t_ski
11-13-2007, 06:08 AM
[page=Introduction]
Introduction
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttlogo.jpg
I would like to thank Thermaltake (http://www.thermaltake.com/) for supplying the review sample.
Features:
Including 80x80x15mm blue LED silent fan
Supporting eSATA & USB2.0 interface - the best performance & convenience
Application for 3.5" SATA HDD
LED for power and disk activity
Made by Aluminum body for thermal solution
Easy stand
Transfer speed up to 3Gbps (eSATA); 480Mbps (USB 2.0)
Accessories:
eSATA external Cable
USB2.0 Cable
SATA to eSATA PCI bracket
Power Adapter
Foot Stand
Specifications:
<blockquote><table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="ramtable" width="450">
<tr>
<th scope="row">Model:</th>
<td scope="row">N0012USU</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Case Type:</th>
<td scope="row">3.5" SATA HDD</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Fan Type:</th>
<td scope="row">80mm x 15mm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Weight:</th>
<td scope="row">425g</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Dimension (H*W*D):</th>
<td scope="row">215 x 134 x 30 mm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Material:</th>
<td scope="row">Aluminum & Plastic</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Interface:</th>
<td scope="row">SATA to eSATA, SATA to USB</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">SATA Compatibility:</th>
<td scope="row">SATA-2, SATA-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Transfer Rate:</th>
<td scope="row">Up to 3 Gbps (eSATA) or 480 Mbps (USB 2.0)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Power Source:</th>
<td scope="row">1) External Universal Switching Power Adapter<br />(12 V 2.0A/5V 2.0A)<br />
2) UL, FCC, CE, CSA Certified</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Fan Current:</th>
<td scope="row">0.16A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Fan Voltage:</th>
<td scope="row">12 V</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Fan Speed:</th>
<td scope="row">1500 RPM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Fan Noise:</th>
<td scope="row">20 dBA</td>
</tr>
</table></blockquote>
[page=Packaging & A Closer Look]
Packaging & Contents
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-01sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-01.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-02sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-02.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-03sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-03.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-04sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-04.jpg)
The Thermaltake Max 4 enclosure comes in a sturdy cardboard box with color images, detailed specifications and features on the sides.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-05sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-05.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-06sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-06.jpg)
Upon opening the box, the contents are seen to be neatly organized, with the assembly manual and installation CD on top.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-07sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-07.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-08sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-08.jpg)
Under the enclosure inside the box are the necessary cables to make the Max 4 work. There is one USB 2.0 cable, one eSATA cable and an optional PCI bracket that can relocate a normal SATA port to an eSATA port. To supply power to the unit there is a standard power brick and power cable.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-09sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-09.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-10sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-10.jpg)
Also included is a black plastic stand to hold the Max 4 upright. There are two rubber pads on the base to keep the enclosure from sliding around.
A Closer Look
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-11sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-11.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-12sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-12.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-13sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-13.jpg)
The Thermaltake Max 4 case is wrapped in bubble-wrap to protect it during shipping. The unit has a silver metallic finish that is resistant to fingerprints, and there are contrasting black Thermaltake logos and labels on the sides.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-14sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-14.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-15sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-15.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-16sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-16.jpg)
The front has a black plastic mesh to allow airflow through the case, and there is a small, thin piece of clear plastic where the LED for power and activity will shine through. The left side of the case has a round black mesh opening for the 80mm blue LED fan which will provide the active cooling for the unit. The rear of the enclosure has all the connections for the cables as well as the power switch.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-17sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-17.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-18sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-18.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-19sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-19.jpg)
Removing the four screws from the solid right side panel exposes the internals of the Max 4. The 80mm x 15mm fan is centrally located to provide optimal cooling for the drive installed inside. The rear of the case has a small printed circuit board for the connections and the translation from SATA to USB. At the front of the case is the mesh opening and the single LED that provides both the power light and the HDD activity.
