Hands-On: Icy Dock MB454SPF-B Backplane Hot Swap Module

Recently, I took a look at the Norco SS-500 Backplane Hot Swap Module.  Today, I am taking a look at the Icy Dock MB454SPF-B Backplane Hot Swap Module.

Popularized by HP MSS machines, these modules have found their into many competitor’s WHS-specific machines and many home-built machines.  They really are a very useful addition to WHS computers, especially as one begins to swap drives to provide an increased level of backup protection.

I would like to thank Icy Dock for making the MB454SPF-B Backplane Hot Swap Module available for review.

This module is a 4 bay device that fits in (3) 5-1/4” case bays.

Specifications

Before I give you a hands-on look at the module, it is appropriate to provide some background information about Icy Dock.  From their website:

ICY DOCK is a privately held company with more than 10 years being devoted in design, manufacturing, branding and distribution of Storage enclosure peripherals. By keep improving its own new product release process from previous toil experiences, ICY DOCK has formed a standard yet efficient new product development procedures to satisfy timely requirement from the market.

At ICY DOCK, we constantly offers state-of-the-art design of hard disk enclosure and removable storage kit with features such as the currently launched a series of removable drive & hot swap capabilities and eSATA / SATA connectivity products. We also specializes in BTO (Built to Order) of branded, OEM-branded and non-branded products for “Tier 1” customers.

Headquartered in City of Industry, California, ICY DOCK becomes a global peripheral enclosure provider with manufacturing facility located in Zhang-Zang, China since 1997.  Restrictively followed ISO9001 proved manufacturing process standard, ICY DOCK delivers high quality standard products at competitive price which provides our customers an excellent opportunity to be successful in the competitive US marketplace.

As one of the leading peripheral enclosure solution provider, we will continue to commit ourselves in supplying our customers the best performance per dollar products. “Your demand is our command” is the key to ensure our success in the business world.

What’s In The Box?

I removed the package from the shipping box.  The module comes in a rather plain box, as can be seen below.  It would appear that this particular box serves as the packaging for both the 4-in-3 and 5-3 modules that Icy Dock produces.

The module is securely protected in the package, as one can see below.

Removing the MB454SPF-B reveals a very sharp looking 4-in-3 bay module.  The exterior casing is aluminum, which makes it quite light and should provide a nice heat sink to pull heat away from the hard drives.

The unit comes with the prerequisite package of screws and for a refreshing change of pace, it comes packaged with a manual!  And it does contain some useful information, which is even more refreshing.

Just a shot of the HD trays.  Like the Norco unit I recently took a look at, the trays are designed to minimize space requirements by providing what appears to a cross between a full caddy system and a caddyless system.  There is no bottom to the caddy, only the front cover and side rails.

The black plastic piece at the back of the tray is simply a filler/spool piece that provides rigidity to the caddy when a drive is not installed.  The side rails (and front framework) are aluminum and the front piece is plastic.

The following picture is a shot of the back side of the module.  You can see the fan here, of course, the SATA connectors, and 2 standard 4-pin Molex connectors.  You will notice that this particular module has slots incorporated into the sides to easily allow it’s use in a case with drive bay guides.

As can be seen above, the data and power connections are all on the side that will make it quite easy to get to when installed in a case.  In addition to the connections just noted, it is possible to jumper I/O signals to the motherboard.  I would consider these to be for OEM use, and not for the general end-user consumer.  There is also a switch located on the back to set the alarm temperature point.

If desired, the fan can easily be removed.  When installed, the module has a fan failure warning capability, which is defeated if one removes the fan.

The fan module is just that: a module.  The fan can not (or does not appear to) be removed from the casing.  Even if it could, it uses special connectors that would require some modifications to the fan to make use of the module connections.

Module Comparison

It would seem that I am making my “old” iStarUSA BPU-340 3×5.25″ to 4×3.5″ Hot Swap module my base comparison module to other modules.  The following pictures provides an idea of the look, layout and size differences between these two products.

Installing the Hot Swap Module

When I did the Norco SS-500 review, I mentioned that the most time consuming portion of that whole exercise was to transfer my 4 drives from 1 set of caddies to the other set.  That observation has not changed.  There are simply a lot screws to deal with!

