For computer techs and those that need to swap out hard drives, you know the hassle that it is to take apart you whole computer or even to install the hard drive inside of an enclosure just to do some small tests just to take everything apart again to swap out the drive. Well for most of the people that know of this pain have used, seen, or at least have heard of HDD docking stations. Well today we will be taking a look at the Sun Beam Tech eSATA/ USB2.0 HDD Docking Station. With this simple easy to use docking station you can simply and easily swap in and out both 2.5” and 3.5” hard drives. Let’s take a closer look at what makes this docking station different from the others:

Price: $36.99

Closer Look:

Sun Beam Tech eSATA/ USB2.0 HDD Docking Station

Now let's move on to the specs and features:

Specifications:

• USB 2.0 Transfer Rate Up to 480Mbps
• Supports: Window 2000 / XP / VISTA, Linux and MAC

• SATA to USB / SATA to ESATA
• Connect a 2.5” or 3.5” SATA Hard Drive of up to 1TB
• Enables the direct connection of a SATA HDD or SATA II HDD to your PC
• Suitable for 2.5" and 3.5" SATA HDDs
• External interface: USB 2.0 (max. 480 MB/s)
• Support USB / ESATA Hot Plug feature
• 132 x 94 x 69 mm

Package Contents:

• HDD Dock x 1
• USB Cable x 1
• SATA Cable x 1
• 12V/2A DC Adapter x 1
• User Manual x 1

Now let's do some testing:

• CPU: Q6600
• Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-965P-DS3
• Memory: 2 x 2GB Kingston
• OS: Windows XP Home SP3
• Video Card: ATI Radeon EAH 4550
• Power Supply: 550 W PSU
• Case: NZXT Tempest

For testing I will be setting up the unit and then I will be inserting my backup 1TB Hard Drive into the docking station and then running a few tests. First I will run HDtune to find the average MB/s speed, the access time, the burst rate, and also the CPU usage. After that I will be timing how long it takes a 10MB, a 100MB, and a 500MB file to transfer to the hard drive. I will be running these tests for both the units USB and eSATA functions. Unfortunately the other docking station that I have access to doesn’t have eSATA capabilities so the Sun Beam Tech Hard Drive Docking Station’s eSATA results will more for raw information.

USB – File Transfer Speed

eSATA – HDtune

 eSATA- File Transfer Speed

So in the end I have to say that the Sun Beam Tech eSATA/ USB2.0 HDD Docking Station did really well. As far this docking station is concerned there are only a few things that make this one stand out from the crowd. Simply put, it’s not numbers where the Sun Beam Tech eSATA/ USB2.0 HDD Docking Station jumps out, but where it does however the fact that it has eSATA capabilities and that it has an eject drive button area huge plus.

Now let’s take a look at my final thoughts:

So I have to say that I personally think that this is a great docking station. The way that it's built for quick and easy use, and the fact that it has a hard drive eject button to safely, and without trying to wiggle the hard drive out, shows that the little design gnomes who made this docking station took a second and thought through their product.  Besides the intelligent design that was put into making this docking station the fact that this model has eSATA makes this model a saver of both time and sanity for anyone who knows the pain of having to backup a clients 500GB hard drive onto another hard drive.

So in the end would I recommend this docking station? Simply put, yes, yes I would. For those computer techs out there that are looking around for a good, hardworking, and a relatively cost efficient docking station then the Sun Beam Tech eSATA/ USB2.0 HDD Docking Station would be one to definitely put near the top of your next purchase list.

Pros:

• Reasonably Priced
• Works great
• Simple To Use
• Eject Button
• Slot To Hold 2.5” HDD

Cons:

• None That I Can Think Of

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