[page=Assembly]
Assembly
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-20sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-20.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-21sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-21.jpg)
To install a hard disk drive in the Thermaltake Max 4, the right side cover needs to be removed by taking out the four screws as shown earlier. There are two black plastic mounting tabs inside the unit, with one on each side. Removing the single screw from each one allows the tabs to come free.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-22sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-22.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-23sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-23.jpg)
The drive being installed in the Max 4 is a Western Digital Raptor. Place one mounting tab on each side of the drive, inserting the small round bumps on each of the tabs into the screw holes on the side of the drive. Since the tabs do not stay in by themselves, they must be held in place until the next step is complete.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-24sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-24.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-25sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-25.jpg)
Lay the drive down on top of the open chassis. While holding on to the drive and the tabs, slide both of them toward the PCB until the connection is made and the screw holes line up under the mounting tabs.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-26sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-26.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-27sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-27.jpg)
Insert the two screws through the mounting tabs and tighten the screws until they are snug. The connection may not seat completely, but there should be sufficient contact.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-28sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-28.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-29sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-29.jpg)
Place the right side panel back on and replace the four screws to hold everything together. Set the assembled enclosure on top of the black plastic stand to place it upright.
[page=Performance]
Performance
To test the Thermaltake Max 4 a Western Digital 36 GB Raptor drive was used. Performance was measured with HDTach 3.0.4.0.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-usbhdtachsm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-usbhdtach.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-usbhdtach2sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-usbhdtach2.jpg)
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/graph1.gif http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/graph2.gif
When used with a USB connection, the drive had a fairly steady transfer rate of 32.6MB per second. This shows the limitation of the USB connection, as we know that the drive itself can sustain a higher transfer rate than that. However, it should be noted that the CPU utilization was somewhat high at 18% for the testing. The test was run multiple times to verify the CPU usage, which never got as high as 18% again. In fact, the second HD Tach screen above shows a utilization of 0%, although the transfer rate dropped slightly as well.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-esatahdtachsm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-esatahdtach.jpg)
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/graph3.gif http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/graph4.gif
When used with the eSATA connection, the performance increased as expected. The drive managed an average transfer rate of 58.5MB per second, which is right in line with internal SATA performance. Notice how the CPU utilization was also much lower for the eSATA connection, dropping from 18% down to 3%. The CPU utilization number dropped to 1% on additional eSATA testing.
Also, during normal usage the Western Digital Raptor located in the Thermaltake Max 4 reported an average internal temperature of 26ºC. After stressing the drive with heavy benchmarking, the temperature only rose to 27ºC. When the drive was left to run overnight the temperature stayed between 24ºC and 28ºC, which probably had more to do with the furnace cycling up and down more than anything else. The enclosure stays cool to the touch, and the drive ran cooler in the Max 4 than when the drive was installed in the system (usually about 31ºC).
[page=Value & Conclusion]
Value and Conclusion
<table width="100%" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" id="result">
<tr><th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/dollar.gif</th>
<td>
The Thermaltake Max 4 Active Cooling Enclosure sells for about $46.99 US Dollars.</td>
</tr><tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbup.gif</th>
<td>
Quality construction
Great appearance and nice finish
Easy assembly
Active cooling
Flexibility between eSATA and USB 2.0
Cool blue LED lighting
Quiet fan
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbdown.gif</th>
<td>
Compatible with SATA drives only
No horizontal mounting
</td></tr>
<tr><th>9.2</th>
<td>
The Thermaltake Max 4 Active Cooling Enclosure is a great external enclosure for those worried about using a hot drive inside a portable case. The entire enclosure is well made and has a nice fingerprint-resistant finish. Assembly was very easy and only took a few minutes to complete. Performance was good, too, in both USB and eSATA configurations. The active cooling helped the fast Western Digital Raptor stay cool when idling or working, and the fan was quieter than other active cooling solutions out there. Top all that off with cool blue LEDs for the fan and Power & HDD Activity, and the Max 4 brings a lot of style to the portable storage market.<br />
<br />
The only faults that can be found with the Max 4 are that the enclosure is compatible with SATA drives only, and that its only option is to have the case sit vertically on the desk. It would have been nice to see Thermaltake add some rubber pads that the user could stick on one side to allow the drive to lay flat, which would allow horizontal mounting and stacking of multiple enclosures. Fortunately, these rubber pads can be picked up at the local hardware store for a few dollars.<br />
<br />
Overall the Thermaltake Max 4 Active Cooling Enclosure is a quality external enclosure that performs well and keeps the drive cool at the same time.
</td></tr>
<tr><th></th><td>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/editorschoice.gif</td></tr>
</table>
Introduction
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttlogo.jpg
I would like to thank Thermaltake (http://www.thermaltake.com/) for supplying the review sample.
