Thursday, March 26, 2015

EZConvert Lite MB882SP-1S-3B Review - posted by Lon Seidman

Icy Dock EZConvert Lite Review - MB882SP-1S-3B 2.5" to 3.5" SATA Converter & Mounting Kit

Published on Mar 25, 2015

Icy Dock has a new SSD to desktop hard drive conversion kit that is very easy to work with. It has a tool-less design and accepts SSD and notebook hard drives of varying heights. It essentially converts those drives into a form factor that will fit into a NAS or other drive enclosures that only accept a desktop drive.

This is a revision on their prior EZConvert design. This new one has better airflow and is much easier to work with. I recommend it!

EZConvert Lite MB882SP-1S-3B Product Page: http://www.icydock.com/goods.php?id=195

Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Introducing the ICY DOCK Black Vortex MB174U3S-4SB 4 Bay USB 3.0 & eSATA External HDD Enclosure with 120mm Cooling Fan





We are proud to introduce the Black Vortex MB174U3S-4SB, the USB 3.0 and eSATA quad bay external enclosure with an eye catching design and removable drive feature. This unique HDD enclosure is designed for computer enthusiasts and gamers who need massive storage device without modifying their system or taking up additional system space. The MB174U3S-4SB accepts up to four 3.5” SATA 3 hard drives with blazing fast USB 3.0 and eSATA interface. The built-in 120mm cool blue LED fan with all around mesh design provides excellent cooling to the drive which can extend HDD lifespan. The easy access fan speed control and LED brightness control allow you to configure various setting that fits your need. Lastly, the EZ-Grip handles gives you the ability to replace drives in a matter of seconds. The Black Vortex MB174U3S-4SB is a must-have multi-bay enclosure that perfectly blends performance and aesthetics.
Multiple Interfaces with Great Capacity

As storage space remains an integral part of many applications, the MB174U3S-4SB aims to fill the void which the storage market has neglected. With support of up to 4 drives, the Black Vortex can provide ample storage space for all your data needs without occupying space within your system. With 4 x 6TB hard drives, you can squeeze up to 24TB of storage into this compact enclosure.
Boasting SuperSpeed USB 3.0, the Black Vortex MB174U3S-4SB can quickly transfer files between your computer and your external drives, or transfer the file in between the drives in the blink of an eye. With backwards compatible USB 2.0 support, you can connect it to many supporting devices that support external storage devices through USB 2.0 such as wireless routers, gaming consoles, Nas storage, and smart TVs that have USB interface.
 
Our new external enclosure also supports eSATA port-multiplier interface for those that don’t have USB 3.0 interface. (Requires eSATA port multiplier support from host end in order to detect all drives).
 
EZ-Grip Handles

Drive installation has never been easier with the EZ-Grip handles. Installing EZ-Grip to your hard drive only requires two screws. You can easily slide your drive into the Cage and lock the switch. Once your drives are locked in place, they’re not going anywhere.

The EZ-Grip handles are compatible with our lineup of portable docks such as the MB881 and MB981 HDD docking stations. You can quickly remove your drive from the Black Vortex, and insert them into our docking stations without removing the EZ-Grip handles. This is extremely useful when transferring data in between systems. We've included two bonus EZ-Grip handles so you swap between a total of 6 drives. The EZ-Grip handles are compatible with our 2.5” to 3.5’ HDD/SSD Ezconvert series: EZ-Convert MB382, MB482, MB882 & MB982 series, allowing you use your 2.5” HDD/SSD with the Black Vortex hassle-free.
Efficient Cooling

The Black Vortex MB174U3S-4SB gets its name from the whopping 120mm fan integrated in the unit, which allows it to efficiently cool your drives and increase HDD lifespan. The included 120mm fan effectively pulls cool air into the enclosure resulting in a lower overall temperature for your drives which prevents performance decrease from overheating disks. We’ve included an adjustable 3 settings fan switch (high, low, and off) to allow you more control over airflow, temperatures, and noise levels. The 120mm fan also features an adjustable built-in LED lighting that brilliantly Illuminates and provides an ambient blue color. It’s a surefire way to grab the attention of everyone in the room.
Easy Maintenance and Controls

