If you’ve got a new computer equipped with USB 3.0, then it’s time to start upgrading your USB accessories to fully enjoy that 4Gbps transfer rate. For reading and writing all that media you download from torrent sites to your spare hard disks, there’s the ThermalTake BlacX 5G, a new hard drive dock equipped with USB 3.0’s super speed.
How much faster is USB 3.0? According to ThermalTake’s website, a 25GB file (you know, like that stitched 10-hour, high-quality mashup you edited of your favorite adult clips) that you had to wait over 14 minutes to transfer with USB 2.0 can now sit on your external hard disk in just 1 minute and 15 seconds. And that’s pretty amazing.
The ThermalTake BlacX 5G appears no bigger than regular plastic SATA docks at 73 x 136 x 88 mm dimensions and a 312g weight. Design is very minimal, with just a couple of indicators, an HDD release button and a few labels, so you don’t mistake it for a toaster. Yes, the first time I saw a SATA dock, I thought it was a toaster too.
Compatible as a plug-and-play accessory for both Windows and Macs, it also works with USB 1.0 and 2.0, so you can still use it with your older computers (at the lower speeds, of course). It fits both 2.5- and 3.5-inch SATA drives, along with SSDs, up to 2TB, with support for hot-swapping. Power is drawn from a separate plug, though.
It won’t be long before everything’s on USB 3.0. Get in the action early with the ThermalTake BlacX 5G. It’s available for $49.99.
[ThermalTake via Crunchgear]