Features:
Including 80x80x15mm blue LED silent fan
Supporting eSATA & USB2.0 interface - the best performance & convenience
Application for 3.5" SATA HDD
LED for power and disk activity
Made by Aluminum body for thermal solution
Easy stand
Transfer speed up to 3Gbps (eSATA); 480Mbps (USB 2.0)
Accessories:
eSATA external Cable
USB2.0 Cable
SATA to eSATA PCI bracket
Power Adapter
Foot Stand
Specifications:
<blockquote><table border="1" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="0" class="ramtable" width="450">
<tr>
<th scope="row">Model:</th>
<td scope="row">N0012USU</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Case Type:</th>
<td scope="row">3.5" SATA HDD</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Fan Type:</th>
<td scope="row">80mm x 15mm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Weight:</th>
<td scope="row">425g</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Dimension (H*W*D):</th>
<td scope="row">215 x 134 x 30 mm</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Material:</th>
<td scope="row">Aluminum & Plastic</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Interface:</th>
<td scope="row">SATA to eSATA, SATA to USB</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">SATA Compatibility:</th>
<td scope="row">SATA-2, SATA-1</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Transfer Rate:</th>
<td scope="row">Up to 3 Gbps (eSATA) or 480 Mbps (USB 2.0)</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Power Source:</th>
<td scope="row">1) External Universal Switching Power Adapter<br />(12 V 2.0A/5V 2.0A)<br />
2) UL, FCC, CE, CSA Certified</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Fan Current:</th>
<td scope="row">0.16A</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Fan Voltage:</th>
<td scope="row">12 V</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Fan Speed:</th>
<td scope="row">1500 RPM</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th scope="row">Fan Noise:</th>
<td scope="row">20 dBA</td>
</tr>
</table></blockquote>
[page=Packaging & A Closer Look]
Packaging & Contents
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-01sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-01.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-02sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-02.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-03sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-03.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-04sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-04.jpg)
The Thermaltake Max 4 enclosure comes in a sturdy cardboard box with color images, detailed specifications and features on the sides.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-05sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-05.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-06sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-06.jpg)
Upon opening the box, the contents are seen to be neatly organized, with the assembly manual and installation CD on top.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-07sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-07.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-08sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-08.jpg)
Under the enclosure inside the box are the necessary cables to make the Max 4 work. There is one USB 2.0 cable, one eSATA cable and an optional PCI bracket that can relocate a normal SATA port to an eSATA port. To supply power to the unit there is a standard power brick and power cable.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-09sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-09.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-10sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-10.jpg)
Also included is a black plastic stand to hold the Max 4 upright. There are two rubber pads on the base to keep the enclosure from sliding around.
A Closer Look
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-11sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-11.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-12sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-12.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-13sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-13.jpg)
The Thermaltake Max 4 case is wrapped in bubble-wrap to protect it during shipping. The unit has a silver metallic finish that is resistant to fingerprints, and there are contrasting black Thermaltake logos and labels on the sides.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-14sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-14.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-15sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-15.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-16sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-16.jpg)
The front has a black plastic mesh to allow airflow through the case, and there is a small, thin piece of clear plastic where the LED for power and activity will shine through. The left side of the case has a round black mesh opening for the 80mm blue LED fan which will provide the active cooling for the unit. The rear of the enclosure has all the connections for the cables as well as the power switch.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-17sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-17.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-18sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-18.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-19sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-19.jpg)
Removing the four screws from the solid right side panel exposes the internals of the Max 4. The 80mm x 15mm fan is centrally located to provide optimal cooling for the drive installed inside. The rear of the case has a small printed circuit board for the connections and the translation from SATA to USB. At the front of the case is the mesh opening and the single LED that provides both the power light and the HDD activity.
