Silverstone MS03 Packaging
By: Dave Montez
Introduction
Short of spending thousands of dollars for a data storage facility such as Iron Mountain, enthusiasts need an affordable and effective way to quickly access, backup, and transfer their data. Silverstone aims to fulfill this crucial and oftentimes overlooked need by introducing their newest external hard drive enclosure, the MS03B. Capable of handling nearly any 3.5” SATA hard drive on the market, the MS03B is marketed as a storage solution that is feature-rich, convenient to use, and bears Silverstone’s trademark styling and classic design.
Most enthusiasts don’t give a second thought to where or how their data is accessed or stored. We demand instant accessibility and as long as it works, we don’t care about the how’s or the why’s. It’s only until something goes wrong that we become interested, and in that regard, the Silverstone MS03B has been designed to offer enthusiasts a seamless method in which to access and backup their data with nary a problem. Can Silverstone’s new MS03B make the grade in a market segment already inundated with similar offerings? Let’s get cracking and find out!
Table of Contents
- Specifications
- Accessory Bundle
- External Appearance and Build Quality
- Cooling
- Desktop Stand
- Hard Drive Installation
- Benchmarking
- MS03B Software Review
- Conclusion
- Pros
- Cons
Specifications
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Brand |
Silverstone |
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Model |
MS03B |
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Material |
Solid aluminum |
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Color |
Black |
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Storage Form Factor |
3.5” HDD (SATA-150 & -300 compatible) |
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Internal Interface |
SATAI/II |
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External Interface |
USB 2.0 (480Mbp/s max) eSATA (1.5Gbp/s max) |
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Dimensions |
5.59” x 1.57” x 8.78” (W x H x L) |
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Weight |
1.3 pounds (net weight without HDD) |
Accessory Bundle
MS03 Accessory Bundle
Silverstone has always been recognized as one of the few companies that not only includes all the essentials in their accessory bundles, but the incidentals as well. In this case, Silverstone includes a DC adapter with power cord, a plastic stand to mount the unit on, a USB cable, an eSATA cable, a PCI bracket with an eSATA port, a zip-lock baggie containing mounting screws, a manual with photos and directions, and a disc containing the PCClone EX Lite software.
It’s quite a lot for something as simple as an external hard drive enclosure, but as with anything Silverstone, nothing is left to chance. I really dig the eSATA PCI bracket. After all, what’s the point of an eSATA external HDD enclosure if you can’t connect it to your desktop system? And while Silverstone didn’t have to include backup software, it’s a nice inclusion to the MS03B’s one-touch backup feature which many competing products lack in their feature list.
External Appearance and Build Quality
Silverstone MS03 Enclosure
Removing the MS03B from its packaging, we can quickly see that it is an exquisitely crafted product, a testament to Silverstone’s legendary craftsmanship. Constructed entirely of aluminum, the MS03B is both very appealing and quite heavy. Even without a hard drive installed, this enclosure will definitely let you know that you’re holding something you’d rather not drop on your toes.
The MS03B comes in two colors, black brushed aluminum, as seen here, or silver. An attractive aluminum Silverstone nameplate with familiar snowflake logo graces the top of the device, while aluminum chromed piping encircles the beveled flange ends of the unit. Hard drive power and activity LED’s are also provided at the front of the unit, blue and red respectively.
Silverstone MS03 Enclosure - Rear View
The business end of the MS03B contains several items of note. The first, from left to right, is the DC power input, a power on/off rocker switch, an eSATA port, the one-touch backup button, and finally a USB 2.0 Type B port. Feel-wise, the decidedly graceful curvature of the MS03B is quite nice to hold in your hands in lieu of carrying around an ugly flat-black box. However, while the MS03B does sport a very attractive glossy black surface, be warned that it will attract fingerprints, especially from those fawning over this enclosure, wishing it was theirs.
Cooling
But what good are looks if the hard drive can’t breathe? The number one cause of hard drive failure is heat, and Silverstone addresses this in three ways. The first is through the liberal use of air vents on the top and bottom of the unit. The second is metal mesh that covers the front of the enclosure. And the third method is to incorporate a small, internal 30mm fan behind that mesh.
This fan is rated at around 18dBA, which is nearly inaudible, and boasts airflow at a tornado inducing 3.10CFM. On a serious note though, while the fan isn’t exactly going to fly a kite, it will gently move air throughout the hot confines in the MS03B which is crucial when trying to reduce internal operating temperatures.
Desktop Stand
Silverstone MS03 in desktop stand
What good is an external HDD enclosure if it doesn’t have a place on your work area to sit? To that end, the included stand for the MS03B is quite sturdy, providing a secure platform from which this device can operate. While it seems that the MS03B rides rather high vertically, my attempts to topple the MS03B were thwarted as the stand did a very good job resisting these efforts. This is due in part to the rubber-esque strips inside the stand that gently pinch the enclosure to prevent it from sliding around. The stand is also padded on the bottom which will help absorb vibration and prevent damage from occurring on hard surfaces.
