2.5" HDD Enclosure + Question

[SnowLeopard2008]

I'm looking for a simplistic design (aluminum if possible) 2.5" HDD enclosure. I would like it to have Firewire 400 and USB 2.0 interfaces, and only draw power from USB or Firewire

One last question: Why can't I get the 480mbps speed on my USB 2.0 SeaGate 2.5" HDD? I'm using the MacBook 3.1 (last november) and I can never get the full 480mbps of USB 2.0, why? thanks!

 

[GGJstudios]

I'm looking for a simplistic design (aluminum if possible) 2.5" HDD enclosure. I would like it to have Firewire 400 and USB 2.0 interfaces, and only draw power from USB or Firewire

One last question: Why can't I get the 480mbps speed on my USB 2.0 SeaGate 2.5" HDD? I'm using the MacBook 3.1 (last november) and I can never get the full 480mbps of USB 2.0, why? thanks!

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...ite:forums.macrumors.com&as_qdr=y&btnG=Search

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Firewire#Standards_and_versions :

Comparison to USB

Although high-speed USB 2.0 nominally runs at a higher signaling rate (480 Mbit/s) than FireWire 400, typical USB PC-hosts rarely exceed sustained transfers of 280 Mbit/s, with 240 Mbit/s being more typical. This is likely due to USB's reliance on the host-processor to manage low-level USB protocol, whereas FireWire delegates the same tasks to the interface hardware. For example, the FireWire host interface supports memory-mapped devices, which allows high-level protocols to run without loading the host CPU with interrupts and buffer-copy operations.[18]

 

[CWallace]

I am a big fan of the macally line of products. I have both the ATA and SATA 2.5" models and they're great - especially when used with FireWire since it can power the drive.

 

[SnowLeopard2008]

thanks but since firewire 400, as the macbook doesn't have firewire 800, is actually slower than USB 2.0, so I think I'll just pass on the new enclosure for my seagate freeagent go.

 

[CWallace]

thanks but since firewire 400, as the macbook doesn't have firewire 800, is actually slower than USB 2.0, so I think I'll just pass on the new enclosure for my seagate freeagent go.

In terms of theoretical throughput, yes USB's 480mbps is faster the FireWire's 400mbps.

In terms of actual throughput, FireWire is almost always faster because it uses it's own processor to handle data and does not depend on the CPU like USB. Also, as FireWire supports up to one amp of power over the cable, vs. the half-amp of USB, FireWire can not only power an enclosure on it's own, but can be sure to power the drive at full speed (I have some 2.5" HDDs that draw more then .5 amp so I need to connect them to a wall outlet or use a second USB port to provide the additional power).

So I always use FireWire for my HDDs and external optical drives and never USB.

 

[GGJstudios]

thanks but since firewire 400, as the macbook doesn't have firewire 800, is actually slower than USB 2.0, so I think I'll just pass on the new enclosure for my seagate freeagent go.

Firewire 400 is faster than USB 2.0: