Need recommendations on external cases

[ufcrusher]

I need to remove a couple of hard drives and other internal devices (Dvd burners, etc.) from my one system that died. Does anyone know which external cases are the best? I have an ADS case containing another DVD burner that was given to me with this current system. It seems to work well but I know nothing about them.

I will probably end up picking up 2 or more of these cases and want them to be good quality and somewhat stylish.

Thanks.

[Bires]

I go cheap, because I figure the insides are most likely all the same. :shrug: I've had no problems with my $14 plastic case.

[DarkFury]

Well honestly, it depends on what you are looking for in a case...

Personally, if you have a bunch of "spare" hard drives laying around... I'd recommend buying a "server case" so you can ultimately build a "file server" for your network.

By "server case"... I'm speaking of one that has a good number of mountable drive bays. Several companies make them, so pretty much you have to pick one that looks good to ya. Personally I like the ones made by Chieftec...

http://www.chieftec.com/products/products.htm

[ArkiStan]

When I got mine, I figured, If it's gonna be sitting on my desk all the time, I might as well get one that looks great(typical symptom of a designer). If aesthetics is of any consideration to you:
http://www.rosewill.com/product/product.aspx?productId=247
It's IDE only, though.

Get it at Newegg for $39.99 (hmm, it was cheaper when I got it. oh well...)
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Submit=ENE&N=50002177+2000090092&Subcategory=92&Manufactory=2177

[Devhux]

I've got a Vantec Nexstar 3 enclosure that works very well -- it's aluminum, and available in several colors (I have the red one which looks great).

Runs cool too.

[irwin]

I've got a Vantec Nexstar 3 enclosure that works very well -- it's aluminum, and available in several colors (I have the red one which looks great).

Runs cool too.

I have one in black and was very disappointed when I took it out of its box. It says all aluminum construction (and it may very well be), but it feels VERY plasticy.

[Devhux]

I've had the plastic version of this enclosure -- and trust me, this is a much better construction than that one was.

(My drive literally would overheat and shut down in the other enclosure).

[zero2dash]

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=A-USBIDE-35-P1&cat=CAS
$14.99
USB 2.0

Works with both PC + Mac (just an FYI, if that's a requirement)

Bought one for work...and it works great. No heat problems here.
(It's a 3.5 one though..just for HD)

[DaFunkyUnit]

let me know when you find a reasonably-priced enclosure that supports both FireWire and USB.

[Bires]

http://www.geeks.com/details.asp?invtid=A-USBIDE-35-P1&cat=CAS
$14.99 ...

That's the one I have. Seems to ventilate fine. I have a 160GB Seagate inside.

[johnnymk]

let me know when you find a reasonably-priced enclosure that supports both FireWire and USB.


I have one of these. It's not too bad and sometimes it goes on sale.

http://www.meritline.com/tdk-5-25-usb2-0-firewire-combo-enclosure1.html