Test Rig Configuration

What about the MVKTech test system that will be used for putting this ICY BOX IB-281U external enclosure to some performance testing? We will be using an Intel based configuration which features about 8 USB 2.0 external ports. While it might not be a top performing platform this is what most regular users will have and that will represent the performance of the USB 2.0 external hard drive at best. So let's go and check the specifications and hardware that was used for the benchmarks we have performed.

• Intel Pentium 4 (Prescott) 3.0GHz CPU
• ASUS P4P800 Deluxe Motherboard
• 1024MB Corsair XMS PRO PC-3200 XL TWINX Memory
• 200GB Maxtor HD IDE (UDMA133)
• PNY Verto 6800 GT (NV40) AGP 256MB
• Zalman ZM460-APS Noiseless Power Supply
• Cooler Master Cooldrive 6
• Cooler Master ATC-200C Case
• Sharkoon Silent Eagle 2000

We just need to plug in the USB cable from the ICY BOX USB 2.0 by RaidSonic on one of the available USB connections of our test system. Once done Windows XP SP2 will automatically detect the external drive and recognize it.

As of now we are set to go and put this external USB drive to work and see how fast it ends up in relation to a normal IDE hard drive and some other external USB 2.0 hard drives.

Test Results & Benchmarks

SiSoftware Sandra Pro 2005.SR3

SiSoftware Sandra (the System Analyzer, Diagnostic and Reporting Assistant) is an information & diagnostic utility. It should provide most of the information you need to know about your hardware, software and other devices whether hardware or software. We will be using SiSoftware Sandra to measure the performance of our removable ICY BOX USB 2.0 drive.

RaidSonic ICY BOX USB 2.0 (Hitachi TravelStar 80GB)

We are starting with the RaidSonic ICY BOX USB drive and giving it a run on SiSoftware Sandra. This will provide us our reference of performance to compare it with another 2.5" USB 2.0 enclosure by Sweex.

Benchmark Results

• Combined Index: 34143 operation(s)/min
• Endurance Factor: 4.2
• 512B Files Test: 64039 operation(s)/min
• 32kB Files Test: 18267 operation(s)/min
• 256kB Files Test: 5153 operation(s)/min
• 2MB Files Test: 526 operation(s)/min
• 64MB Files Test: 22 operation(s)/min
  Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

Sweex Mobile USB 2.0 (Hitachi TravelStar 80GB)

Next we put the Sweex Mobile USB 2.0 drive to the same benchmark option on Sandra. We fitted the Sweex Mobile solution with the same Hitachi TravelStar 2.5" hard disk running at 5400rpm.

Benchmark Results

• Combined Index: 19877 operation(s)/min
• Endurance Factor: 4.0
• 512B Files Test: 32969 operation(s)/min
• 32kB Files Test: 14863 operation(s)/min
• 256kB Files Test: 5266 operation(s)/min
• 2MB Files Test: 479 operation(s)/min
• 64MB Files Test: 22 operation(s)/min
  Results Interpretation: Higher index values are better.

RaidSonic ICY BOX USB 2.0 vs. Sweex Mobile USB 2.0

Now that we have both results let's compare these external cases by looking at the RaidSonic ICY BOX against the Sweex Mobile solution, both coming with an USB 2.0 interface rated at 480Mbit/s. As we can see from the below graph the performance is very similar, though quite different as well.

The RaidSonic storage solution is clearly the winner on the Sandra benchmark suite. The ICY BOX can reach much more operations a minute then the Sweex could ever attain. So next to the professional design, it delivers top notch performance. The difference in raw speed can be explained by the high-speed USB 2.0 controller that each are using. The RaidSonic uses a Cypress high-speed USB 2.0 (CY7C68300B) controller whereas the Sweex is using the ALi high-speed USB 2.0 (M5642) chip which seems to be less powerful. So RaidSonic made a good choice opting for the Cypress variant.