What makes an external HDD enclosure good? Need recommendations

[DigitalHermit]

So, I have this stil good 7-year-old 2.5" WD Blue 320GB HDD lying around now...

 

It used to be an external HDD, then a cold storage drive when the SATA to USB bridge on its original enclosure broke...

Now I'm in need of some portable mass storage and I'm looking for a good enclosure...

 

Features I'm looking for:

• Easy disassembly/drive replacement
• Durable
• Shockproofing and waterproofing are bonuses

 

Features I need to know about:

• SATA to USB bridge performance
• Necessity of USB 3.0
   

Thanks in advance,

 

-Hermit

[laxer]

The big benefit you will have over using USB 3.0 vs 2.0 besides speed is that USB 3.0 ports can power the drive by itself. Where as if you were to use a usb 2.0 port you would likely also need to plug it into a wall.

 

I don't know any good enclosures that are shock or waterproof however there are prebuilt ones like from many vendors like: http://www.amazon.com/Silicon-Power-Shockproof-Water-Resistant-SP010TBPHDA60S3K/dp/B00LN0P5Q0/ref=sr_1_17?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1415509177&sr=1-17&keywords=external+hard+drive

 

As per standalone enclosures this was the best I could find:http://www.amazon.com/Optimized-Inateck-Enclosure-Installation-Compatible/dp/B00FCLG65U/ref=sr_1_12?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1415509070&sr=1-12&keywords=2.5%22+hdd+enclosures

[DigitalHermit]

The big benefit you will have over using USB 3.0 vs 2.0 besides speed is that USB 3.0 ports can power the drive by itself. Where as if you were to use a usb 2.0 port you would likely also need to plug it into a wall.

 

I don't know any good enclosures that are shock or waterproof however there are prebuilt ones like from many vendors like: http://www.amazon.com/Silicon-Power-Shockproof-Water-Resistant-SP010TBPHDA60S3K/dp/B00LN0P5Q0/ref=sr_1_17?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1415509177&sr=1-17&keywords=external+hard+drive

 

As per standalone enclosures this was the best I could find:http://www.amazon.com/Optimized-Inateck-Enclosure-Installation-Compatible/dp/B00FCLG65U/ref=sr_1_12?s=pc&ie=UTF8&qid=1415509070&sr=1-12&keywords=2.5%22+hdd+enclosures

 

The original enclosure of the drive is a USB 2.0 that draws power from the USB port... Only the SATA bridge is broken... I don't have a USB 3.0 device (yet)...

 

Here's the cheapest that I have access to, but their hardware is sluggish with write speeds dipping below 1MBps...

http://www.cdrking.com/?mod=products&type=category&subcatid=601

[R2D2_WD]

Hi, @DigitalHermit

 

Could you tell me the model of your HDD? I would say that many external drives come with integrated SATA to USB connection, which results in a pretty good performance. I would recommend you to go for a USB 3.0. It does provide more power and offers more speed.

Personally I would not look for extra shocking resistance and water proof and I will tell you why. These additions do not offer 100% security that your device could “survive” a drop or a hit. I would recommend you to leave those things behind, take care of your drive and use it as a backup destination.

 

Hope this helps  

[DigitalHermit]

Hi, @DigitalHermit

 

Could you tell me the model of your HDD? I would say that many external drives come with integrated SATA to USB connection, which results in a pretty good performance. I would recommend you to go for a USB 3.0. It does provide more power and offers more speed.

Personally I would not look for extra shocking resistance and water proof and I will tell you why. These additions do not offer 100% security that your device could “survive” a drop or a hit. I would recommend you to leave those things behind, take care of your drive and use it as a backup destination.

 

Hope this helps  

 

Thanks for the reply.

 

It's from an old WD Elements 2.5" 320GB from 2009... The SATA bridge broke (from normal wear) outside of warranty and the local WD branch won't take the drive so I pulled it apart around 2 years ago...

 

The drive inside is a WD Scorpio Blue 320GB 5600RPM(I think)

 

Model number is WD3200BEVS-26VAT0

 

I need the drive to be portable since my main rig is at home and I only take a laptop with a measly 250GB of storage for my week-long stays at my university... Shock and waterproofing are just bonuses... I just have a really poor performing SATA to USB dock with me from the maker that I linked above...

[LogicalDrm]

I've got this one laying around after I made the drive inside backup one instead of regular external.

http://www.dx.com/p/aluminum-alloy-usb-3-0-2-5-sata-external-case-hdd-enclosure-black-218053#.VGCpTclNrCA

 

Easy to install, USB3 (I don't know how well it works since drive is SATA1) and metal. Not shockproof or waterproof, though.

[DigitalHermit]

I've got this one laying around after I made the drive inside backup one instead of regular external.

http://www.dx.com/p/aluminum-alloy-usb-3-0-2-5-sata-external-case-hdd-enclosure-black-218053#.VGCpTclNrCA

 

Easy to install, USB3 (I don't know how well it works since drive is SATA1) and metal. Not shockproof or waterproof, though.

 

I'll look for something like this...

 

Maybe a trip to Gilmore (that place with lots of PC parts shops) would give me some more options... I have no idea on what brands/makers are available here...

[NumLock21]

None of them, I've got like 5 of those enclosures and they call crapped out. Get a SATA to USB adapter kit, much better than those enclosures. Some are even USB 3. They look something like this

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812232048

The other is a USB to HDD dock, basically just plug your internal to this and use it as external.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817198054&cm_re=usb_3.0_hdd_dock-_-17-198-054-_-Product

[DigitalHermit]

None of them, I've got like 5 of those enclosures and they call crapped out. Get a SATA to USB adapter kit, much better than those enclosures. Some are even USB 3

 

I need the enclosure... Right now, I'm lugging a powered SATA dock and the drive is in a larger-than-needed antistatic bag...

[NumLock21]

I see you have a 2.5" drive. For that just grab a SATA to USB 3.0 adapter, 2.5" drives don't need extra power.

http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-SATA-Drive-Adapter-Cable/dp/B00HJZJI84/ref=sr_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1415654312&sr=1-1&keywords=sata+to+usb+3.0

Here is a enclosure

http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-2-5-Inch-External-Enclosure-EC-WU3E/dp/B00JXUBRXW/ref=sr_1_13?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1415654312&sr=1-13&keywords=sata+to+usb+3.0