Hands On: iStarUSA BPU-340-SA Backplane Hot Swap Module

My short review series of Backplane Hot Swap Modules would not be complete if I did not take a look at my reference module, the iStarUSA BPU-340-SA.

Popularized by HP MediaSmart Servers, 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.

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

Specifications

Model Number BPU-340-SA

RoHS Compliance Version Yes

Standard Drive Bays 5.25″ Drive: 3

Interface SATA 2.0 Hot-Swap Capable

Cooling Fan 1x80mm

Materials All Aluminum Design with Conductive Dissipation Grooves

Color Red: BPU-340-SARED
Blue: BPU-340-SABLUE
Silver: BPU-340-SASILVER

Cables SATA Cable Included (4pcs)

Weight 10 lbs

Dimensions (W x H x D) 146 x 126 x 202 mm

Features

• Stylish aluminum color handle and heat-sink body
• Plug & Play
• Support Hot-Swap, RAID 0/1/5
• All Aluminum Design with Conductive Dissipation Grooves
• Power, fan and high temperature LED indicators
• Super Air Ventilation & Heat Sink with 80mm Fan
• Exceeds rotational vibration requirements specified for today’s high-RPM drives
• Patent Balance Handle – No Skew In/Out

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

iStarUSA established in 1989, iStarUSA Computer Inc. has over 19 years of experience in designing and manufacturing Industrial Switching Power Supply, Rackmount Chassis and Server Cabinet. From the standard switching power supply to high-end redundant power supply, iStarUSA has grown to be one of major provider in IPC power supply industry. In recent years, we have also expanded our products to include 1U to 8U rackmount chassis and 6U to 42U server cabinets. Our goal is always to provide our customer with the best products and superior customer services. In the beginning, iStarUSA focused on providing our customers the combinations of cutting-edge technologies, high quality manufacturing, and superior customer services. It has been a proving record that these principles earned a strong partnership for iStarUSA in today’s competitive market.

iStarUSA builds its strength upon its experience, technology, and strong partnership. We have been working closely with major computer components manufactures and system integrators for years to ensure that our products have high compatibility and solid stability. We also adopt new industrial standards to improve our design. Our ability to design according to customer’s requirement also wins us a high reputation in the industry.

Our experienced design and project engineers complete an OEM project within the deadline and meet the product requirements. We believe that being a leader of innovative technology means able to integrate it into our products which is the key to be successful for us as well as for our customers. iStarUSA has a global ISO 9001 certification which means a consistency of delivering products that meets customer requirement and continue improvement for our product and services. We are proudly to provide cost effective solutions, responsive services and the best delivery time for our customers.

What’s In The Box?

This is a toughy.  This is a module I purchased some time ago.  As such, I no longer have the box and associated packing materials.  Short section here!

Sitting the iStarUSA BPU-340-SA on my table reveals a very sharp looking 4-in-3 bay module.  The exterior casing is aluminum which should provide a nice heat sink to pull heat away from the hard drives.  This unit came in as the heaviest all the modules I looked at.  This is a heavy-duty unit with full caddies.  The module comes with the prerequisite package of screws and it come with 4 SATA cables.  Which is the only module that came with cables.

Just a shot of the HD trays.  Unlike the other modules I looked at, the iStarUSA BPU-340-SA comes with a full caddy trays.  Thick machined aluminum trays.  This unit is designed to withstand a tank rolling over it!

The following picture is a shot of the back side of the module.  You can see the fan here, of course, the SATA data connectors, and 2 each SATA and standard 4-pin Molex power 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 power connections are on the far side (away from an open side cover).  The data connections are on the near side (closest to an open side cover).  There is also a switch located on the back to set a high or low fan speed.

You can remove the fan.  It is not exactly meant to be removed, but you can do so.  I had the great idea of changing out this fan at one point with a quieter fan, however, it is 20mm thick fan.  20mm fans are somewhat difficult to find and none were made by companies that I knew to make quiet fans.

This module has a fan failure warning capability.

Module Comparison

I have reviewed several of these Backplane Hot Swap Module recently.  I thought it might be nice to recap the iStar module with the ones I have already finished reviewing.  So here goes.

Norco SS-500 and the iStarUSA BPU-340-SA

Icy Dock MB454SPF-B and the iStarUSA BPU-340-SA

Icy Dock MB235SPF-1B and the iStarUSA BPU-340-SA

And all 4 together.

Hopefully, you can find the module style of your choice among those pictured above.

Installing the Hot Swap Module

As in previous Hot Swap module reviews, I mentioned that the most time consuming portion of that whole exercise was to transfer drives from 1 set of caddies to the other set.  Once again, 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 iStar device into my computer bays, hook up the data and power connections, and secure the the module.  As you can see below you can actually see the other side of case.  This module is by far and away the shortest of the modules I have looked at, which gives it an advantage when trying to fit it in small and large cases.

And one last time (I just have to say it)!  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.  And I still have not made it out to buy some compressed air!

It was nice to be able to use SATA power cables, since I had plenty of length to hook them up outside the case.  Since the data connections are on the open side of the computer, I had no trouble hooking up them up.

What follows are a couple of pictures of the iStar module installed in the computer and the computer all tucked away into its normal place in my little world.  Same ole, same ole except for different hot swap modules.

I turned on the computer and (for the last time!) was relieved to discover that I had reconnected everything correctly (again!).

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

The iStarUSA BPU-340-SA utilizes multi-purpose (colored) LED’s to indicate various HD states.  The bottom LED is a fan fault indicator.  I am not sure why, but each HD LED also serves as a on/off button for each drive.  And the top button is a reset switch.  If someone could explain to me why one would want such a feature, please clue me in!

This module has a high/low fan speed switch.  I guarantee that you will want to put in on the low-speed side.  The low-speed setting is noticeable; the high-speed setting is annoying, to say the least.  The result is that the drives seem to be a few degrees warmer than the other modules I have looked at, but they are still well within any temperature limits.

Looks?  I liked it when I purchased this item, as I just happened to like the blue accents.  After looking at the other two 4-3 modules, I think I prefer the understated black color with or without some small offsetting accents.  The iStar looks nice; it just not look as “professional” as some of the others.  Obviously, this is a very subjective opinion.

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

• The module is very sturdy and is incredibly well built.
• The frame and trays are machined, and could have been deburred a little better.  The module had some rather sharp edges.
• Insertion of the caddies was very smooth, with or without drives installed.
• There was no mistaking when the hard drives were properly inserted and the module latched.  There was a very definite feeling a proper insertion.

Costs and Conclusion

Pros:

• Very soft, but very legible LED array.  Put another way, these LED’s do not light up the whole room.
• Fan Alarm.
• The best built unit of the ones I have looked at.
• Very short unit which allows for ease of installation in most cases.
• SATA power connectors.
• Comes with SATA data cables.

Cons:

• Loud fan in high-speed setting.  Acceptable noise level in low-speed setting.
• The power connectors are in an inconvenient location, but the use SATA power connectors made this mostly a non-issue.
• Power/reset buttons are there for, what?

Would I recommend this hot swap module?  Well, I bought it didn’t I?  I might make a different decision today based upon direct comparison to other hot swap modules, but it does have some better features than the others.  And a few not so nice ones.

Company: iStarUSA

Model Reviewed: BPU-340-SA 4-in-3 bay hot swap module

Cost: Newegg price: $99.99

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.