External Dock

[HammerHead]

Any body have suggestions on an external dock. Self powered with a sata connection. The ones I have been buying are lasting less than a year. If you box it up and ship it back, you have almost the price of a new one. I want one that the disk is easily unplugged and a different disk can be inserted.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I am using a Rosewill RX-DUS100 I got from New Egg. It's working OK so far, but I only use it every couple of months, so I can't speak to it's longevity.

It does have eSATA and USB 2.0.

Not sure what you mean by self powered.

Another alternative is a bare cable--no dock. I've seen the cables for $10 and it might be more durable. You just lay the hard drive on a table top and connect the cable to it.

 

[pparks1]

I have a couple of Thermaltake BlacX enclosures. USB 2.0 and eSATA. Haven't yet had them a year, but they work good for me. With a rebate, it's $22 from NewEgg at present.

Newegg.com - Thermaltake BlacX ST0005U External Hard Drive SATA Enclosure Docking Station 2.5” & 3.5” USB 2.0 & eSATA

 

[HammerHead]

Thermal Take

I ordered from NewEgg but this time I paid an extra $12.00 for two years warranty which is after Mfg warranty. They pay the return freight if a return is required. Considering I have never owned one that lasted more than nine months I should get about three.

The cable mentioned above sounds interesting. Could you post a link to it?

Oh, by self powered I mean it comes with a cube power supply that plugs in to a receptacle. Derives it power on its own not the computer.

 

[pparks1]

Something like this;
Newegg.com - CABLES UNLIMITED USB-2110 USB 2.0 to IDE/SATA Adapter Cable w/ Power

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I would have bought one if I had known about them, but I got a dock. This would have saved me $20.

IDE/SATA to USB 2.0 Cable Adapter w/One Touch Backup - Turn Your 2.5", 3.5" or 5.25" IDE or SATA Drive Into A USB Drive! 2020-OTB

Here is another:

http://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-USB-D...Adapter/dp/tech-data/B000HJ99DI/ref=de_a_smtd

 

[pparks1]

I own both and I prefer the dock to the cable. But both can get the job done.

 

[HammerHead]

Yeah

I like the USB cable types. I don't know what I was thinking, if they are usb they are getting their power from the comp bus. I already have the dock ordered but the next purchase will be one of the usb cable types. Especially when they go to 3.0.

Thanks guys.

 

[pparks1]

No, they usually have a walwart power plug that plugs into the wall and into the drive to power it up.