By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 22:36:28 +0000

The reason to buy this drive is because it is both 2.5″ based (meaning small, low power, quiet, and easily portable) AND it attaches by eSATA (meaning fast and recognized as “internal” for online backup services like Carbonite). USB-only 2.5″ portable drives are a dime a dozen and if you’re only going to use a USB connection don’t bother with this drive. Likewise, 3.5″ eSATA drives are cheaper on a per GB basis and a better deal if you can tolerate the bigger, heavier, noisier, wall powered 3.5″ form factor. However if you want something in 2.5″ eSATA, as I did, this is a great performing drive. The only problem I have is that when it is plugged by eSATA it doesn’t always start up and get recognized by the system. I have isolated this to a timing issue: if I power up the drive and computer at the same time, and enter my power-on password right away, the drive is always recognized. However, if I power on the computer and it sits a few minutes before I enter the power on password (thus delaying the system boot), the drive is not recognized. Apparently there is some window after power-up wherein the drive will initiate with the host, and if you miss that window the drive won’t initiate so you have to power down and start over. I use a laptop with an eSATA express card, so I’m not sure if the timing window is related to the drive itself or to my eSATA card. All other eSATA drives I’ve used have been the 3.5″ variety with wall power supplies that were always on, and I never had this problem of timing with those drives. Once the drive is successfully started it has been rock solid reliable.

Comments on: Cavalry Storage CAXP Series 500 GB USB 2.0/eSATA Portable External Hard Drive CAXP25500

By: Jason