Top Hard Drive Enclosures by Consumer Reviewers

macally G-S350SUA Hard Drive Enclosure (1 x 3.5" - 1/3H Internal - USB 2.0, FireWire, eSATA - External)

295 Reviews

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	Price: $34.99
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Pros: Good design, Excellent heat dispersal, FireWire support
Cons: Compatibility issues with large drives, Expensive

Review: If there's one thing that's true about computers, it's that you can never have too much storage. While installing a hard drive into a computer chassis isn't exactly rocket science, there may be circumstances wherein it would be more practical or more convenient to have a drive mounted externally. With the Macally G-S350SUA 3.5" Hard Drive Enclosure, it is now easier to have a large-capacity drive without the trouble of opening up your computer and installing it. This hard drive enclosure has qualities to satisfy both Windows and Mac camps. For example, the different ports at the back panel provides easy access to whatever connection your computer may have, be it USB, eSATA or FireWire. Mac users will also appreciate the shiny aluminum case of the Macally Enclosure that not only allows excellent heat radiation from the drive, but also complements the polished metal look of certain Mac models, like the Mac Mini. The front panel of the enclosure holds the circuit board that handles the interface electronics. This model has a FireWire chipset based on the Oxford model and an internal SATA header that supports either SATA I or II-standard drives. It can also be set up in two configurations for use. One would be a horizontal orientation and the other, a vertical one using the foot attachments. This is recommended if you have smaller desk spaces. As noted, it can handle up to 6.0GB/s of drive speed. There have been reports, however, that seem to indicate that when it comes to capacities, this model has some trouble working alongside drives in the order of 1 terabyte or more. This may be due to the power adapter bundled with the unit being unable to power up and spin the drives in order for them to be read by the computer they are connected to. The issue seems to happen more frequently if the drive is constantly in use rather than being occasionally accessed. Also, if budget is a concern, then you might want to look at other models because the Macally G-S350SUA 3.5" Hard Drive Enclosure is a bit more expensive than the competition.

StarTech.com eSATA USB to SATA External Hard Drive Docking Station for 2.5 or 3.5in (1 x Total Bay - 1 x 2.5/3.5 Bay - Serial ATA Controller - USB 2.0)

38 Reviews

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	Price: $28.99
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Pros: Can be sued with 2.5 and 3.5 drives, Up to 6 GB/s transfer speeds, Two connection options, Top-loadong design is accessible and hotswap-friendly
Cons: Doesn't come with eSATA cable, eSATA connection can get loose

Review: The most vulnerable part of a computer is the one you cannot see-the data. That's why information technology professionals always stress the importance of making running backups so that you won't be left high and dry in the event of a catastrophic hardware failure. With the StarTech.com External Hard Drive Docking Station for 2.5 or 3.5-inch hard drives, you now have an easier and more convenient way to work with storage media, whether for backup, cloning, or repair. The StarTech docking station has a top loading slot that provides fast, direct access instead of an enclosure or a tray. The docking station has doors to keep dust and dirt out of the contacts of the interface, while the base tapers off to a flare, giving the dock stability even when loaded with a hard drive. The software on this dock runs a very minimal driver installation, making it essentially plug and play. Whether you use 2.5" or 3.5" drives, all you need to do is to insert it into the dock that is connected to a computer and let the operating system do the rest. Speaking of connections, the StarTech dock uses an eSATA port capable of maximum transfer rate of 1.5 GB/s, as well as a USB 2.0 connection. An AC adapter on the other hand supplies the juice that powers this docking station. All drives compatible with SATA revisions 1, 2 and 3, when used with this dock, can get you transfer speeds of 1.5, 3 and 6 GB/s respectively. Although the StarTech External Hard Drive Docking Station uses a SATA interface to connect with storage media, people who need to grab data from, or otherwise use IDE drives can also make use of this device. An optional IDE to SATA adapter, also from StarTech, facilitates the connection between this dock and the legacy storage controller. StarTech's External Hard Drive Docking Station is an excellent product for making fast backups or performing data recovery, especially when used with a high-speed drive. There isn't much to say about the device itself-the top-loading design is definitely impressive, since it allows the drive to effectively disperse heat aside from being hotswapping-friendly, but the eSATA connection has been observed to be loose and flaky at times. You will need to get an eSATA connector too, since this dock doesn't come supplied with one. The USB connection, although much slower, seems to be the preferred choice of the two interfaces. All things considered, this docking station is a perfect choice for data security and recovery purposes.

Icy Dock MB454SPF-B 4 Bays SATA II Enclosure (4 x 3.5" - 1/3H Front Accessible Hot-swappable - Internal - Black)

27 Reviews

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	Price: $115.99
	Price: $113.40
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Pros: Can fit multiple drives, Compact, Easy to install
Cons: Expensive, Screw holes are not well-aligned

Review: The Icy Dock MB454SPF-B allows you to place all your drives into one, easy-to-access location. You can fit up to four drives within a three 5.25” bay fitting and monitor the status of each using the visual and audio indicators. Being hot-swappable, you won't need to waste time shutting down your computer just to remove the drives. Its compact size also enables you to free up some valuable space and minimize the clutter in your workstation. Unlike other enclosures, it requires few tools and features a removable 80mm rear cooling fan for proper ventilation. The fan creates minimal noise and permits a nearly silent operation. There are also LED indicators that alleviate the need to guess if you're drive is functioning or not. The color changes to green to indicate power, amber for overheat or drive activity and red for drive failure. The durable aluminum body not only adds to its overall aesthetics but also helps in keeping the drive cool. Initial set-up remains easy although the screw holes are not properly aligned and the manual is somewhat inadequate. As soon as you figure it out, you'll just need to apply a little force in order to fit it in your case then you're good to go. The Icy Dock MB454SPF-B makes installing and moving your drives almost effortless. It may not be an excellent fit for budget conscious users due to its price but if you value quality and durability then you can't go wrong with this one.