For all the years I’ve been using a Mac Pro computer to record audio, edit video, and touch up high-resolution photos, I’ve had a G-Technology external portable hard drive by my side to handle my data backup. G-Technology’s storage devices have been beloved by creative professionals like me since their first external storage systems arrived on store shelves about a decade ago. And like previous G-Technology drive models, the company has elevated the game once again with its new Evolution Series external portable hard drive units, which features a series of bus-powered, USB 3.0 portable drives. What makes the Evolution Series great is its full compatibility with the Evolution Series G-DOCK ev multi-bay, RAID compatible external storage system. This means you can use any of the following drives independently or together―improving their storage possibilities―in the two-bay G-DOCK ev storage enclosure.
The Evolution Series G-DRIVE ev portable hard drives are available in a variety of configurations including a 500GB, 1TB, or a 2TB G-DRIVE ev 220 portable external hard drive unit. There is also a 512GB G-DRIVE ev Portable Solid-State Drive available. If you’re interested, B&H offers kits that include either two or five 1TB G-DRIVE ev portable USB 3.0 hard drives for an economic alternative to purchasing multiple drives separately. G-Technology also makes the 2TB G-DOCK ev Portable Two-Bay Hard Drive Enclosure and the 4TB G-DOCK ev Portable Two-Bay Hard Drive Enclosure. We’ll get into the SSD model and the G-DOCK ev RAID compatible storage systems later, but first we’ll look at the 500GB, 1TB, or 2TB G-DRIVE ev 220 units.
I was given the 1TB G-DRIVE ev model to test and I can report back that it went swimmingly, for the most part. I had a very minor headache connecting the drive to my roommate’s Windows-based PC laptop, but once the reformatting was complete and the connection was established, it ran smoothly and efficiently. Connecting it to my iMac was much easier. I plugged it in and I started transferring data almost immediately. The 500GB and 1TB G-DRIVE ev models feature 7200 rpm, bus-powered, external portable hard disk drives with up to a 32MB cache. The 2TB G-DRIVE ev 220 model is equipped with two internal 2.5-inch 5400 rpm hard disk drives. They all support fast USB 3.0 connectivity with up to 5Gb/s transfer rates that support up to 136MB/s transfer speeds in the 500GB and 1TB models. The 2TB G-DRIVE ev 220 portable external hard drive supports transfer speeds up to 220MB/s. Plus, they’re all backward compatible with USB 2.0 for greater flexibility and future-proofing, in case you haven’t upgraded to a USB 3.0-equipped computer yet.
Each unit is compatible with Mac and Windows operating systems (Windows requires a minor reformatting). More specifically, the 500GB and 1TB models are compatible with Mac OS 10.6 and higher or Windows Vista, 7, and 8, while the 2TB G-DRIVE ev 220 model works with Mac OS 10.7 and higher or Windows Vista, 7, and 8. The 2TB model works with Apple Time Machine as well, for effortless plug-and-play Mac connectivity. All three of these options feature an all-metal, brushed-aluminum enclosure that matches the modern, minimalist aesthetic of Apple computers and laptops. However, this brushed-aluminum finish is neutral enough that it perfectly matches the look of many of the latest Ultrabooks, as well. As an added bonus, all three of these G-DRIVE ev units are bus-powered for added flexibility and they’re all compatible with the two-bay G-DOCK ev enclosure, which we’ll look at later.
For a faster, more durable and reliable option, G-Technology also makes the portable 512GB G-DRIVE ev SSD unit, which features ultra-fast transfer speeds up to 400MB/s. Like the three previous models, the G-DRIVE ev SSD provides USB 3.0 connectivity and features a stylish brushed-aluminum housing. However, the SSD is housed in a slightly more ruggedized enclosure to add to the unit’s overall durability. It’s also compatible with both Mac and Windows, although it comes formatted for plug-and-play connectivity with Apple Time Machine in a Mac OS 10.6 or higher computer.
What makes the G-Technology Evolution Series portable hard drives and SSD stand out from the competition is their compatibility with the two-bay G-DOCK ev multi-drive enclosure. This means that you can use any of the aforementioned portable drives as a stand-alone, bus-powered portable drive or in combination with another G-DRIVE ev model in the two-bay G-DOCK ev.
Although individually, all of the drives in the portable G-DRIVE ev line feature USB 3.0 connectivity, the compatible G-DOCK ev features dual-Thunderbolt interfaces. The G-DOCK ev is available from B&H as a two-bay unit with dual 7200 rpm 1TB G-DRIVE ev portable hard disk drives with up to a 32MB cache in a sturdy aluminum enclosure, or as a kit with four 1TB G-DRIVE ev portable hard disk drives. These drives can be used by themselves as a portable USB 3.0 external hard disk drive or they can be combined into a two-drive unit within the Thunderbolt-equipped enclosure. The drive bays are hot-swappable as well, so in a JBOD configuration, you can easily swap out one drive for another when replacing a drive―even if you’re in the middle of a backup session or file-transfer session.
