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Review LaCie rugged 500GB USB 3.0

by: Tobias Winkler, 06/14/2010

External Speeder.

If you need fast external memory, you won't really be able to avoid the new USB 3.0 USB port. LaCie now offers the "rugged" series with this fast interface and has to prove its potential in this review.

Rubber buffers are optional and also in different colors
Rubber buffers are optional and also in different colors
Case construction made for stability
Case construction made for stability

The LaCie, aligned for stability, is supposed to especially be able to stand up to rough routine and promises an especially solid case. Drops from 2m aren't supposed to have an effect and wear and tear marks are reduced by the aluminum and colored rubber buffer. We've already had the rugged Safe in review that has a fingerprint scanner. It has the same case construction, but different ports.

Our test model distinguishes itself with the USB 3.0 port, which supposedly also provides for a fast transfer rate beyond its ruggedness. Additionally, the power consumption has been increased to 900 mAh due to the new regulations (USB 2.0 max. 500 mAh), which is especially interesting for mobile devices. We tested the LaCie rugged with a HP Elitebook 8540w, which is already equipped with one USB 3.0 natively. We also used an external 3.5" Buffalo HD-HX1.0TU3 for comparisons.

Performance

As usual, the LaCie rugged installation starts short after connecting automatically and the hard disk is ready for use within seconds. A Hitachi Travelstar 7K500 HTS725050A9A364 is used in the case and has a 16MB cache and works with 7200 rpm. The performance data of an average of 83 MB/s that we assessed is excellent and even surpasses the internal Seagate ST9500420AS built into the HP 8540w slightly. It has the same key data (16 MB cache/ 7200rpm). We received an average of 95.9 MB/s in the comparison test with the external 3.5" Buffalo, which was conspicuous with a very flat speed curve in the first test phase. This is an indication that the USB 3.0 in the HP workstation is put to its performance limits. We recorded the standard 29.4 MB/s for USB 2.0 at the correlating port.
You can find comparison data for the benchmarks of various HDDs and SSDs in our database.

We could only use the USB 2.0 port under Mac OS X on a MacMini and received a transfer rate of 32 MB/s.

Our test candidate works very quiet and is only perceptible in its immediate area. We measured a noise development of less than 30 dB(A) at a distance of 15 cm. We could hardy determine a heating up and it can be described as lukewarm at most.

HD Tune: LaCie rugged
HD Tune: LaCie rugged
HD Tune: internal HD HP8540w
HD Tune: internal HD HP8540w
HD Tune: Buffalo HD-HX1.0TU3
HD Tune: Buffalo HD-HX1.0TU3

Verdict

The LaCie rugged USB 3.0 is especially suitable as a mobile data case with a stable case in rougher surroundings. You'll accept the somewhat heavier and bigger case in this case. The highlights are, however, the inner values. With a transfer rate of over 80 MB/s on average, it leaves the one or other internally integrated notebook hard disk behind and you are also rewarded with a cool and quiet case.


 

Technical Data / Measuring Results

LaCie rugged 500 GB USB 3.0
Capacity 500 GB (gross)
Weight 298g
Interfaces 1x USB 3.0
1x power socket
Software LaCie Backup Assistant
Transfer rates Windows 7 Professional 64 bit
USB 2.0 29,4 MB/s (read)
USB 3.0 83,2 MB/s (read)
USB 2.0 (MacOsX) 32,1 MB/s (read)
System Noise < 30 dB(A)
Warranty 2 years
Price (Street) Ca. 100.00 euro plus shipping
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In Review: LaCie rugged 500 GB USB 3.0
In Review: LaCie rugged 500 GB USB 3.0
LaCie now also delivers the rugged series with USB 3.0 port.
LaCie now also delivers the rugged series with USB 3.0 port.
USB 3.0 is compatible with USB 2.0 and also takes care of power supply.
USB 3.0 is compatible with USB 2.0 and also takes care of power supply.
Link to LaCie's case.
Link to LaCie's case.
Somewhat less appealing than the usual 2.5" case.
Somewhat less appealing than the usual 2.5" case.

Shortcut

What we like

Solid case and very fast transfer rates via USB 3.0.

What we miss

A less eye-catching rubber buffer in the scope of delivery.

What surprises us

How well and unproblematic USB 3.0 already works.

The competitors

Is still small in the USB 3.0 field. The Buffalo Ministation USB 3.0 or the Verbatim Store'n'Go Portable USB 3.0 sound interesting.

Tobias Winkler, 2010-06-18 (Update: 2012-05-26)