MB981U3S-1S - posted by wegotserved.com

As part of the feature set of Windows Home Server 2011, as well as the remaining products in the Colorado family of operating systems, you have the ability to backup the server operating system, client backups, and shares. That can add up to an overwhelming amount of data in some cases, and can be quite unwieldy for the only native backup method of using Direct Attached Storage (DAS) drives................read the full review

MB981U3S-1S - posted by hitechlegion.com

Time after time, Icy Dock has delivered products that are rock solid in every aspect, and the MB981U3S-1S HDD Docking Station is no exception. While docking stations are not an item that would be “feature rich”, the Icy Dock MB981U3S-1S covers all of the functions one could ask for and does it in typical excellent fashion. The MB981U3S is capable of both 2.5” and 3.5” drive compatibility with a simple drop in. Connectivity features 5Gbps USB 3.0 SuperSpeed, as well as 3Gbps eSATA. Backwards compatibility to USB 2.0 assures that usage with older computers will not be an issue..........read the full review

ICY TIP: Build an All-in-one 3D Gaming HTPC with Flexible Storage Expansion Using ICY DOCK Storage Solutions

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Build an All-in-one 3D Gaming HTPC with Flexible Storage Expansion Using ICY DOCK Storage Solutions

The evolution of the TV has been continuous, with the most recent additions of becoming bigger, slimmer, cheaper and lighter, with the quality of video advancing each year. With advent of HD 3D gaming on PC, the quality and appeal makes it a great addition to have at home. But, with current consoles such as the PS3, XBOX 360 with the outdated graphics, 3D and overall quality cannot compare to their PC counterparts. However, a gaming PC is not usually used where a TV is because chances are that the PC would look out of place and could take up a lot of space. One solution to this is the use of a gaming HTPC, as it is able to fit into your living room without standing out or taking too much space. A gaming HTPC is an excellent solution for those who want to be able to play the latest HD video games, watch HD movies, TV, and surf the web – without taking up a whole lot of space. You can select specific components for your needs and have high quality HDMI output from your system. With that in mind, we want to select components that look good in your living room, handle the performance requirements, have cooling options, and be as silent as possible. We have narrowed some examples of what components can be used: Note: These are components complied based on user feedback from Newegg and have not been built or tested. All prices are provided by Newegg with the exception of the Blu-ray Burner (Amazon) and do not account for rebate, shipping, or tax amounts.

$1000 Gaming HTPC Build Chassis 1 x APEVIA X-MASTER-BK/500 $69.99 Processor 1 x Intel Core i5 Ivy Bridge 3450 $199.99 Motherboard 1 x ASRock Z77 Extreme4 LGA 1155 Intel Z77 (ATX) $109.99 Graphics Card NVIDIA 3D Vision Kit compatible GPU; 1 x EVGA GTX 660 SC $229.99 Memory 1 x Corsair 8GB Vengeance Blue LP DDR3 $40.99 Power Supply 1 x OCZ ModXStream Pro 600W $74.99 Storage 1 x Crucial M4 64GB SATA III SSD $74.99 Blu Ray Burners 1 x Panasonic UJ240 $55.97 Storage Accessories 1 x ICY DOCK ToughArmor MB994IPO-3SB & DuoSwap MB971SP-B $84.99 $41.99 Total Cost: $983.88

$2000 Gaming HTPC Build Chassis LIAN LI Black Aluminum PC-C33B (ATX/mATX motherboard, full Aluminum, Silent, full length GPU & ATX PS support) $159.99 Processor Intel Core i5 LGA 1155 3570K (Ivy-Bridge) $229.99 Motherboard ASUS P8Z77-V PRO LGA 1155 (ATX) $189.99 Graphics Card NVIDIA 3D Vision Kit compatible GPU; EVGA GeForce GTX 680 Classified 4GB 256-bit GDDR5 $559.99 Memory 2 x Corsair 8GB Vengeance Blue LP DDR3 $79.99 Power Supply 1 x Corsair CMPSU-750TX 750W $129.99 Storage 2 x Crucial M4 128GB SATA III SSD $102.99 (ea) 1 x Seagate Barracuda Green ST2000DL003 2TB HDD $99.99 Blu Ray Burners 1 x Panasonic UJ240 $55.97 Storage Accessories 1 x ICY DOCK ToughArmor MB994IPO-3SB & DuoSwap MB971SP-B $84.99 $41.99 3D Kit 1 x NVIDIA 3D Vision Kit $127.99 Total Cost: $1966.85