The G-DOCK ev’s Thunderbolt connectivity supports up to 10Gb/s transfer rates and the system is compatible with either Mac or Windows operating systems. The G-DOCK ev can achieve transfer speeds of up to 480MB/s when using two of the G-DRIVE ev SSD units, and you can connect the individual drives using USB 3.0 (backwards compatible with USB 2.0) or via a SATA port when connecting to the two-bay enclosure. The G-DOCK ev ships in a JBOD configuration, which gives you the freedom to use each of the enclosure’s two drives independently as individual storage units.
However, for added backup flexibility, the G-DOCK ev supports RAID 0 and RAID 1 configurations. RAID 0, or striping, allows you to split data evenly across the enclosure’s two disks for faster backup times. Although this two-way striping option doesn’t support simultaneous parity or doubling of your data, it provides a fast alternative to traditional single-disk data backup workflows. RAID 0 just lets you back up your data faster by splitting the load between the enclosure’s two drives. The G-DOCK ev also supports RAID 1, or mirroring backup. This method, which is ideal for storing or backing up more critical data, lets you back up identical data onto two separate drives simultaneously.
All of the G-DRIVE ev portable hard drives and the G-DOCK ev storage system enclosure include all the necessary cables for connection to your workstation and they each come with a standard three-year limited warranty from G-Technology. For more information on any of the G-Technology G-DRIVE ev portable hard drives or the two-bay G-DOCK ev storage system enclosure, please stop by the B&H SuperStore in Manhattan or visit us on the web by logging onto the B&H website. You can also direct any questions you might have to a professional sales associate or tech specialist. Both are available over the phone at 1-800-606-6969 or via the B&H Live Chat system.
| G-Technology G-DRIVE ev Portable Hard Disk Drive | G-Technology G-DRIVE ev 220 Portable Hard Disk Drive | G-Technology G-DRIVE ev Portable Solid-State Drive (SSD) | G-Technology G-DOCK ev Two-Bay Storage Enclosure | |
| Storage Capacity | 500GB, 1TB | 2TB | 512GB | 512GB |
| Interfaces | USB 3.0 (backward compatible with USB 2.0) | USB 3.0 (backward compatible with USB 2.0) | USB 3.0 (backward compatible with USB 2.0) | 2 x Thunderbolt Ports |
| SATA Port | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Disk Type | N/A | 2 x 2.5" (64mm) Hard Drives | SSD | Dual 1TB G-DRIVE ev Drives (included) |
| Disk Drive Speed | 7200 RPM | 5400 RPM | N/A | 7200 RPM (included) |
| Drive Cache | Up to 32MB | Not Specified by Manufacturer | Not Specified by Manufacturer | Up to 32MB |
| Transfer Rates | USB 3.0: Up to 5 Gb/s | USB 3.0: Up to 5 Gb/s | USB 3.0: Up to 5 Gb/s | Thunderbolt: Up to 10 Gb/s |
| Transfer Speeds | Up to 136 MB/s | Up to 220 MB/s | Alone: Up to 400 MB/s With G-Dock: Up to 4800 MB/s |
With Dual G-DRIVE ev SSD: Up to 4800 MB/s Other Drives: Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Supported RAID Configurations | N/A | N/A | N/A | RAID 0 RAID 1 JBOD |
| Mac Operating System Requirements | Mac OS 10.6 and above | Mac OS 10.7 and above | Mac OS 10.6 and above | Mac OS 10.7 and above |
| Windows Operating System Requirements | Windows Vista, 7, and 8 (supports Windows via reformatting) | Windows Vista, 7, and 8 (supports Windows via reformatting) | Windows Vista, 7, and 8 (supports Windows via reformatting) | Windows Vista, 7, and 8 (supports Windows via reformatting) |
| Product Dimensions (WxHxD) | 5.14 x 3.29 x 0.65" (131 x 84 x 16mm) | 5.14 x 3.29 x 0.87" (131 x 84 x 22mm) | 5.14 x 3.29 x 0.65" (131 x 84 x 16mm) | 7.87 x 5.12 x 3.54" (200 x 130 x 90mm) |
| Product Weight | Not Specified by Manufacturer | Not Specified by Manufacturer | Not Specified by Manufacturer | Not Specified by Manufacturer |
| Power | Bus-Powered | Bus-Powered | Bus-Powered | AC Power Supply |
2 Comments
I have the G-Tech Evolution Series with two 1TB drives plus 2 spare 1 TB portable discs.
How can I label these 4 discs so that I can easily recognise them when they are on my desktop without having to look inside?
Many thanks for your help.
The simplest way would be to provide a unique name for your disks. A more elegant solution would be to change the desktop icons for your drives. Directions can be found here from Apple.