External Hard Drive Enclosure

**Glaswegian** · 12-01-2006, 04:29 PM

Hello

I'm looking at investing in a hard drive enclosure but I'm not sure exactly what I should look for. Do I need mains power or is the USB sufficient? Any things to avoid?

This is my regular PC store
http://budgetcomputers.biz/catalog/i...27dc9d38afedd2

I can only really do the basics with hardware, so any advice will be most welcome. Thanks.

**linderman** · 12-01-2006, 05:06 PM

I personally find the enclosures with the power adapter to work better / more stable versus the units that get their power from the usb connection

same old rule dont buy the real cheap ones and you dont need the high priced one either

i prefer units with fans and aluminum dissipates heat better than steel and plastic of course

its really hard to go wrong with enclosures unless you buy the cheapies!

ArturoYee · 12-01-2006, 07:53 PM

I have an Adaptec 3.5" USB 2.0 Drive enclosure/Al housing, external power.

The IDE ribbon cable is the 80 wire type - not the cheaper type.

Cost of the enclosure: about $50 at Best Buy about a year ago.

Use it on and off to back up data and test drives. Not constantly on.

Used the XP to format it - FAT32, and use the drive(s) on the PC and Macs

Very happy with it.

If you need one for constant I/O, you may want to consider a Firewire one - they are more expensive.

**Glaswegian** · 12-02-2006, 04:23 AM

Thanks to you both - appreciate the words of wisdom.

12-01-2006, 04:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
Glaswegian Moderator/ Rangemaster TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team; Oor Wullie; TSF Surgeon and Resident Comic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 25,582 OS: Win XP Pro SP3 / Win 7 Pro My System Blog Entries: 10	External Hard Drive Enclosure Hello I'm looking at investing in a hard drive enclosure but I'm not sure exactly what I should look for. Do I need mains power or is the USB sufficient? Any things to avoid? This is my regular PC store http://budgetcomputers.biz/catalog/i...27dc9d38afedd2 I can only really do the basics with hardware, so any advice will be most welcome. Thanks. __________________ Iain - Defender of the Haggis and all things Scottish. I don't help by PM - post in the Forums. PC Safety & Security::PC running a bit slow?::Donate::Photographers Corner

12-01-2006, 05:06 PM	#2 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,442 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	I personally find the enclosures with the power adapter to work better / more stable versus the units that get their power from the usb connection same old rule dont buy the real cheap ones and you dont need the high priced one either i prefer units with fans and aluminum dissipates heat better than steel and plastic of course its really hard to go wrong with enclosures unless you buy the cheapies! __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial

12-01-2006, 07:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
ArturoYee Registered User Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 134 OS: XP Home, OS X 10.5 MacBook	Adaptec/USB 2.0 for 3.5" drives - Been happy with it I have an Adaptec 3.5" USB 2.0 Drive enclosure/Al housing, external power. The IDE ribbon cable is the 80 wire type - not the cheaper type. Cost of the enclosure: about $50 at Best Buy about a year ago. Use it on and off to back up data and test drives. Not constantly on. Used the XP to format it - FAT32, and use the drive(s) on the PC and Macs Very happy with it. If you need one for constant I/O, you may want to consider a Firewire one - they are more expensive. Last edited by ArturoYee; 12-01-2006 at 07:56 PM.

12-02-2006, 04:23 AM	#4 (permalink)
Glaswegian Moderator/ Rangemaster TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team; Oor Wullie; TSF Surgeon and Resident Comic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 25,582 OS: Win XP Pro SP3 / Win 7 Pro My System Blog Entries: 10	Thanks to you both - appreciate the words of wisdom. __________________ Iain - Defender of the Haggis and all things Scottish. I don't help by PM - post in the Forums. PC Safety & Security::PC running a bit slow?::Donate::Photographers Corner