Need an external HD caddy

[=98=]

I don't know anything about external HD cases, but I need one! I'll be getting a Western Digital 500GB drive 3.5".

It needs to be either USB or Firewire (must have the former though). e-Sata is out of the question as I can't be arsed to give up a PCI backplate to use it.

I have no idea what is good, but some suggestions (from UK sites) would be great.

Rep+ for help :)

[[USAC]S|Cpl.TinFoil]

Re: Need an external HD caddy

I just purchased a silicon thing with a cheap, short cable and it worked fine. 5 dollars and no effort involved.

I'd advise you to get one with a fan since it starts to get very hot after almost any usage. 5 minutes of a 2.5 drive reading at 5200RPM made a very hot silicon "enclosure."

[Busby, Paul (Bicci)]

Re: Need an external HD caddy

Well in my opinion E-Sata is worth losing the backplate as its mega fast; i use a 2.5" 7200RPM WD black scorpio in an akasa 'integral' case with my lappy and it runs faster than the 7200RPM drive built into the machine
...although if its purely for backing up i guess that isnt essential. Check out the akasa ones they are pretty well built and mine came with a leather velcro case too.

Icybox made **** loads of them but iv never really been too thrilled by their big gay logo or build quality.

A nice idea i have seen a few times is 5" drive bay caddies and when you pull the caddy out it has USB aswell as E-Sata on the back so you can dock it when your backing up but its still perfectly functioning when its out. Annoyingly i can only find the ones for 2.5" hard drives x(

[=98=]

Re: Need an external HD caddy

Well, e-Sata can be arranged if necessary. The reason I don't want it is that the PCI plate that I would have to use is quite messy with a lot of cables. I suppose I might be able to hide them though.

[imported_DK]

Re: Need an external HD caddy

I've got this Antec MX1, I use the USB on my laptop and the ESATA on my desktop

Dual output interface - USB2.0 and eSATA (external Serial ATA) allows you to transfer data up to 480Mbps or 3Gbps respectively
Support up to 750G SATA hard disk drive
Unique HDD cooler brings fresh air in and around the HDD for maximum cooling to protect your valuable asset
Two layer (plastic with aluminum) structure upper and lower covers to absorb HDD and fan noise
Carbon-glass filled frame to reinforce the strength of the whole enclosure
Built-in silicone pad to absorb HDD noise
Very quiet fan operation - under 22 dBA
Noise Level: 20 dbA with the blower on inside the enclosure
Supports Windows 2000 / XP / ME / VISTA

[=98=]

Re: Need an external HD caddy

Biscuit, can you link me to the Akasa one you have. I guess I can do e-sata provided I do some wire tidying :)

[CptainCrunch]

Re: Need an external HD caddy

Though its not a UK site, I have used this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817392030

It works very well and is also USB. Perhaps if you like it, you can find it on a UK site. I dont know.

I have a Seagate drive in it running 7200 RPM and it doesnt overheat or make any weird noises. It also matches my case

Crunch

[Busby, Paul (Bicci)]

Re: Need an external HD caddy

Biscuit, can you link me to the Akasa one you have. I guess I can do e-sata provided I do some wire tidying :)

The one i got is for 2.5" hard drives but if you want the link anyway its this one.

I think this is the 3.5" version. but the silver version is pretty cool looking.

Edit - just thought i wud point out the main body is aluminium but the bits at each ends are plastic, it doesnt ruin it at all but dont expect 100% metal :)

[=98=]

Re: Need an external HD caddy

I think im'a get this: http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...NOV-ESAT35#top

Seems good :)

[megawhompertoo]

Re: Need an external HD caddy

i don't think for a second you'll be unhappy with e-sata.

sooooo many more advantages in terms of performance versus oo ess bee and apple transfer.

[AlecJ32]

Re: Need an external HD caddy

Well, e-Sata can be arranged if necessary. The reason I don't want it is that the PCI plate that I would have to use is quite messy with a lot of cables. I suppose I might be able to hide them though.

Do what you want, but quite messy? That's completely silly! You stick the expansion bracket into the bottom expansion slot and run the wire along the bottom of the case next to the motherboard, and plug it into an SATA header. Any excess cable length can be tucked behind the motherboard tray if your case has access holes, or behind the Hard Drive cages.

If the PCI Bracket they give you has a particularly stupid design, I'm sure you can find a UK PC store that has something similar to these.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=eSATA+Bracket&x=0&y=0

Seriously, 'wire-management' or 'giving up a PCI bracket' is no logical reason to use USB instead of eSATA, given how fast eSATA is. PCI Brackets offer no technical functionality, and the only physical purpose they have is to prevent stuff from ending up inside your case. An eSATA bracket would serve the same purpose.

And if adding a single wire to your PC is enough to mess up your wire-management, perhaps you're better off not having a Window on your case.

[Flt. Sgt. Powderhound]

Re: Need an external HD caddy

Surely your motherboard has onboard E-sata?

EDIT: OK, fair enough it doesn't. Should have got an Asus. :p

[=98=]

Re: Need an external HD caddy

Heh, I got this board because it has only the technology I needed (bar e-Sata).

I'm worried about wire management in terms of looks because I already have one bracket controlling my UV lights, and right above that, my Xonar D2. So, it would have to go between my sound card and graphics card.

[AlecJ32]

Re: Need an external HD caddy

Heh, I got this board because it has only the technology I needed (bar e-Sata).

I'm worried about wire management in terms of looks because I already have one bracket controlling my UV lights, and right above that, my Xonar D2. So, it would have to go between my sound card and graphics card.

To be honest, nobody is going to be looking inside your computer and nobody is going to care that there's an extra wire. Again, one little Serial Advanced Technology Attachment cable isn't going to suddenly make the inside of your computer look messy. It's not like it's one of those old SCSI or IDE ribbon cables. It's a wire the size of a Fettuccine Noodle!

If you're REALLY that obsessive over wire management, you can just use the USB feature on that enclosure, but I'm sure you're going to be extremely dissatisfied with the performance.

[=98=]

Re: Need an external HD caddy

To be honest, nobody is going to be looking inside your computer and nobody is going to care that there's an extra wire. Again, one little Serial Advanced Technology Attachment cable isn't going to suddenly make the inside of your computer look messy. It's not like it's one of those old SCSI or IDE ribbon cables. It's a wire the size of a Fettuccine Noodle!

If you're REALLY that obsessive over wire management, you can just use the USB feature on that enclosure, but I'm sure you're going to be extremely dissatisfied with the performance.

Just because you don't care doesn't mean I can't

I think e-sata should be okay provided I swap some stuff around. I'm still going with that Novatech enclosure.