Controlling the enclosure is simple and can be done by accessing the front of the enclosure. With brightness controls, the 3 different settings (high, low, and off) allows you to dim and brighten the LED fan with a simple touch. Fan controls allow you to adjust the airflow from high, low, and off, and the 120mm cooling fan can be easily replaced to an aftermarket 120mm fan with 3 pin connector.
Clean up is a breeze with the included removable dust filter that can easily be detached and rinsed within a matter of seconds. We’ve made the protruding handles removable if you’re looking for a more minimalist design and we’ve designed this enclosure to be tough yet attractive.
Key Features

• Fits 4 x 3.5” SATA I / II / III HDD
• Easy access LED brightness and Fan speed control (High/Low/off)
• Hard drive activity light for each individual bay
• Plug-and-Play USB 3.0 up to 5Gbps speed and backward compatible with USB 2.0
• eSATA port multiplier up to 3Gbps speed (eSATA port multiplier requires for the host)
• Front access with removable HDD design to easily install/remove drives
• EZ-Grip handles allow easy installation and compatible with HDD docking stations
• Includes two bonus EZ-Grip handles that allow you to swap between a total 6 drives
• Compatible with ICY DOCK 2.5” to 3.5” HDD/SSD EZ-Convert converters
• Huge 120mm cooling fan effectively keep the drives cool
• Fan is replaceable with aftermarket fans
• Metal mesh open frame design allows maximum airflow
• Removable dust filters prevent dust from entering your system
• Built with a robust full metal frame that’s made to last
• Beautiful ambient blue LED fan glow to complement high end systems
• ICY DOCK 3 years warranty

Quick links:

MB174U3S-4SB Product Page

MB174U3S-4SB Product images
MB174U3S-4SB Datasheet

ICY DOCK

Tel: 626.956.8800
Fax: 626.956.8811
11740 Clark St.
Arcadia, California 91006
Sales e-mail: sales01@cremax.com
Support e-mail: tech@icydock.com

Introducing the ICY DOCK ExpressCage MB324SP-B 4 x 2.5" SATA 6Gbps/SAS HDD/SSD Mobile Rack / Cage in 1 x 5.25" bay (Unique Tool-less drive installation design)




As one of our most exciting releases to date, the ExpressCage MB324SP-B brings to you our highly consumer-friendly enclosure made for anyone that requires affordable storage density. Fit up to 4 x 2.5” SATA/SAS HDD/SSD (7mm-12.5mm) into a single 5.25” bay with the ability to hot swap for easy drive replacement and single channel SAS support (SAS host required). Tool-less drive installation makes installing your drive more simple than ever and optional bottom tray screw holes are provided for extra protection and added stability. With a strategically placed 40mm cooling fan placed behind the unit and all around ventilation, your drives will stay cooler than the Arctic. An adjustable fan speed jumper lets you choose between HIGH, LOW, or AUTO smart cooling so you can set it based on your preference. Power users and system builders alike will enjoy the space saving, tool-less and hot-swap features provided by the ExpressCage MB324SP-B.
Utilize the Standard 5.25” Bay

Our ExpressCage series is the latest addition to our lineup of ICY DOCK products and is catered to system builders and power users that require much more from their 5.25” bay. The MB324SP-B utilizes that 5.25” standard bay and converts it into 4 x 2.5” hot-swappable bays with support of 2.5” SATA and SAS HDD/SSD between 7mm to12.5mm in height. Our versatile enclosure supports SATA III 6Gb/s and single channel SAS (Requires SAS Controller Card). Extremely power efficient, the ExpressCage MB324SP-B can power all 4 drives with a single 15pin SATA power connector which can free up cable clutter and simplify your system build. In addition, our active power feature keeps your enclosure powered down until a drive is inserted minimizing energy usage.
Features upon Features