Hard Drive Installation
Silverstone MS03 Hard Drive Installation
The installation process of a hard drive in the MS03B is fairly straightforward. Using a screwdriver, simply remove two screws from the front of the enclosure. By “front” I mean the end that contains the metal mesh material. Once the screws are removed, grasp the flange end and gently pull outward which will reveal an aluminum tray. To install the hard drive, set the HDD flat on the tray (paying attention to the orientation of the power and data connections) and slide it forward until it is inserted fully into the MS03B’s SATA receptacle.
Silverstone MS03 Hard Drive Installation
The tray contains six holes to secure your hard drive using the included screws in the accessory bundle. Once the HDD is properly installed, it is very important to ensure that you line up the tray with the internal guide rails inside the MS03B. This is critical because doing otherwise may cause damage to the tray. With the tray safely tucked inside the enclosure, secure the flange end with the two screws you removed earlier. Since aluminum is a rather soft metal, be sure to snug the screws and not over-tighten them as you don’t want to strip out the holes.
Benchmarking
Silverstone MS03 in desktop stand
With our hard drive installation complete, let’s go ahead and benchmark two different hard drives, a 10,000RPM 74GB Raptor (WD740GD) and a 7,200RPM 750GB Western Digital Caviar (WD7500AAKS) in the MS03B. I’ll be using the latest version of HDTune (v2.55) with the following test bench set up:
ASUS P5Q Deluxe motherboard
Intel Q6600 processor (B3 stepping, stock)
Super Talent PC2-6400 4GB (2 x 2GB)
MSI RX3870-T2D512E OC videocard
Creative SoundBlaster Audigy2 ZS soundcard
Western Digital 320GB hard drive (WD3200AAKS)
Lite-On iHAS424-08 DVD burner
Lite-On iHDS118-04 optical drive
D-Link DGE-530T NIC
Silverstone SST-TJ03 enclosure (stock fans)
Silverstone FP35 media reader
All tests and benchmarking were conducted in a controlled environment, while ensuring that the ambient air temperature was kept at a consistent 22 degrees Celsius. The eSATA interface on the test bench was provided by Silverstone’s FP35 media reader.
MS03B Performance Benchmark Tables
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Silverstone MS03B – USB 2.0 Benchmark
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Transfer Rate |
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Hard Drive |
Minimum |
Maximum |
Average |
Access Time |
Burst Rate |
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|||||
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Western Digital 74GB (10,000RPM) |
30.6 MB/s |
32.6 MB/s |
32.5 MB/s |
8.5 ms |
26.9 MB/s |
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Western Digital 750GB (7,200RPM) |
26.9 MB/s |
33.2 MB/s |
33.0 MB/s |
13.8 ms |
27.7 MB/s |
The results of the USB benchmarks are not surprising. Maximum bandwidth is limited by the USB interface which negates the benefits that the speedy Raptor and large capacity Caviar offer. Because this, both hard drives offer comparable transfer rates over USB 2.0 connectivity.
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Silverstone MS03B – eSATA Benchmark
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|||||
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Transfer Rate |
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Hard Drive |
Minimum |
Maximum |
Average |
Access Time |
Burst Rate |
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Western Digital 74GB (10,000RPM) |
50.0 MB/s |
68.6 MB/s |
62.1 MB/s |
8.7 ms |
96.9 MB/s |
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Western Digital 750GB (7,200RPM) |
30.4 MB/s |
87.4 MB/s |
72.3 MB/s |
13.9 ms |
83.5 MB/s |
Switch to the eSATA interface, however, and benchmark results are much different. With the overall higher bandwidth ceiling that an eSATA interface offers, both the Raptor and the Caviar were allowed to run free. The end results, compared to USB, were expected. Both hard drives easily outpaced USB, although with eSATA, the Caviar edged the Raptor in overall performance due to its much larger capacity and areal density of its platters.
MS03B Software Review
Silverstone MS03 Side View
The MS03B includes a backup software solution in its accessory bundle called PCClone EX Lite by FNet. The installation of this software is a cinch. Simply pop the CD in and follow the on-screen prompts. The backup software is compatible with Windows 98/Me, 2000, and XP operating systems, and for those that own Mac’s, OS support for that platform is also included. For demonstration purposes of this review, I’ll be using Windows XP.
Once the PCClone EX Lite software is installed, you’ll see a new icon in your system tray. Right-click on the icon and choose “Show PCCloneEX” in the context menu. Doing so will open the Quick Launch portion of the program.
FNet Backup Software
The screen that pops up next is called the Quick Launch screen. Clicking on one of the four tabs that line the top performs specific functions such as allowing you to select files to backup, adjust various options of the backup, and browse through files and folders on your system. Simply click on the appropriate tab to access each function. In addition to the tabs are an About and Help icon, located at the top right corner of the screen.
The first tab is the Quick Launch tab. This allows you to directly execute a file backup in a single step using your PC once preliminary parameters have been configured. Ensure that the MS03B is plugged in and powered on before selecting files and folders to backup. When these steps have been completed, clicking on the Quick Launch icon in the future will automatically perform the same backup with a single click of the mouse.