[page=Assembly]
Assembly
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-20sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-20.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-21sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-21.jpg)
To install a hard disk drive in the Thermaltake Max 4, the right side cover needs to be removed by taking out the four screws as shown earlier. There are two black plastic mounting tabs inside the unit, with one on each side. Removing the single screw from each one allows the tabs to come free.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-22sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-22.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-23sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-23.jpg)
The drive being installed in the Max 4 is a Western Digital Raptor. Place one mounting tab on each side of the drive, inserting the small round bumps on each of the tabs into the screw holes on the side of the drive. Since the tabs do not stay in by themselves, they must be held in place until the next step is complete.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-24sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-24.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-25sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-25.jpg)
Lay the drive down on top of the open chassis. While holding on to the drive and the tabs, slide both of them toward the PCB until the connection is made and the screw holes line up under the mounting tabs.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-26sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-26.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-27sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-27.jpg)
Insert the two screws through the mounting tabs and tighten the screws until they are snug. The connection may not seat completely, but there should be sufficient contact.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-28sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-28.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-29sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-29.jpg)
Place the right side panel back on and replace the four screws to hold everything together. Set the assembled enclosure on top of the black plastic stand to place it upright.
[page=Performance]
Performance
To test the Thermaltake Max 4 a Western Digital 36 GB Raptor drive was used. Performance was measured with HDTach 3.0.4.0.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-usbhdtachsm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-usbhdtach.jpg) http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-usbhdtach2sm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-usbhdtach2.jpg)
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/graph1.gif http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/graph2.gif
When used with a USB connection, the drive had a fairly steady transfer rate of 32.6MB per second. This shows the limitation of the USB connection, as we know that the drive itself can sustain a higher transfer rate than that. However, it should be noted that the CPU utilization was somewhat high at 18% for the testing. The test was run multiple times to verify the CPU usage, which never got as high as 18% again. In fact, the second HD Tach screen above shows a utilization of 0%, although the transfer rate dropped slightly as well.
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-esatahdtachsm.jpg (http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/ttmax4-esatahdtach.jpg)
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/graph3.gif http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Thermaltake/Max4/images/graph4.gif
When used with the eSATA connection, the performance increased as expected. The drive managed an average transfer rate of 58.5MB per second, which is right in line with internal SATA performance. Notice how the CPU utilization was also much lower for the eSATA connection, dropping from 18% down to 3%. The CPU utilization number dropped to 1% on additional eSATA testing.
Also, during normal usage the Western Digital Raptor located in the Thermaltake Max 4 reported an average internal temperature of 26ºC. After stressing the drive with heavy benchmarking, the temperature only rose to 27ºC. When the drive was left to run overnight the temperature stayed between 24ºC and 28ºC, which probably had more to do with the furnace cycling up and down more than anything else. The enclosure stays cool to the touch, and the drive ran cooler in the Max 4 than when the drive was installed in the system (usually about 31ºC).
[page=Value & Conclusion]
Value and Conclusion
<table width="100%" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="0" id="result">
<tr><th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/dollar.gif</th>
<td>
The Thermaltake Max 4 Active Cooling Enclosure sells for about $46.99 US Dollars.</td>
</tr><tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbup.gif</th>
<td>
Quality construction
Great appearance and nice finish
Easy assembly
Active cooling
Flexibility between eSATA and USB 2.0
Cool blue LED lighting
Quiet fan
</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<th>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/thumbdown.gif</th>
<td>
Compatible with SATA drives only
No horizontal mounting
</td></tr>
<tr><th>9.2</th>
<td>
The Thermaltake Max 4 Active Cooling Enclosure is a great external enclosure for those worried about using a hot drive inside a portable case. The entire enclosure is well made and has a nice fingerprint-resistant finish. Assembly was very easy and only took a few minutes to complete. Performance was good, too, in both USB and eSATA configurations. The active cooling helped the fast Western Digital Raptor stay cool when idling or working, and the fan was quieter than other active cooling solutions out there. Top all that off with cool blue LEDs for the fan and Power & HDD Activity, and the Max 4 brings a lot of style to the portable storage market.<br />
<br />
The only faults that can be found with the Max 4 are that the enclosure is compatible with SATA drives only, and that its only option is to have the case sit vertically on the desk. It would have been nice to see Thermaltake add some rubber pads that the user could stick on one side to allow the drive to lay flat, which would allow horizontal mounting and stacking of multiple enclosures. Fortunately, these rubber pads can be picked up at the local hardware store for a few dollars.<br />
<br />
Overall the Thermaltake Max 4 Active Cooling Enclosure is a quality external enclosure that performs well and keeps the drive cool at the same time.
</td></tr>
<tr><th></th><td>http://www.techpowerup.com/images/editorschoice.gif</td></tr>
</table>