2.5" External Enclosure -

Can you recommend a quality 2.5" external drive enclosure. It is for a 500Gb drive. Need USB 2.0. If it also has esata or USB 3.0 that's fine as well.

Thanks!

Update: 5/20/2011

Ok

So I bought one of these and love it. Thanks!

2.5" USB 2.0/eSATA Aluminum External SATA HDD Enclosure (Black) - Supports up to 500GB & Power over eSATA! HE-2521B

It came with a flat and rigid eSATA cable. Is there a round eSATA cable that is perhaps more flexible that will work with this? I bought 2 eSATA cables from Monoprice.com and neither would power the drive???

Any thoughts?

 

If you have an eSATA/USB combo port, I highly recommend one of these: 2.5" USB 2.0/eSATA Aluminum External SATA HDD Enclosure (Black) - Supports up to 500GB & Power over eSATA! HE-2521B

I've got 3 of them myself. SATA speeds with a single cable, along with USB compatibility for computers without eSATAp ports.

 

I do have the eSATA/USB combo port.
I do not have USB 3.0
Thanks!

 

You might want to take a look at THIS thread, as it addresses the same question as the one you're asking now.

Typically, the Rosewill line of external enclosures are both very well made and very affordable, as well they should be: the Rosewill brand belongs to Newegg and is their attempt to sell their own line of computer peripherals and accessories.

In any event, I picked up a Vantec enclosure at Amazon not too long ago when they were on sale. Link as follows:

Vantec NexStar TX 2.5-Inch SATA to USB 2.0 External Hard Drive Enclosure

While it does not support eSATA, it does offer USB 2.0.

 

external enclosures in general are very standardized, commodity items with the primary differentiator being the style/artwork on the plastic case.

 

Most 2.5" external enclosures I've seen are made of aluminum. I would think that the primary differentiator between external enclosures would be the data standards they support.

 

I also highly recommend this. I own one as well. Very convenient, fast speeds, and single cable. Only thing is it only will accommodate up to 9.5mm drives, no 12.7mm. Hopefully they will make an updated version. If I am not mistaken the USB port with power only can supply up to 1000mA as opposed to 500mA with data and power.

 

Just another up vote for the enclosure being discussed. The cable is a little too long for my liking, about 32". Had an experience where the external stopped working because I did not secure the drive well enough. Need to really tighten the screws. Geeks.com is in California about 30 miles from where I live. Fun place to go to mingle with flip flop wearing, hygiene challenged, appearance being the last thing they think about geeks.

 

Thanks guys!

 

Ok

So I bought one of these and love it. Thanks!

It came with a flat and rigid eSATA cable. Is there a round eSATA cable that is perhaps more flexible that will work with this? I bought 2 eSATA cables from Monoprice.com and neither would power the drive???

Any thoughts?

 

To my knowledge, there are no round eSATA cables, and this goes for the standard SATA cables found inside a PC.

 

I bought these round eSATA Cables and neither would power the drive.

For only $2.33 each when QTY 50+ purchased - 3ft SATA External Shielded Cable - eSATA to eSATA (Type I to Type I) - Red | External Serial ATA / SATA Cables

For only $3.59 each when QTY 50+ purchased - 6ft SATA External Round Cable - eSATA to eSATA (Type I to Type I) - Black | External Serial ATA / SATA Cables

 

Well, it doesn't say anywhere they would be USB/eSATA combo cables in the first place.

 

Right, that's why I was asking if they if they made one?

 

I'm pretty sure someone makes them since you already have one

Amazon.com: CablesToBuy™ 1.5 FT ( 0.5 m) ESATA + USB Cable: Electronics

That was the first google hit. Looks round too

 

Well, look at that. Much like Camping predicting Rapture, some people can be wrong from time to time, however rare that might be.

 

Thanks!!!!