Cooler Master X-Craft 350 HD Enclosure
- Thread starter Rob Williams
- Start date
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Peter
Guest
confidence in the data
I have a couple of the x-craft units with Seagate IDE disks in them that I used to backup some DVD ISO files. I create the files on my main hard drive and create an MD5 checksum with them so I have a certain degree of confidence that the backup is valid. I then copy the ISOs and checksum files to the x-craft and run an md5 verify and about 75% of them fail the verification on all of the cooler master units.
I have run the verification on the original files and they are OK.
I also have some generic brand external enclosures with Seagate disks where this does not happen which makes me think the xcrafts are not reliable.
Has anyone else had any reliability issues ?
I have a couple of the x-craft units with Seagate IDE disks in them that I used to backup some DVD ISO files. I create the files on my main hard drive and create an MD5 checksum with them so I have a certain degree of confidence that the backup is valid. I then copy the ISOs and checksum files to the x-craft and run an md5 verify and about 75% of them fail the verification on all of the cooler master units.
I have run the verification on the original files and they are OK.
I also have some generic brand external enclosures with Seagate disks where this does not happen which makes me think the xcrafts are not reliable.
Has anyone else had any reliability issues ?
Are the other external enclosures connected to the same, or different USB ports? There might be a variety of things that come into play. Smart to use checksums though, it's a great idea.
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Peter
Guest
My external enclosures are connected to an external (powered) USB 2.0 hub but the same problem occurs when I connect the hub to another port on my PC.
I disconnect the XCraft enclosures and plug the generic ones into the same hub ports and they work fine. I even went as far as purchasing a new USB hub in case that was the problem.
I disconnect the XCraft enclosures and plug the generic ones into the same hub ports and they work fine. I even went as far as purchasing a new USB hub in case that was the problem.
U
Unregistered
Guest
Problem with X-Craft Enclosure
I have just bought an X-Craft enclosure, which just has the USB connection option. I've put in an old hard drive and connected it to my laptop running XP. It recognised a new drive, loaded the driver, but no drive appears in My Computer. I can see something in the Device Manager, but can't work out why I don't have a usable drive. The included instructions must be the worst I have ever come across. Can anyone help?
I have just bought an X-Craft enclosure, which just has the USB connection option. I've put in an old hard drive and connected it to my laptop running XP. It recognised a new drive, loaded the driver, but no drive appears in My Computer. I can see something in the Device Manager, but can't work out why I don't have a usable drive. The included instructions must be the worst I have ever come across. Can anyone help?
Try a different USB cable perhaps? It sounds like Windows cannot figure out what kind of USB device it is.
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Unregistered
Guest
No luck. I tried several USB cables. Do I have to format the drive somehow? The drive came straight out of an old desktop tower. Should they just work 'as is' in the X-Craft case? I even tried the other hard drive from the same tower with the same results... no drive being visible, but something showing in Device Manager.
Many thanks, Nick
Many thanks, Nick
Could be that the drive needs to be formatted. I'd plug it back into the PC and if you don't need what's on it, just format to FAT32 or NTFS, then re-install it into the enclosure and see if it picks up on it.
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Frerik Carlsson
Guest
Cooler Master cabinets are useless
Extract from my letter to Cooler Master:
I am terribly disappointed with your cabinet X Craft 350. You are saying in your advertising that using the cabinet will "increase hard drive lifespan". That would have been true if the disk would could spin down when idle, but that's not the fact with your cabinets. Your cabinet forces the disk to spin continuously as long as the power is on. (This has been explained to me by your tech support.) This is really old-fashioned, like 1984 or so.
The reason I bought a Coolermaster cabinet was that I thought that it would have the standard functionality of ordinary, much cheaper cabinets + good heat dissipation. Now I paid twice as much for your cabinet WITHOUT getting the standard functionality that all other cheaper cabinets have.
I also think that it is not acceptable having to wait 1.5 months for getting an answer from tech support.
Extract from my letter to Cooler Master:
I am terribly disappointed with your cabinet X Craft 350. You are saying in your advertising that using the cabinet will "increase hard drive lifespan". That would have been true if the disk would could spin down when idle, but that's not the fact with your cabinets. Your cabinet forces the disk to spin continuously as long as the power is on. (This has been explained to me by your tech support.) This is really old-fashioned, like 1984 or so.
The reason I bought a Coolermaster cabinet was that I thought that it would have the standard functionality of ordinary, much cheaper cabinets + good heat dissipation. Now I paid twice as much for your cabinet WITHOUT getting the standard functionality that all other cheaper cabinets have.
I also think that it is not acceptable having to wait 1.5 months for getting an answer from tech support.
