D4\/!d Posted July 30, 2007 Report Share Posted July 30, 2007 Hello folks, I am looking for a caddie/enclosure to house a 3.5 IDE 500GB hard disc :)There are so many to choose from. And they can cost in the range of about £10--£50..!! So I am confused.I shall use a USB cable to connect to my xp pro pc. The ext hard drive will store mainly music files - I don't want to play from a media type enclosure.I've looked on Amazon, eBuyer, and Dabs, but they all have reviews that are not encouraging me to buy the products I've found.Please suggest one to go for... Thanks, Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted July 30, 2007 Report Share Posted July 30, 2007 I have several of the Belkin caddies. They include an integral PSU (which the cheaper ones often don't) and plug straight into the mains.They are of good quality build and, although not cheap, I think they are worth it.Not bought any for a while but I've noticed big variations in price from different suppliers so shop around.If you're in the market for a drive as well, why not get a WD "My Book" type of drive which connects via USB. I have two of these which I use for video storage. A My Book would be most likely cheaper than drive + enclosure if you choose the right supplier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan2273 Posted July 30, 2007 Report Share Posted July 30, 2007 I use a Belkin as well, it has the advantage of its own integrated power supply and it will also hold a hard drive or an optical drive.Mine is about two years old and still running perfectly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted July 30, 2007 Report Share Posted July 30, 2007 I have bought a couple from HereI chose the models with integral cooling fans having lost two disc drives when using cheaper enclosures with no cooling. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D4\/!d Posted July 31, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 Thanks AlanHo, I just ordered this:One Touch Back-up and FAN-pops-, I agree with your suggestion about MyBook ext discs. I have two already. They are very good :)However, I was surprised to hear you recommend Belkin products. I haven't heard a good word said about them. But then it seems your stuff is before the faulty goods they make now ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 Had loads of problems with other Belkin products and would think twice or three times before buying any. However, I first bought the caddies before, as you suggest, Belkin became unreliable. I obtained a Belkin caddy recently for a friend and they do seem as good as they used to be.BTW, I use USB Store (as Alan's recommendation) a lot and find them an excellent company. I've bought several of these click here for ad hoc use when repairing/messing about. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
djohn Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 I have 2 'Icybox' caddies that I bought for my 2 x 100 Gb spare drives, easy to fit round the drive, own PSU and USB connection to PC. Nice mesh finish round the sides with a cool blue neon light all the way round when turned on. £19.99 each last Aug. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
D4\/!d Posted July 31, 2007 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 Thanks djohn, I am not certain that they take a 500GB disc. I've already ordered now, thanks anyway :)-pops-, yeah the USB Store seem rather good. I emailed them for a suggested caddie last night and got a reply from Phil 8.00am this morning, ordered my caddie before 9.00.The USB 2.0 to IDE Drive AdapterI guess this is for, as you say, just messing about, when you are using a raw (un-caddied) drive How do I stand with a pc that has SATA HDD's. I suppose I can use these adapters with my existing IDE drives..?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-pops- Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 The adapter is, as you say, for "nude" drives and it works with any IDE connected item (CD/DVD drives, hard drives etc.) There are also SATA versions and loads of other things at USB store.A good thing is that they sell with or without power supplies so, after buying my first complete unit, I now just buy the adapters.One thing you MUST watch with the adapters is that they are very sensitive to being disconnected in the correct way. I managed to wreck my first one by pulling the plug rather than use the "safely remove hardware" function. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AlanHo Posted July 31, 2007 Report Share Posted July 31, 2007 Thanks AlanHo, I just ordered this:One Touch Back-up and FANGlad to see you got fixed up.I have two drives the same as you have ordered - one is IDE and the other SATA.I must be jinxed because after posting my recommendation to you - the SATA drive stopped working whilst I was taking a back-up and is emitting clicking noises. I switched it off and back on again and Explorer can access it - but after a few minutes it is clicking again.I had my computer upgraded recently and fitted bigger internal drives. I fitted the old 125 GB drive into the enclosure for storing Acronis backups which I keep in a store at the end of the garden away from the house as an extra belt and braces precaution. I guess that when I dropped the drive on the lawn last week when collecting it for my weekly backup session (it is kept in a plastic case) it did some damage - so I now need to buy a new SATA drive to replace it. Anyone have any recommendations for 250 to 320 GB SATA drives...? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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