External Hard Drive Enclosures at DVinfo.net

David Bird · November 15th, 2008, 10:04 AM

I'm needing an external hard drive enclosure. It needs to be SATA & IDE compatabile with USB2 and Firewire out.

I've been looking through the various selections from NewEgg and Tiger and all seem to be "ok" with cavaets like, "fried my drive"...."overheating"......"inferior construction"...etc.

If anyone is using a HD enclosure that fits the parameters I've indicated or has experience in this area, some assistance would be greatly appreciated.

David Bird

Michael Wisniewski · November 15th, 2008, 10:52 AM

I've never seen an enclosure that supports both SATA and IDE drives. If they do exist, they will probably limit your choices even more. Probably better to get one of each. I have several of the Wiebetech enclosures. Have nothing but good things to say about them. I've also used a lot of G-Raid enclosures, and never had a problem.

Ray Bell · November 15th, 2008, 10:56 AM

This might help you...

Addonics Technologies - Making Data Storage Simple

Robert M Wright · November 15th, 2008, 11:35 AM

I doubt anyone makes an external enclosure that accommodates both IDE and SATA drives. The engineering would have to be at least somewhat awkward.

This is one of the few external enclosures I know of that actually does keep a hard drive reasonably cool (the vast majority of external enclosures just let hard drives literally cook, virtually assuring a premature failure):

Newegg.com - Rosewill RX-358-S SLV (Silver) 3.5" SATA to USB & eSATA Ext. Enclosure w/Int.80mm fan - External Enclosures

That's a SATA drive enclosure (will not accommodate an IDE drive) and connects to a computer via USB or eSATA (no firewire).

David Bird · November 15th, 2008, 11:57 AM

As I indicated in my initial post, there are many, many enclosures at NewEgg and Tiger Direct that accomodate both SATA and IDE drives. Finding them is not the problem, finding an enclosure that is safe, reliable, and won't break the bank is the issue.

David Bird

Tripp Woelfel · November 16th, 2008, 07:14 AM

I don't have a brand recommendation to give you, but having worked in the disk drive business back in the 90s, I can tell you that the biggest nemesis of a disk drive is heat. The faster a disk spins, the hotter it will get.

For 7,200 and 10k RPM drives, you probably want an enclosure with a fan unless you can find a case designed like the WD My Book drives. With those the excess heat simply rises out of the top of the case. I've not seen any cases that work that way though. (But I haven't looked at cases lately.

The other thing to consider is get the one with the beefiest power supply. A spike sneaking through to the drive can turn it into a doorstop just like that.

November 15th, 2008, 10:04 AM	#1
David Bird Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Sikeston, Missouri, USA Posts: 118	External Hard Drive Enclosures I'm needing an external hard drive enclosure. It needs to be SATA & IDE compatabile with USB2 and Firewire out. I've been looking through the various selections from NewEgg and Tiger and all seem to be "ok" with cavaets like, "fried my drive"...."overheating"......"inferior construction"...etc. If anyone is using a HD enclosure that fits the parameters I've indicated or has experience in this area, some assistance would be greatly appreciated. David Bird

November 15th, 2008, 10:52 AM	#2
Michael Wisniewski Wrangler Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Makati, Metro Manila Posts: 2,706 Images: 32	I've never seen an enclosure that supports both SATA and IDE drives. If they do exist, they will probably limit your choices even more. Probably better to get one of each. I have several of the Wiebetech enclosures. Have nothing but good things to say about them. I've also used a lot of G-Raid enclosures, and never had a problem. __________________ "Ultimately, the most extraordinary thing, in a frame, is a human being." - Martin Scorsese

November 15th, 2008, 10:56 AM	#3
Ray Bell Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,414	This might help you... Addonics Technologies - Making Data Storage Simple

November 15th, 2008, 11:35 AM	#4
Robert M Wright Inner Circle Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Minnesota (USA) Posts: 2,171	I doubt anyone makes an external enclosure that accommodates both IDE and SATA drives. The engineering would have to be at least somewhat awkward. This is one of the few external enclosures I know of that actually does keep a hard drive reasonably cool (the vast majority of external enclosures just let hard drives literally cook, virtually assuring a premature failure): Newegg.com - Rosewill RX-358-S SLV (Silver) 3.5" SATA to USB & eSATA Ext. Enclosure w/Int.80mm fan - External Enclosures That's a SATA drive enclosure (will not accommodate an IDE drive) and connects to a computer via USB or eSATA (no firewire).

November 15th, 2008, 11:57 AM	#5
David Bird Regular Crew Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Sikeston, Missouri, USA Posts: 118	As I indicated in my initial post, there are many, many enclosures at NewEgg and Tiger Direct that accomodate both SATA and IDE drives. Finding them is not the problem, finding an enclosure that is safe, reliable, and won't break the bank is the issue. David Bird

November 16th, 2008, 07:14 AM	#6
Tripp Woelfel Trustee Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: North Conway, NH Posts: 1,745	I don't have a brand recommendation to give you, but having worked in the disk drive business back in the 90s, I can tell you that the biggest nemesis of a disk drive is heat. The faster a disk spins, the hotter it will get. For 7,200 and 10k RPM drives, you probably want an enclosure with a fan unless you can find a case designed like the WD My Book drives. With those the excess heat simply rises out of the top of the case. I've not seen any cases that work that way though. (But I haven't looked at cases lately. The other thing to consider is get the one with the beefiest power supply. A spike sneaking through to the drive can turn it into a doorstop just like that.