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    Good External Enclosure?

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by rubiks24, Jul 9, 2006.

  1. rubiks24

    rubiks24 Notebook Consultant

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    Alright I have decided to get a hard drive IDE with a good enclosure(no sata plz). Now i define good as- fast transfter speed(firewire + USB 2.0), runs cool(probably a fan), and small(but has to fit a 3.5" hd). It would be amazing if it does not need external power supply, some battery or laptop power, but i doubt id be able to find that. So something with a small power adapter would be fine too.

    Now as in a previous thread, i was given the suggestion of AMS DS3, and the apricorn by wearetheborg(thanks).

    Now who else can suggest some "good" enclosures?
     
    rubiks24, Jul 9, 2006
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  2. rubiks24

    rubiks24 Notebook Consultant

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    alright i have come up with 3

    AMS VENUS DS-2316CBK Aluminum 3.5" USB + IEEE 1394 Black External Enclosure - $50

    APRICORN EZ-BUS-DTC-KIT Aluminum 3.5" USB + IEEE1394 External Enclosure - $65

    KINGWIN MS-350UF-S Aluminum 3.5" USB + IEEE 1394 Silver External Enclosure -$35

    What do you guys think?
     
    rubiks24, Jul 9, 2006
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  3. Charles P. Jefferies

    Charles P. Jefferies Lead Moderator Super Moderator

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    A 3.5" enclosure will need a power supply, no way around that. The 2.5" enclosures can be used without a power supply.

    The Vantec NexStar 3 is a fantastic enclosure, I use it. However, no fan. I haven't had any heat problems with mine though.
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817145131
    They are available in different colors.
     
    Charles P. Jefferies, Jul 9, 2006
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  4. titaniummd

    titaniummd Notebook Deity

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    rubiks24

    Do any of those have an internal fan? Through my personal experience, ones without it can become quite hot (ie Compusa HD enclosure).

    EDIT: They all have fans. I would get the lighter of the 3.
     
    titaniummd, Jul 9, 2006
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  5. Elminst

    Elminst Some Network Guy

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    I'll second the Vantecs. I recently got a 2.5" enclosure from them for an old notebook drive i have. works great.
     
    Elminst, Jul 9, 2006
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  6. Sykotic

    Sykotic Notebook Evangelist

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    i use vantec for my 120GB 3.5" maxtor. I rarely use it anymore. I use a network share to my desktop and use a 2.5" 80GB on the go. GL
     
    Sykotic, Jul 9, 2006
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  7. wearetheborg

    wearetheborg Notebook Virtuoso

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    rubiks, in this case, the price seems to indicative of quality :D
    Avoid the Kingwin one - it seems to a have a faulty design:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817146317
    3/5 stars, only 6 reviews. NOT GOOD

    The AMS DS3 on the other hand has 5/5 stars, with 100+ reviews:
    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817145657

    The Apricorn one also has 5/5 reviews - apricorn usually has rebates, so you should be able to get an apricron enclosure for 40-45$ after rebate (just keep an eye on fatwallet)

    In my reasearch, I had concluded Apricon to be the best - my next enclosure will be apricorn.
    Both the apricorn and the AMS one have a giant 8cm fan direct beneath the HDD, cooling it.

    With respect to speed: You can get just a USB 2.0 enclosure - it just steals 10-15% of cpu power. Should not be much of difference in speed. Its also cheaper.
    Aaah, but its only like 10-15$ difference, firewire gives more options, so why not firewire+usb.
     
    wearetheborg, Jul 9, 2006
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  8. wearetheborg

    wearetheborg Notebook Virtuoso

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    wearetheborg, Jul 9, 2006
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  9. wearetheborg

    wearetheborg Notebook Virtuoso

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    wearetheborg, Jul 9, 2006
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  10. DrewN

    DrewN Notebook Evangelist

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    DrewN, Jul 9, 2006
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  11. wearetheborg

    wearetheborg Notebook Virtuoso

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    wearetheborg, Jul 9, 2006
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