The graphics chip maker hosts a world-record LAN party, cutthroat gaming events and a graphics technology showcase in its first-ever NVISION visual computing show.
RetailVision vendors got 'Fresh' on Tuesday, showcasing new, cutting edge products that just -- or are just about to -- hit the market.
Vendors and VARS are changing the ways they recruit, using technology to help them reach more prospects in a competitive market.
CRN Test Center: A Unique Approach To Testing
12:00 AM EDT Mon. Jun. 04, 2007
From the June 04, 2007 issue of CRN
Solid state drives are just as big as hard drives and take up a lot of physical space, especially if a technician is carting around several drives while troubleshooting. The most accommodating solution is to use small solid state drives such as Compact Flash (CF) drives. Addonics' unique CF to IDE adapter can help.
| PRODUCT: Addonics CF SATA HDD Adapter PRICE: $24.99 DISTRIBUTORS/ INTEGRATORS: Ingram Micro WARRANTY: One year COMPANY: Addonics Technologies San Jose, Calif. (408) 433-3899 www.addonics.com |
The adapter supports DMA and Ultra-DMA modes as long as the media card includes these features, but unfortunately, the CF cards are not hot-swappable. Engineers recommend installing the smallest drives possible that are of appropriate size for a given OS. Tests have shown that the greater the capacity of a solid state drive, the slower its write access time becomes.
Because CF drives are noiseless, the adapter comes with a drive access LED, which lights up during drive I/O. During troubleshooting, it is a good idea to leave the drive bay door open to ensure the LED is lit during the first boot.
Addonics' adapter with an installed CF card takes about one-third the space of a notebook drive, so it is delicate. Once inserted in an IDE slot, the manufacturer states that double-sided tape can secure the adapter, but Test Center engineers recommend inserting a foam cut-out into the empty space in the bay. If technicians need to change cards, they can easily bend the IDE or the CF pins when the adapter is not tightly secured.