C
c00l
Guest
x craft 350
I just bought xcraft 350 esata & usb, I find out that it doesnt support Seagate Barracuda 7200rpm model ST3500320AS 500GB run under USB but work on eSata. When I plug in WD WD2500KS it run fine with both USB & eSata. It make me really upset with the unit when in in specification it show support up to 500GB. Sad.............
I just bought xcraft 350 esata & usb, I find out that it doesnt support Seagate Barracuda 7200rpm model ST3500320AS 500GB run under USB but work on eSata. When I plug in WD WD2500KS it run fine with both USB & eSata. It make me really upset with the unit when in in specification it show support up to 500GB. Sad.............
Try the option under My Computer called Manage.
U
Unregistered
Guest
@ Everyone - The enclosure is not the problem!! Great Unit!!
I read this thread before going to purchase my cooler master 350 and it made me a bit nervous to buy one, although every credible review I've read has given it great reviews. I can say with much confidence that this is a fantastic enclosure, and it apprears that the problems most of the previous posters have brought up are not a problem with the cooler master enclosure itself.
@ Peter - You appear to be the only exception, it looks like you know what you're doing as far as troubleshooting and that you may have had a faulty drive. You probably have this ironed out since your post date, but I'm wondering if you ever tried eSATA?
@ Unregistered - You probably just have to set up the drive under Disk Management. This can be accessed under Control Panel/Admin Tools/Computer Mgmt/Disk Mgmt. There are a few simple steps to go through Computer Mgmt program will do for you to get it rolling.
@ Frerik Carlsson - I have owned 5 external HD's. All of them have been different brands, and any running under a USB connection (including the Cooler Master unit) have not been capable of spinning down while idle. Connect the Cooler Master unit through the included eSATA connection to avoid all of this, and have direct control over the drive just as if it were internal (even choosing the amount of idle time before spin down, etc.). The problem is that USB is not designed for HD's in particular, and therefore the driver/hardware requires a decent amount of intellegence to recognize an idle situation and spin down, which is more than most Manufacturers are willing to include due to competitive pricing. The WD MyBook series claim to be able to spin down/shut down with your computer, although I have not personally tested them.
@ Cool - I'm confused as to why you would use USB when you are capable of running eSATA - there is not a single disadvantage to running eSATA! 3-6x the bandwidth, less processor time, and better drive mgmt functionality. Regardless, I doubt if this is actually a problem with the Cooler Master unit again, as I have run both the new Seagate and Samsung 1TB drives in the enclosures with models that claim to support only 500gb, and they both run fine on USB & eSATA. If i am misunderstanding your post and you can only get it to work under USB, the problem could be that you have a SATA 2 drive that you have to downgrade to SATA 1 due to some sort of incompatiblilty issue. This is listed in the trouble shooting section of the manual, and you still will get 1500Mb throughput, over 3x USB 2.0.
I took the time to post this for any potential buyers who would be skeptical as I was after reading this thread. This enclosure is the best I have ever worked with - it WILL spin down with eSATA, and even when it's spinning the great ventilation scheme keeps the drive nice and cool. With most modern drives running for over 1.2 million hours under proper operating conditions, heat dissipation is your main concern because it is the main thing that might reduce the lengthy lifespan, and this unit accomplishes the task without a fan!
Personally I would give the unit 4.5/5, only marks off for the crappy english translation of the manual, and apparently the backup software leaves much to be desired--although I don't use it anyways.
Cheers!
I read this thread before going to purchase my cooler master 350 and it made me a bit nervous to buy one, although every credible review I've read has given it great reviews. I can say with much confidence that this is a fantastic enclosure, and it apprears that the problems most of the previous posters have brought up are not a problem with the cooler master enclosure itself.
@ Peter - You appear to be the only exception, it looks like you know what you're doing as far as troubleshooting and that you may have had a faulty drive. You probably have this ironed out since your post date, but I'm wondering if you ever tried eSATA?
@ Unregistered - You probably just have to set up the drive under Disk Management. This can be accessed under Control Panel/Admin Tools/Computer Mgmt/Disk Mgmt. There are a few simple steps to go through Computer Mgmt program will do for you to get it rolling.
@ Frerik Carlsson - I have owned 5 external HD's. All of them have been different brands, and any running under a USB connection (including the Cooler Master unit) have not been capable of spinning down while idle. Connect the Cooler Master unit through the included eSATA connection to avoid all of this, and have direct control over the drive just as if it were internal (even choosing the amount of idle time before spin down, etc.). The problem is that USB is not designed for HD's in particular, and therefore the driver/hardware requires a decent amount of intellegence to recognize an idle situation and spin down, which is more than most Manufacturers are willing to include due to competitive pricing. The WD MyBook series claim to be able to spin down/shut down with your computer, although I have not personally tested them.
