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What is CPU Inc?
CPU Inc — Computer Peripherals Unlimited — is a specialist supplier of data storage and backup hardware, focused heavily on tape systems, tape media, and RAID/disk storage. Based on its site, it serves organisations that run enterprise or legacy storage equipment and need a source for drives, libraries, media, and related services rather than general-purpose consumer electronics.
What the site covers
- Tape drives and libraries: A broad catalogue spanning LTO generations, DLT/SDLT, 4mm and 8mm formats, 9-track drives, and IBM 3490/3590/3592 lines, plus autoloaders and tape libraries from vendors such as Overland and Qualstar.
- Tape media: LTO, 3592, 3590, and DLT media, including recertified media.
- Disk and network storage: RAID systems (Nexsan, Overland, NEC), SnapServer NAS units, virtual tape libraries, and continuous data protection offerings.
- Services: Tape drive repair and data conversion, alongside quote requests.
Who it suits
This is aimed at IT teams maintaining existing tape-based backup or archive environments, particularly those running older or end-of-life formats where finding parts and media through mainstream channels is difficult. A reader with a working LTO library who needs replacement media, or someone keeping a legacy 3590 or 9-track system alive, is a closer fit than a small business shopping for its first NAS.
Practical next step
If you are evaluating CPU Inc, start by confirming that your exact drive model or media generation appears in its catalogue, then request a quote for that specific part rather than browsing generally. For comparison on current LTO hardware and media, official vendor pages such as IBM or Quantum can help you check format compatibility before you commit.
How do I choose between LTO, DLT, and 3590 tape drives for my backup needs?
Choose by matching the tape family to the system that will read it, not by picking the newest-sounding name. LTO is the general-purpose choice for current backups; DLT/SDLT and IBM 3590 are legacy formats best chosen when an existing library, archive, or software workflow already depends on them. CPU Inc lists all three families, including LTO generations 1–6, Quantum DLT/SDLT drives, and IBM 3590 B/E/H drives, alongside autoloaders and tape media.
Quick comparison
| Tape family | Best for | Main trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| LTO | New backups, growing data, routine restores | Requires matching drive generation and compatible media; older LTO generations are increasingly legacy |
| DLT / SDLT | Existing DLT-based libraries and older backup software | Narrower hardware support and harder media sourcing; not a forward-looking choice |
| IBM 3590 | Mainframe and midrange environments already using 3590 cartridges | Specialized ecosystem; practical only if your host and software already support it |
How to decide
- Check what your backup software and server already support. A supported drive you can actually operate beats a theoretically better format.
- Inventory existing cartridges. If you hold 3590 or DLT archives that must remain readable, keep a matching drive or plan a one-time migration to LTO.
- Match capacity to your backup window. For a small business backing up a few servers nightly, a single LTO drive plus rotation media is usually simpler than a library.
- Plan for media and repairs. Tape is only useful if replacement cartridges and repair options exist. CPU Inc lists tape media and tape drive repair as services, which matters for legacy formats.
- Consider libraries only when volume demands it. Autoloaders suit unattended nightly jobs; single drives suit smaller or occasional backups.
For a concrete case: a company with ten years of DLT archives and a working DLT library should keep that library running for restores while moving new backups to LTO. A mainframe site with 3590 cartridges should stay with 3590 unless it has budget for a full migration project.
As a next step, list your backup software version, server connection type, and existing cartridge formats, then request a quote from CPU Inc against that list.
Can CPU Inc repair a failed tape drive or recover data from old tape media?
Yes. CPU Inc presents itself as a source for storage and backup equipment and lists tape drive repair and data conversion among its services, alongside a broad catalogue of tape drives, tape media, autoloaders and libraries. It also lists legacy formats such as 3480/3490/3490E, 3590, DLT/SDLT, 4 mm, 8 mm and 9-track, which matters if your failed drive or tapes are from an older system rather than current LTO.
What the site indicates
- Repair: Tape drive repair is listed as a service, covering the drive families in its catalogue (for example StorageTek, IBM, Fujitsu, Quantum DLT/SDLT, Sony AIT/SAIT and Exabyte).
- Data conversion: Listed as a service; for old media, ask specifically whether this means reading your tapes and delivering files in a usable format, or converting between media types.
- Media: Recertified tape media is offered, which can help when replacing worn cartridges in a legacy setup.
- Contact: The site gives a US toll-free number (800-278-3480) and an international number (480-505-0177), plus a quote request route.
What to confirm before sending anything
Repair and recovery are different jobs, and the site does not spell out recovery scope, turnaround or pricing. Ask directly:
- Your exact drive and media model — for example an IBM 3590 H1A drive or Exabyte Mammoth2 tapes — and whether they service it.
- The failure mode — drive error, broken loader, or unreadable tapes. A drive repair will not necessarily recover data from damaged media.
- Whether tapes leave your site, and what handling and confidentiality terms apply.