Through careful planning and design, we’ve incorporated the most desired features into our ExpressCage MB324SP-B. A 40mm cooling fan located in the center-rear of the enclosure keeps your drives cool by ventilating all 4 drives and dissipating heat through air vents surrounding the unit. Control the amount of air flow with our included fan speed control which can be set with a simple jumper pin. Set the fan to HIGH for maximum airflow, LOW for whisper quiet operations, or AUTO for smart cooling (determines the temperature of the drive and changes the fan’s RPM accordingly to keep your drives cool).
If the stock fan is not your preferred choice, we’ve made it easily upgradable with any standard 40mm fan with 2pin or 3pin headers. Choose your favorite aftermarket fan and install it into our ExpressCage MB324SP-B with no effort at all. Aftermarket fans with extra long cables can easily be managed with our built in fan cable management system –wind the cables up to keep them neat and tidy.
Additionally, each bay has its own indicator light to notify you of any hard drive activity. Soft-blue LED makes it easier to sense when drives are in use without straining your eyes. Locking latch support for both 7pin SATA and 15pin power connector secures your connection so they’ll never slip out of place. (Requires cable with supporting locking latch features as well)
Innovative ExpressTray Design

The magic of our ExpressTray simplifies the drive installation process to provide a complete tool-less process to remove and install hard drives or SSDs. Attach a drive within seconds to the ExpressTray and remove it just as easily –the process is easy! Simply place the front end of the drive (the side without the connectors) down into the built in screws and ensure that end sits flush with the base of the tray. Now push the rear end (the side with the connectors) downwards onto the drive and ensure that there’s no space between the drive and the tray. To remove the drive, you simply need to reverse the process. Pull on the rear tab of the tray to free up the drive and then remove the drive. Our reinforced latching system located on the ExpressTray is made extremely durable so you won’t have issues with them further down the road.
Optional screw holes are available beneath the tray in case you want additional drive stability. Ventilated slots in front of and beneath the tray help keep airflow extremely efficient to keep your drives icy cool.
Key Features

• Supports up to 4 x 2.5" SATA/SAS HDD/SSD into a single 5.25" bay
• Support SATA 6Gbps or SAS single channel (requires SAS host)
• Hot-swappable bays for quick drive installation
• Accommodates 2.5" drives with 7mm, 9mm &12.5mm Height
• Active Power Technology (APT) - only powers up if there is drive installed in the drive bay
• Removable ExpressTray system for tool-less, easy installation
• Optional bottom mounted screw holes for increased stability
• Blue indicator LED provided for each bay
• 40mm upgradeable fan for drive cooling
• 2 pin and 3 pin fan headers to support many aftermarket fan upgrades
• Single 15pin SATA power connection powers all 4 drives
• Locking latch design for both 7 pin SATA connector and 15 pin power adapter
• Fan speed control for HIGH, LOW, and AUTO (smart cooling) settings
• Metal case with heavy duty ABS tray and door latch
• Designed for power users and system builder applications, mainly space saving and hot swap usage and for 2.5” HDD or SSD

Quick links:

MB324SP-B Product Page

MB324SP-B Product images
MB324SP-B Datasheet

ICY DOCK

Tel: 626.956.8800
Fax: 626.956.8811
11740 Clark St.
Arcadia, California 91006
Sales e-mail: sales01@cremax.com
Support e-mail: tech@icydock.com

Friday, March 20, 2015

Introducing the ICY DOCK ExpressCage MB322SP-B 2 x 2.5” SATA/SAS HDD/SSD to 5.25” Mobile Rack w/ 3.5” HDD/Device Slot




