Good External Enclosure suggestions?

[AznMaverick]

I went on new egg and read a couple reviews on the cheaper enclosures. I got the impression that the enclosures only allow for installation of a drive once...and cannot be changed out again. Can you suggest an enclosure where i will be able to do it.

 

[Zucarita9000]

Hard rives can be changed whenever you want. I've done so several times.

I just got a Vantec NexStar 2 NST-355U2 enclosure. Very nice. The hard drive fits perfectly (something rare with the cheaper enclosures), has vibration dampeners, and a good controller (Silicon Image). It is also tool-less, so you can swap hard drives without using screwdrivers.

 

[AznMaverick]

Thanks for your input, but i would also like to interchange it with a DVD drive. What would you suggest for this situation.

 

[AznMaverick]

^

 

[Zucarita9000]

You could get a NexStar 2 525U2, wich is the same as the other one but it takes 5.25" drives. You'll have to get some 3.5" to 5.25" adapters for the hard drive.

 

[shira]

Originally posted by: Zucarita9000
Hard rives can be changed whenever you want. I've done so several times.

I just got a Vantec NexStar 2 NST-355U2 enclosure. Very nice. The hard drive fits perfectly (something rare with the cheaper enclosures), has vibration dampeners, and a good controller (Silicon Image). It is also tool-less, so you can swap hard drives without using screwdrivers.

The NexStar doesn't have a cooling fan, right? Seems I've read about people having overheating issues with enclosures that don't have fans.

 

[AznMaverick]

Any other good suggestions?

 

[harrkev]

I got a cheap $30 ByteCC platic enclosure 6 months ago from Newegg. It works, and can hold a CD or an optical. Once you apply the bottom stickers, you cannot change it out without peeling off the stickers again. But I see something else here.

If you really need an external HD and an optical, get two separate enclosures. On the other hand, if you need to hook up random devices, you can get a USB-to-PATA adapter. The drive will not be in a box, but should allow for rapid swaps.

 

[Abrasive]

I got a Bytecc on the newegg sale too. Now it is $42.00 for one. They are pretty nice. the fan is a little loud. I would not apply the screw sealing stickers myself. I had trouble installing as the instructions say to leave the jumper as a master. Why I don't know but I followed the instructions and until I changed the drive to a slave I was about to throw it against the wall.

Happy with it now and now I need another one or more (stackable) and the price is jacked up.

Waaa!

hence me finding this threead for reviews on External Enclosures.

 

[Zucarita9000]

If you have a FireWire (1394) port, you should try to get a FireWire-capable enclosure. If you ever need a second enclosure, you can daisy-chain them, and only use a single FireWire on your PC. This is something that USB enclosures lack, and you end up using a dedicated port for each drive, or being forced to get a USB 2.0 hub.

This one is just like the Vantec NexStar, and has USB 2.0 and Firewire

Large selection on Newegg, all from Bytecc.