Vantec NexStar MXDual Bay External HDD Enclosure is a quick and simple way to expand
storage capacity to your computer. This enclosure may not
come with Hard drives like many other but you do get a lot more
features than a simple external Hard drive. This External enclosure supports JBOD, Individual, Raid 0, and Raid 1 modes for
effective storage management. It also has the Ability to accept two drives with a total capicity of 2TB. Whether you want to backup your files, expand your storage space, or just like to have a large portable drive the NexStar MX has you covered.
First Impression:
Photo Courtesy of Vantec
Today I will be reviewing Vantec's NexStar MX external Drive enclosure. It is an aluminum enclosure for hard drive storage. Not to be confused with some external Hard Drive kits as this does not come with the hard drives included. However, there are many enthusiast out there who prefer it this way. This way they can choose specifically the specification of the hard drive or even use one that they have in a case already or instead. The Nexstar MX is an external enclosure that allows you to use two 3.5" drives in several different configurations with up to 2TB of storage. The NexStar MX allows you to take your drives and set them up a connect to them using USB 2.0 or eSATA, and also set them up individually, in JBOD mode or as a RAID 1/0 drive. We'll get into that more later first lets take a closer look at the packaging and an overall look at the feature set.
Looking at the packaging for the NexStar MX you will see that it is graphically very detailed on the specification and features. It is very well designed and easy to read. It's always nice to have good artwork on the packaging as well as a feature set that allows you to pick it up in the store and be able to tell exactly what it is you are purchasing. I personally feel much more comfortable purchasing a product when the packaging is well done. This does not of course ensure that what is inside will be up to par but bad packaging leads to buyers anxiety for sure. This is not the case here, the front clearly states everything you need to know and also has a general product shot on the front and a detailed picture of how the air flow works on the back. Listed below are the features you will find on the packaging and also on the Vantec Website
Features:
Supports dual SATA I/II Hard Drives Up to 2.0 TB of Storage
USB 2.0 External Interface Allows You to Transfer Data Up to 480 Mbps
eSATA External Interface Allows You to Transfer Data Up to 3Gb/s.
Front Ventilation and Rear Fan for Better Air Circulation and Cooling
Stylish Aluminum Case to Draw Away the Heat
Support 4 Different Configuration Mode: JBOD / individual / Raid 0 / Raid 1
Simple Plug & Play Connection; Does Not Require Drivers
Arcsoft Totalmedia Backup™, Archive Photos, Music, Video and Data with Three Easy Clicks
Specifications:
Model: NST-400MX-SR Modes Support: Individual/JBOD/RAID 0/1 Device Support: 3.5'' SATA I/II Hard Drive (2) Device Size: 3.5'' Internal Interface: Serial ATA External Interface: USB 2.0/eSATA HD Capacity: Up to 2TB Power Supply: AC Adapter Material: Aluminum Dimension: 197 x 123 x 72mm
System Requirements:
Windows 98/SE/ME/2000/XP/Vista
Intel Pentium II 350 MHz compatible or Mac G3 processor & greater
Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/VISTA or Mac Mac OS 8.6 & greater
For USB2.0 speeds , the system must support USB2.0 specification
For eSATA speeds , the system must support Port Multiplier specification