It is important to note that using the Quick Launch backup feature is for users that want one-click backup functionality, that is, backing up the same files and folders every time they perform backup maintenance using this software. For more diverse backup options, enthusiasts will want to refer to the Files Backup tab instead.
FNet File Backup Software
The Files Backup tab is aimed at enthusiasts who want a bit more control over their backups, such as configuring one time backups of certain partitions, files, or folders. Here, a user can select the data they want to backup in the left pane, select the MS03B in the USB Device drop down menu in the right, and click on the Files Backup icon at the bottom to begin the backup process.
Unlike the Quick Launch feature, however, the Files Backup tab also allows a user to restore a backup that they have created in the past. This is done by selecting the MS03B in the USB Device drop down menu, accessing the backup file in the right pane, and clicking on the File Restore icon at the bottom of the screen. You can also erase backups you’ve created by selecting the backup, right clicking it, and selecting “Delete select Files”.
FNet Backup Software File Manager
The File Manager tab is very similar in style and functionality as Windows Explorer, commonly seen in Windows OS installations. Users can manipulate files and folders between the two panes, perhaps between a PC and the MS03B, or between a PC and a PC, for example. I found the File Manager tab to be a very convenient and easy way to manage data within the PCClone EX Lite environment.
FNet Backup Software Setup
The last tab is the Setup tab. This allows users to configure the software for backups. While the configuration options are certainly not as robust as other backup utilities, the software is free and it is effective. The backup configuration options include hot-key setup where users can select a hot-key combination to begin the backup process and the ability to replace or add to an existing backup file.
Other backup configuration options include the ability to start PCClone EX Lite when you boot Windows, as well as powering off your system once the backup is complete. It is important to note that once the backup software has been installed and configured, users can elect to use one of two methods to backup their system. The first is the software method which includes the Quick Launch or Files Backup tabs, and the second is the hardware method which is to simply press the “Backup” button at the rear of the MS03B.
Using either one of these methods, be it software or hardware, gives enthusiasts the ability to utilize a convenient and fast way to backup their data with little effort. This will no doubt appeal to computer neophytes who just want a simple, straightforward way to backup their PC. The one-click option offered by the software and the one-button option offered by the MS03B will essentially generate the same backup result. It’s up to the user to decide which is more convenient for them to use.
Conclusion
Silverstone MS03 Hard Drive Enclosure
When it comes to any type of enclosure, computer chassis or otherwise, Silverstone does not leave anything to chance. Already well known for their exquisite cases, Silverstone adopts the same standards of quality, features, and convenience into their HDD enclosures as they do their cases. This is evidenced by the MS03B’s craftsmanship as well as its horde of features not found elsewhere. Sure, you can find hard drive enclosure with some of the features the MS03B touts, but very few, if any, are going to incorporate them all into one single, seamless design.
Okay, so the MS03B has great cooling properties. And its all aluminum construction is not only downright sexy, but it’s functional to boot. And I won’t even get into its accessory bundle or the fact that it includes an eSATA PCI bracket and one-touch backup software. Yes, the MS03B is very well rounded and sets the bar extremely high for follow-up products. Competitors looking to design a quality external hard drive enclosure could do no less than borrow from Silverstone’s MS03B. Its implementation is really that well done.
All this, however, comes at a price. The Silverstone MS03B is not cheap, about $50 street, when compared to competing products. In some cases, you could buy two or even three enclosures for the price of one MS03B. It is also big and rather heavy, and while I love the black glossy finish, fingerprints are evil and I am compelled to wipe them off. Yet, these are small misgivings when compared to the bigger picture. Silverstone has produced one of the finest 3.5” HDD external enclosures which is why PCGamingCorner honors this product with an Editor’s Choice award.
Amazon: SilverStone MS03B 3.5-Inch ESATA Aluminium Hard Drive Enclosure (Black)
Pros
- All aluminum construction; build quality is solid and durable
- Great airflow opportunities: 30mm fan, vents, and mesh
- Terrific accessory bundle with eSATA PCI bracket
- Aesthetically pleasing; superb fit and finish
- Included backup software is nice
Cons
- Insertion of tray into housing can be difficult
- Glossy finish is a fingerprint magnet
- A bit on the heavy and bulky side
- Cost to purchase is expensive
January 14th, 2010 at 10:39 pm
Great review, Dave.
That is a *beautiful* external hard drive enclosure. I’m in the market for a portable one though I might make an exception and get a 3.5″ just to have this case. In the past I have purchased Vantec enclosures which I still think are decent, but this drive appears to be on a new level.
Silverstone makes very high quality products; I have been eying a few of their desktop cases, the Raven especially. If I were building a desktop right now, it would be in that case.
January 25th, 2010 at 4:44 pm
Thanks for the comments, Charles. The MS03 is simply a well-built and designed computer accessory. Granted, while it is slightly more expensive than competing products, the tradeoff is a gorgeous looking HDD enclosure with a kitchen sink for an accessory bundle.
As far as Silverstone’s Raven series is concerned, trust me, I’m working hard to requisition a review of one those bad boys for PCGC!