The above system builds should be able to handle everything you throw at it with very little problems. All components use the latest technology and so will last for years to come for your HTPC. If you want to add 3D gaming, overclock, or an additional storage option to your list, we suggest looking into the high end build. Now let’s talk about the storage part. The idea behind the ToughArmor MB994IPO-3SB and DuoSwap MB971SP-B combination is to use the 2 x 5.25” external bay of the Lian Li case, giving you enough space to fit 1 x Blu-ray, 2 x SSD in RAID, 1 x hot-swap 3.5” HDD slot and 1 x hot-swap 2.5” HDD/SSD slot. So, you would have fully featured a gaming HTPC with a Blu-ray player, 2 hot-swappable SSD bays, and a hot-swappable 2.5” + 3.5” bay with SATA 6Gbps speed.

Please click on the product banner above for the product information.

With the ToughArmor, you can store 1 x slim ODD and 2 x 2.5” SATA/SAS SSD or HDD, all in a single 5.25” bay. This is the perfect solution for your gaming HTPC to install a Blu-ray player while creating a high performance RAID 0 SSD setup to boost your entire gaming experience. The device uses full metal construction, fully protecting and cooling your investments. Also, if you opt for traditional hard drives, a built in 40mm cooling fan can be used to provide optimal cooling to your hard drives. Otherwise, the fan can be shut off to completely eliminate any noise when using SSDs. Hot swapping also allows you to swap any of the trays at will. In case of a drive or slim ODD failure, swapping out just takes the release of the particular latch, and then removing and replacing the SSD, hard drive, or slim ODD. It is a big plus to have a HTPC build in your living room as you no longer need to deal with the cables, just remove the entire system from your TV stand, or open the case to reach the failed SSD/HDD.

Please click on the product banner above for the product information.

The DuoSwap will be able to fit into the second 5.25” bay available, allowing 1 x 3.5” and 1 x 2.5” SSD/HDD, using a completely tool-less drive installation system. The DuoSwap is similar to an external docking station, but you receive full benefits of the SATA 6Gbps performance without limitations of USB, eSATA, or FireWire. This allows you to easily swap your hard drives out from one computer to the other and easily make a backup of your media collection. When the device is not in use, the two part anti-dust cover protects your HTPC from any entering dust, thus helping keep your system clean. Overall, this adds more expandability options for your system. With your high end gaming HTPC in place, you can experience the newest video games in 3D with the best hardware, meanwhile, still being able to use all the capabilities of an HTPC -- within the confines of your living room. Phone Support: 626.956.8800 Email Support: sales01@icydock.com Live Chat Support – Click HERE

MB662USEB-2S-1 review - posted by thinkcomputers.org

We are back with another hard drive enclosure from ICY DOCK! This enclosure is a dual bay enclosure so you will not only be able to install 2 hard drives, but also have those hard drives in a RAID configuration. The external enclosure supports 3 different connections, USB 2.0, eSATA and Firewire so no matter what system you are using this enclosure will be compatible. Installation in this enclosure takes less than a minute thanks to to tool-less design. The enclosure I am talking about is the MB662USEB-2S-1 from ICY DOCK. Read on as we take a look! ...........read the full review

MB971SP-B review - posted by homeservershow.com

In preparation for the 2nd Annual Home Server Show Meet-Up this year I was asked to review the Icy Dock 5.25” Hot Swap Drive Caddy for a 2.5” and a 3.5” SATA Hard Drive or SSD — DuoSwap MB971SP-B (“DuoSwap”). Details of the DuoSwap can also be found at Icy Dock’s site................read the full review

Introducing the ICY DOCK MB981U3N-1SA USB 3.0 2.5” / 3.5” SATA & IDE Hard Drive & SSD Adapter

