USB Hard Drive – Which External Enclosure to Buy?
Since I’m always harping about Acronis True Image and External USB Hard Drives, I thought it only fair to tell you which enclosure I like.
VANTEC NST-360SU-BK External Enclosure
This unit from Vantec I have used extensively. It is a full size (for 3.5 inch hard drives) and does require a power cord with inline transformer. You supply the SATA drive of your choice.
Here’s why I like it:
- Any standard SATA hard drive can be used (supports 1.5 and 3.0Gbps). If you outgrow it, just clone (if necessary) and swap out the drive. I have posted a video of how to do this.
- USB 2.0 interface or eSATA (external SATA).
- eSATA adapter included in the kit. This is a cable that attaches to the motherboard with a backplane converter brackt that installs where any expansion card would fit in the case.
- Easy to assemble
If this unit is to be transported much, I recommend a more resilient drive like the Seagate Barracuda ES models. They are designed for servers, with longer life expectancy and lower failure rates.
Here’s the 500GB model
Seagate Barracuda ES 500GB 3.5″ SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive
They also have 250 & 750GB sizes.