@ Cool - I'm confused as to why you would use USB when you are capable of running eSATA - there is not a single disadvantage to running eSATA! 3-6x the bandwidth, less processor time, and better drive mgmt functionality. Regardless, I doubt if this is actually a problem with the Cooler Master unit again, as I have run both the new Seagate and Samsung 1TB drives in the enclosures with models that claim to support only 500gb, and they both run fine on USB & eSATA. If i am misunderstanding your post and you can only get it to work under USB, the problem could be that you have a SATA 2 drive that you have to downgrade to SATA 1 due to some sort of incompatiblilty issue. This is listed in the trouble shooting section of the manual, and you still will get 1500Mb throughput, over 3x USB 2.0.
I took the time to post this for any potential buyers who would be skeptical as I was after reading this thread. This enclosure is the best I have ever worked with - it WILL spin down with eSATA, and even when it's spinning the great ventilation scheme keeps the drive nice and cool. With most modern drives running for over 1.2 million hours under proper operating conditions, heat dissipation is your main concern because it is the main thing that might reduce the lengthy lifespan, and this unit accomplishes the task without a fan!
Personally I would give the unit 4.5/5, only marks off for the crappy english translation of the manual, and apparently the backup software leaves much to be desired--although I don't use it anyways.
Cheers!
U
Unregistered
Guest
350 and ST3500630A
I also have a 350 bit with a slightly different drive (ST3500630A) and have no end of CRC issues, almost all the software installation folders I moved from my internal drive to this are now screwed.
Music and video is Ok but I just tried to reinstall some software and it would not work
I am using Vista Ultimate 32 bit
I also have a 350 bit with a slightly different drive (ST3500630A) and have no end of CRC issues, almost all the software installation folders I moved from my internal drive to this are now screwed.
Music and video is Ok but I just tried to reinstall some software and it would not work
I am using Vista Ultimate 32 bit
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Nikola
Guest
X-craft is dead
E-sata is not hot plug, when you turn on disk with computer on it freases, only thing you can do is turn it of disk or restart computer.
After two years working with new disk inside it stops and now i heard just some repeting
sound.
In the shop when i ask for another solution, selsman just smile when i mention x-craft, so i wasnt the first one with complains on that peace of bad hardware.
It was good while it works but two years is not lifetime expected for beckup hardware.
sorry for my language
E-sata is not hot plug, when you turn on disk with computer on it freases, only thing you can do is turn it of disk or restart computer.
After two years working with new disk inside it stops and now i heard just some repeting
sound.
In the shop when i ask for another solution, selsman just smile when i mention x-craft, so i wasnt the first one with complains on that peace of bad hardware.
It was good while it works but two years is not lifetime expected for beckup hardware.
sorry for my language
J
Jack Désend
Guest
Namaste Leshy 
in my suggestion you can try out NexStar CX, afaik it's available in Singapore and I have some of my friends from India so guess you can ask your friend to get one if it wasn't available in India.
Btw, I just happened to pass by but seeing how bad CM support was, I'd consider buy 1 NexStar due to its compatibility with up to 2TB HDD and nice design too.
in my suggestion you can try out NexStar CX, afaik it's available in Singapore and I have some of my friends from India so guess you can ask your friend to get one if it wasn't available in India. Btw, I just happened to pass by but seeing how bad CM support was, I'd consider buy 1 NexStar due to its compatibility with up to 2TB HDD and nice design too.
U
Unregistered
Guest
My coolermaster rack spins down the drive on usb.
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PAWEL KOLASA
Guest
X CRAFT ENCLOSURE STINKS!
SO DOES THE COOLER MASTER!
LET'S NEVER, EVER BUY ANYTHING FROM THIS ASSHOLE COMPANY!
LET'S DESTROY THEM! They lie that it's XP compatible, but the disk contains only Windows 98 driver!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How FAR BEHIND ARE THOSE THIEVES?!!!!!!!!
SO DOES THE COOLER MASTER!
LET'S NEVER, EVER BUY ANYTHING FROM THIS ASSHOLE COMPANY!
LET'S DESTROY THEM! They lie that it's XP compatible, but the disk contains only Windows 98 driver!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How FAR BEHIND ARE THOSE THIEVES?!!!!!!!!
U
Unregistered
Guest
DON'T BUY THIS SHIT!!!!
IT STINKS!!!
"reviews" are written by those assholes who produce this garbage!
It won't work!!!
Wow.
/5 char
/5 char