Icy Dock is proud to introduce the MB981U3N-1SA USB 3.0 2.5” / 3.5” SATA & IDE Hard Drive Adapter. This adapter is an ultra portable yet space saving solution for users who require high transfer speed with multiple hard drives to swap, whether it is IDE / SATA or a 2.5” / 3.5” form factor. Adaptable USB 3.0 SuperSpeed The MB981U3N-1SA accepts almost all kinds of drives including ATA (IDE), SATA, 2.5”, 3.5” hard drives and SSDs. It allows universal adaptability with modern PCs or Macs via SuperSpeed USB 3.0. With a theoretical maximum of 5Gb/s, you get the lightning fast transfer performance you need to finish your tasks fast. With USB 3.0 capable of backwards compatibility, the adapter can be used in older systems that only have USB 2.0. This is the best interface to date with reliable compatibility for many different systems. Minimal Footprint Design The minimalistic design of the MB981U3N-1SA allows for a significant space reduction, leaving a small footprint when using the device in several positions for your SATA hard drive can be used in. With this ability, accommodating to different surfaces makes it easy to use almost anywhere. The SATA & IDE ports are also built to fully secure your inserted hard drive and help prevents data loss or damage to your hard drive connectors. Lastly, the exposed hard drive allows full passive heat dissipation to optimize cooling and performance. Readily Accessible Strategically placed ports and the screw-less / tool-less design make using the MB981U3N-1SA quick to swap multiple hard drives in seconds for everyday use. An individual power button which doubles as a status LED is also included to allow users to increase drive life and conserves electricity when not in use. Whether it is 2.5”/3.5” or IDE/SATA HDD, each type of hard drive is compatible and can be accessed in three easy steps – insert the hard drive, plug in necessary cables, and press the power button. Also, most 2.5” hard drives or SSDs can be power by a single USB connection. Meanwhile, a slim power adapter is included for 3.5” SATA hard drive, and a 4-pin power jumper cable for 3.5” IDE hard drive to ensure enough power is provided. Key Features * Completely screw-less / tool-less design for any type of drive. * Connects 2.5”/3.5” ATA (IDE) & SATA Hard Drive & SSD. * Secured port connectors to prevent data loss or damage to hard drives. * Able to run 2.5"/3.5" ATA (IDE) & SATA hard drive simultaneously. * Plug & Play USB 3.0 with backwards capabilities to USB 2.0 for quick connection for any computer system. * Easy access On/off button allows hard drive life expendability and energy conservation. * Exposed working HDD stands in the air vertically for fast heat radiation. * Included convenient 4-pin power jumper cabled provided for use with 3.5” IDE drive. * Low profile power adapter for 3.5” drives. * USB bus power for 2.5” drives. * Great for DIY users and IT Professionals. * Designed for PC & Mac systems. Quick links: MB981U3N-1SA Product Page MB981U3N-1SA Product images MB981U3N-1SA Datasheet ICY DOCK Tel: 626.956.8800 Fax: 626.956.8811 1307 John Reed Ct. City of Industry, California 91745 Sales e-mail: sales01@cremax.com Support e-mail: tech@icydock.com

MB559U3S-1S review - posted by thinkcomputers.org

When it comes to external hard drive enclosures ICY DOCK is a name you should know.  They have been making enclosures for quite some time now.  Their enclosures are always quality-made...............read the full review

MB994IPO-3SB review - posted by servethehome.com

The Icy Dock MB994IPO-3SB is a really cool product. Here’s the basic idea – take a standard 5.25″ optical drive bay and make it more useful. Useful in the sense that it allows................read the full review

MB982IP-1S-1 review - posted by storagereview.com

The MB982IP-1S-1 is part of Icy Dock’s MB982 enterprise series, which is designed for large-scale storage applications. Like the MB982IP-1S, reviewed as part of our................read the full review

MB559U3S-1S review - posted by storagereview.com

 

Icy Dock’s new MB559U3S-1S portable USB 3.0 and eSATA enclosure is as much about how you use storage when you’re not on the go as is about providing a safe, thermally efficient housing for drives operating in the field. The MB559U3S-1S is................read the full review