- Deliverable format for conversion — raw files, a particular file system, or copied to new media or disk.
- A quote and expected turnaround, including whether diagnosis is charged.
Practical next step
If the data matters more than the hardware, treat recovery as the priority: stop running the failing drive, keep tapes out of heat and magnetic fields, and describe the original system (hardware, software and backup application) when you call. That context often determines whether old tapes can be read at all. For a second opinion on legacy tape support, IBM documents its older tape products, and specialist recovery firms can be compared on fixed-price diagnosis and no-recovery-no-fee terms.
What tape media options does CPU Inc offer for LTO and 3590 drives?
CPU Inc lists tape media for both LTO and 3590 drives, matching the media families to the drive generations it also sells.
Media listed on the site
- LTO tape media — the site has a dedicated LTO Tape Media section, alongside LTO 1 through LTO 6 tape drives.
- 3590 tape media — a 3590 Tape Media section sits next to the IBM 3590 B, E and H tape drive listings and the Fujitsu M8100 3590 cartridge.
- Other media families — DLT tape media is also listed, and the site mentions recertified media.
How to choose
Match the cartridge to the exact drive model you run, since LTO generations differ in capacity and compatibility, and 3590 media must suit the specific B, E or H drive variant. If you are keeping older 3480/3490E or DLT equipment alive, confirm media for those formats at the same time so one order covers the whole tape environment.
Next step
Use the site's Request Quote page or call the listed numbers with your drive models and quantities; asking for recertified versus new media will clarify the cost trade-off for legacy formats. For broader background on LTO generations, the LTO Program explains how each generation compares.
Does CPU Inc sell RAID, NAS, and virtual tape library systems in addition to tape hardware?
Yes. CPU Inc presents itself as a broad storage and backup supplier, not just a tape-hardware shop. Its product list covers RAID disk systems, network storage and virtual tape libraries alongside tape drives, autoloaders and media.
What the site lists
- RAID disk systems: Nexsan, Overland and NEC RAID systems, plus Actifio.
- Network storage: Snap Servers (Overland models such as 210, 410, 520, 620 and 650), described under network storage and SAN/NAS.
- Virtual tape libraries and related software: FalconStor continuous data protection and virtual tape library products, Overland ARCvault and NEO LTO tape libraries, and data deduplication.
- Tape hardware for comparison: LTO generations, DLT/SDLT, 3590, 3592, 3480/3490 families, 4mm/8mm and 9-track drives, plus autoloaders and tape media.
- Services: tape drive repair, data conversion and DCX software.
Who this mix suits
The combination is most useful to an organization running a mixed environment—for example, an older tape library for archival jobs and a Snap Server or RAID array for day-to-day file storage. A buyer replacing end-of-life tape drives can compare a like-for-like tape upgrade against a VTL or disk-based approach on the same page.
How to choose
If your backup software and retention rules are built around tape, a replacement drive or library is the lower-risk path. If restore speed and deduplication matter more, ask about the VTL and disk options. Either way, confirm current availability and support terms directly, since the page is a catalog rather than a live stock list. The site lists a US toll-free number, 800-278-3480, for quotes.
For independent background on the storage categories, SNIA covers RAID, NAS and tape technology concepts.
How can I request a quote or contact CPU Inc for international orders?
Contact CPU Inc by phone: the company lists a U.S. toll-free line, 800-278-3480, and an international line, 480-505-0177. It also provides a Request Quote option on its site and notes Spanish-language support ("Se Habla Español"). For an international order, the international number is the more direct route; have your full requirement ready before calling.
What to prepare before you call or request a quote
- Exact model and quantity for tape drives, libraries, media, RAID, or SnapServer units — CPU Inc's catalog is organized by specific families (for example, LTO generations, 3590, DLT/SDLT, and Overland or Qualstar libraries), so model detail speeds up pricing.
- Condition preference — the site distinguishes new product listings from recertified tape media, so state whether recertified media is acceptable.
- Destination country and shipping terms — international freight, duties, and lead time depend on these.
- Service needs — if you also want tape drive repair or data conversion, mention it in the same inquiry so it can be quoted together.
- Volume and repeat-order plans — useful if you are sourcing media or drives on an ongoing basis.
A practical example
A records office in Europe still running an LTO-4 library could call the international line with the library model, the number of slots, and a monthly cartridge estimate. Asking for both new and recertified media pricing in one request lets you compare cost against reliability risk directly.
Choosing your contact route
| Situation | Best first step |
|---|---|
| Urgent replacement drive or media | Call the toll-free or international number |
| Multi-item or multi-site order | Use the Request Quote form with a written list |
| Spanish-language discussion preferred | Call and ask for Spanish support |
| Repair or data conversion alongside a purchase | Include it in the same quote request |
As a general rule, phone contact suits time-sensitive replacements, while a written quote request gives you a record for comparing configurations and approvals. Confirm international shipping terms and payment methods directly, since the site does not spell these out.
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