case is nicely protected by large pieces of Styrofoam and plastic. Getting it out of the box the plastic sections of the case are protected by a plastic film to protect from scratches.

Corsair Flash Padlock 2 8GB USB Flash Drive Review

Bob Buskirk — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:32:08 +0000

Four years ago Corsair introduced the Flash Voyager USB drive, a USB drive that was practically indestructible. A Year after that they came out with the Flash Padlock, u USB drive that had a keypad on the front that allowed you to lock and unlock it to protect your data. It seems Corsair has put the two together and released the Flash Padlock 2, which is basically the Flash Voyager with the Padlock keypad on the front. So not only can you protect your data with a key code you get the awesome protection of the Flash Voyager design.

Special thanks to Corsair for providing us with the Flash Padlock 2 8GB USB Flash Drive to review.

Features
Secure: Hardware 256-bit encryption secures your data
Protection: Your own 4-10 digit PIN protects and locks access to the Flash Padlock 2
Capacity: Large 8GB storage gives you ample room to store all your sensitive documents, or up to 2,480 images, or up to 2,000 songs
Compatible: No software to install — Works on Windows, Mac or Linux based computers — Plug & Play compatible with virtually any USB port
Hacking Detection: Multiple failed entries locks device for 2 minutes to prevent repeated attempts to access data
Drive Recovery: If you lose your PIN, you can reset the Flash Padlock to its factory default state, securely erasing all data from the drive
Confidence: Protected by a limited 10 year warranted and backed by Corsair’s renowned customer service and support

Specifications

Capacity	8 GB
Operating Temperature	0°C to 40°C
Storage Temperature	-20°C to +60°C
Operating Humidity	10% to 90%
Storage Humidity	5% to 90%
Maximum Operating Altitude	3,048 m (10,000 feet)
O/S Support	Windows® 7, Windows Vista®, Windows XP, Windows 2000, Windows Me, Mac OS X v9.x and above, Linux Kernel 2.4.2 and higher
Emission Certifications	FCC, CE, VCCI

Packaging
The Flash Padlock 2 drive comes in the typical clamshell packing we are used to seeing from Corsair. The front of the package is clear and on the back you have a description of the drive.

Opening the package up inside you will find the Flash Padlock drive, USB extension cable and a corsair lanyard. I like that Corsair is still including a lanyard with their flash drives, so many companies are not these days.