32 screws later, I was able to gently slide/push the Icy Dock device into my computer bays, hook up the data and power connections, and secure the the module.  As you can see below it is tight fit, although perhaps not quite as tight as the Norco device.

And yes, I know.  My wire management *still* sucks, and I *still* need some compressed air to blow the dust out.  I guarantee that wiring situation will not improve.  I might make it a point to get some compressed air this weekend, though.

Two items of interest that I noticed during this installation process were:

1. It was a snug fit in the rails.  This was the first hot swap module that did not require screws to secure.  The “tooless” holders of the case actually secured the module nicely.
2. With all of the connections being on the open side of the case, hooking up my power and data cables was quite easy.

What follows are a couple of pictures of the Icy Dock module installed in the computer and the computer all tucked away into its normal place in my little world.

It was now time to turn on the computer and see if I broke anything.  There is always that little bit of uncertainty of getting it all going again when one messes with the inside of a computer.  Once again, I was happy to discover that I had reconnected everything correctly and that my WHS was back in business.

It is rather difficult to get a good picture of the light show when the computer is starting up, but here it is.

In addition to the normal LED’s to indicate HD power and access, the module also includes 2 more LED’s to indicate temperature and fan fault conditions.  It also contains a button to silence the alarm that goes off if a fault condition occurs.

The first thing that I noticed after taking these pictures was the silence.  As in almost non-existent fan noise.  I was rather apprehensive about this particular area.  Simply because hot swap modules are not known for quiet; there was no high/low fan speed switch; and no way to change the fan out if desired.  In this case, however, I really do mean silent!

As with the Norco unit, the Icy Dock module gives the computer a very nice professional server-type look.

Drive temperatures were quite similar to what I observed when I installed the Norco unit.

A couple of other observations to note during initial inspection and installation are as follows:

• The module is quite sturdy and appears well built.
• I detected no sharp edges of any kind.
• Insertion of the caddies without a hard drive installed felt forced.  However, once a hard drive was installed, insertion of the caddy was very smooth.
• There was a certain level of softness at the end of the insertion.  Not quite as much, however, as the Norco unit.
• The locking lever, when actuated, gave me that feeling of a properly inserted drive, however.  Also, the locking lever gives one a sense of “flimsy”.  There is minimal force required to lock it.  As one uses this lever to pull the caddy out of the module, there is just a hint of whether it will stand up to a lifetime of use.  Please note that this just a perception.
• Like the Norco unit, another item to note is that the caddies seemed rather flimsy without the spool piece or drive attached to them.  This flimsiness disappeared when I attached the drive, however.

Costs and Conclusion

Pros:

• Gives your case a very nice professional look.
• The best placement of the power and data connectors possible.  Incredibly easy to attach cables.
• Very soft, but very legible LED array.  Put another way, these LED’s do not light up the whole room.
• Fan and Temperature Alarms.
• Almost non-existent fan noise.
• Keeps drives cool.
• A manual!
• Module has bay slots for use with bay guides.

Cons:

• Depth of unit may be a problem in smaller cases.
• The use of standard Molex power connections in lieu of SATA power connections.  Many power supplies made today have an abundance of SATA power connectors and are reducing the number of Molex power connectors.
• A  proprietary fan module, which precludes one from switching it out for a different one.  This may not mean much as I was quite impressed with the fan that was included.  However, if the fan dies, what does one do?
• Locking lever “feels” a bit on the flimsy side.  As stated above, this is just a perception.
• It will cost you some cash.

Would I recommend this hot swap module?  Well, it looks great in my case!  I was rather apprehensive about the proprietary fan at first, but it was dead silent!  Connection placement makes it a snap to install cables.  So, the answer is a resounding YES!

Company: Icy Dock

Model Reviewed: MB454SPF-B 4-in-3 bay hot swap module

Cost: Newegg price: $105.99 (on sale at the time of this review)

Final note: I must apologize on the pricing detail, as I am in the U.S.  If a reader elsewhere spots one at their favorite etailer, I (and others) would appreciate it you could note source and cost as a comment.