If you’re seeking a compact rack with versatility and functionality, we have a convenient enclosure just for you. The ExpressCage MB322SP-B is a mobile rack that converts a 5.25” device bay to fit two 2.5” SATA/SAS HDD/SSD (7mm-9.5mm), and includes a 3.5” slot for either a hard drive or a 3.5” device. With the unique tool-less drive installation design, the ExpressTray Mini allows you to install your 2.5” SATA or SAS HDD/SSD simpler than ever, and the optional bottom tray screw holes are provided for added stability. The MB322SP-B has a detachable dust cover which keeps the front panel enclosed to block out dust particles when the 3.5” slot is left unused or when there’s a 3.5” HDD installed. Soft blue LED indicator lights on each 2.5” drive bay notify you when drives are being used without being too distracting. For maximum durability we have implemented enhanced door latches and a solid metal housing.
Space Versatility

Not your typical 5.25” mobile rack, the ExpressCage MB322SP-B *takes two 2.5” SATA/SAS HDD/SSD of 7mm to 9.5mm height and converts them into two hot-swap drive bays. It also includes 3.5” slot for a 3.5” device or 3.5” hard drive for various build options.
Note: 2.5” SAS HDD/SSD requires SAS host, and MB322SP-B supports SAS single channel only.
 
With the extra slot, users can expand their storage by adding a 3.5” HDD or a ToughArmor MB992SK-B for two more 2.5” hot swap bays. The 3.5” slot is also compatible with an assortment of 3.5” form factor devices from USB 3.0 hubs to fan speed controllers. This versatility makes the MB322SP-B an essential tool for a wide range of power users and system builders looking to add variability to their computer build.
Innovative ExpressTray Mini Design

The magic of our ExpressTray Mini simplifies the drive installation process to provide a complete tool-less process to remove and install 2.5” SATA/SAS hard drives or SSDs. Attach a drive within seconds to the ExpressTray and remove it just as easily! Simply place the front end of the drive (the side without the connectors) down into the built in screws and ensure that end sits flush with the base of the tray. Now push the rear end (the side with the connectors) downwards onto the drive and ensure that there’s no space between the drive and the tray. To remove the drive, you simply need to reverse the process. Pull on the rear tab of the tray to free up the drive and then remove the drive.
In addition, for applications that require extra stability we have provided the optional bottom tray screw holes so you can secure your drives.
Design Features

The MB322SP-B’s 3.5” slot for 3.5” HDDs or 3.5” devices comes with a detachable dust cover that not only protects your devices from dust and debris but also blends in with your system. So if you decide to leave the 3.5” slot empty or you have a 3.5” HDD for additional storage, the dust cover provides a visually flowing look while preventing dust from entering the system. The ExpressCage also comes with a metal cover finish for robustness and numerous ventilated slots for enhanced cooling. Each bay has its own indicator light to notify you of any hard drive activity. Soft-blue LED makes it easier to sense when drives are in use without straining your eyes.
Key Features

• Compatible with any standard 5.25” device bay
• Fits 2x 2.5” SATA/SAS HDD/SSD and 1x 3.5” HDD/Device
• Supports 2.5” SATA/SAS HDD/SSD of 7mm & 9.5mm height
• Supports SATA 6Gbps or SAS single channel (requires SAS host)
• Active Power Technology (APT) - only powers up if there is drive installed in the drive bay
• Soft blue indicator LED provided for each 2.5” HDD/SSD bay
• Detachable dust cover for 3.5” slot to keep debris from entering your system
• Enhanced tray and metal housing with for maximum durability
• ExpressTray Mini system for tool-less and easy 2.5” HDD/SSD installation
• Numerous ventilated slots for enhanced cooling
• Locking latch design for 7 pin SATA connectors
• Compatible with our lineup of 3.5” mobile racks like the MB991SK-B and MB992SK-B • Designed for power users and system builder applications, mainly space saving and hot swap usage and for 2.5” HDD or SSD

Quick links:

MB322SP-B Product Page

MB322SP-B Product images
MB322SP-B Datasheet

ICY DOCK

Tel: 626.956.8800
Fax: 626.956.8811
11740 Clark St.
Arcadia, California 91006
Sales e-mail: sales01@cremax.com
Support e-mail: tech@icydock.com

Friday, March 06, 2015

ICY DOCK NATIONAL READING MONTH GIVEAWAY (03/05/2015 to 03/31/2015)

Untitled Document