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External 5.25" FW/USB2.0 enclosures for IDE devices......

C

computer

Platinum Member
I guess this is the correct forum area. 😉

I just realized something about these FireWire and USB 2.0 external enclosures. I don't know why I never noticed before. Some are listed at sites that sell them as something like "5.25" external USB 2.0/FireWire enclosure--for CDROM, CDRW, DVD drives". Others state the same thing, but in addition to that, they have added on ".....for CDROM, CDRW, DVD, and 3.5" HDD[/b]". I had one of the typical ME-320 clones with the Prolific chipset (this one made by PPA with the light bar), and it stopped working. NewEgg was good enough to replace it, but has no more and is offering me some others. One of their suggestions was http://www.newegg.com/app/view...=17-155-217&depa=0 and note it does not mention a thing about HD's. This is I think identical to the one I had that went bad, just a different top (and I was using a HD in it). Since the images show the FW ports blocked out, even though the text says it's FW 1394, as we know we can't always rely on NewEgg's text or images, so I mentioned this and he then suggested this one: http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=17-145-360&depa=0 . Note that one also does not mention anything about HD's. When I was looking for possible other alternatives from them (still not realizing some not mentioning HD's), I came across this one: http://www.newegg.com/app/View...=17-146-199&depa=0 since it had better cooling, and note it DOES mention "3.5 IDE drives" (which I take to mean HD's). I just noticed that it mentioned 3.5" IDE drives moments ago when I checked the link again after I read the email reply from Bytecc.....

Since these don't mention chipset, my email to Bytecc was asking about the chipset of the one at that link and also asked about HD size limits. The guy told me that ME-340 from Bytecc uses Ali, but also said it's not for HD's! I then checked out their products page at their site again, better this time, and I see their ME-340 line is listed for only 5.25" ODD (Optical drives)! It's their ME-320's that are ALSO for HD's! My question now (of which I just asked him), is why? I thought all of these external USB2.0/FW external enclosures for IDE devices would work with both ODD's and HDD's, don't they? If not, then why, what is the determining factor? If it's chipset, then that's bad since the chipset is rarely ever mentioned.

(A few weeks back I picked up one of these from Compgeeks sine it was so cheap (reg. $40 and got it for $19) http://www.compgeeks.com/detai...sp?invtid=CDFWCASE-BLK and notice this one even seems to sound like it's only for optical drives, yet I use an IDE HD in it now just fine)!

No telling when Bytecc will reply back, and NewEgg is waiting on a decision by me, so I thought I ask about this here. Any input/info appreciated.

Thanks guys.
 
I have to ask why you'd want to use the 5.25" drive enclosures for a 3.5" hard drive? Personally, I put hard drives into 3.5" enclosures if they are 3.5" drives... Just like laptop size drives (2.5") go into enclosures made for them... Just another example of the right tool for the job.
 
Originally posted by: akira34
I have to ask why you'd want to use the 5.25" drive enclosures for a 3.5" hard drive? Personally, I put hard drives into 3.5" enclosures if they are 3.5" drives... Just like laptop size drives (2.5") go into enclosures made for them... Just another example of the right tool for the job.
Click to expand...
In one simple word, cooling. 😉 Plus you have the option to use an optical drive in it if the need ever arises.

 
Originally posted by: computer
Originally posted by: akira34
I have to ask why you'd want to use the 5.25" drive enclosures for a 3.5" hard drive? Personally, I put hard drives into 3.5" enclosures if they are 3.5" drives... Just like laptop size drives (2.5") go into enclosures made for them... Just another example of the right tool for the job.
Click to expand...
In one simple word, cooling. 😉 Plus you have the option to use an optical drive in it if the need ever arises.
Click to expand...

Oooooookay... For cooling, I've not had ANY problems there with the 3.5" enclosure I'm using for a Seagate PATA drive. With the power supply outside the case, it has a LOT less heat to deal with. I've had the thing run over 24 hours before, and it was slightly warm to the touch. Well within operating temps for the drive.

I've yet to have the need to put an optical drive into an enclosure and make it external. Maybe because I've always just purchased my external burners already done... With burners being so cheap (cost wise) when made by companies (that do it right) it doesn't make sense for me to build my own. What you might save in parts, gets eaten up in shipping.

Also, it's easier to find homes for the 3.5" enclosures than the 5.25" ones... At least where I am it is. Then there's the taking the drive on a service call (one of the reasons I picked up the laptop enclosures)...

Get a quality drive enclosure (correct for the drive size) and you have very little, if anything, to worry about... I've had my current drives anywhere from 3 years to 6 months (I keep getting more laptop drives and enclosures, to increase to my portable storage base)... Not a single one has given me a single issue...
 
Yeah, I'm a cooling freak. :roll: I go overboard with cooling. You should see my main PC. When I first checked out external enclosures, there weren't any I could find that were 3.5" that had any fans at all. Rarely, they may have that useless 40mm fan for the internal PS (which is useless since there is no intake for them!). Last night I did see a 3.5" enclosure that had dual front fans that were slanted. Odd design, since the fans sort of blow down instead of over the drive, but I guess due to a "tunnel" effect in the enclosure the air flow makes it over the HD.

However, another reason I wanted a 5.25" was so I had the room where I could add an internal DC power source, like an AC adapter, 12V 1A or so, so I could run DC fans and they wouldn't tax the internal (or external) PS. I didn't want an external PS because you can't move the enclosure around as easily. Instead of just unplugging the power cord at the rear of the unit like on one with the external PS, and moving it to another PC elsewhere and plugging it back to another typical "PC" AC power cord; you have to have either several of the external PS's, one in each room to where you'd want to move it, or reach down or wherever you have it plugged in and remove the entire PS from the wall or where ever it's plugged in and take it with you.

On another job, I added an AC fan. Just hooked it up to the switched poles on the internal PS's AC input connector. I cut a hole in the top of the enclosure and mounted an 80mm AC fan there blowing UP, and underneath the enclosure I cut another hole and put an intake filter.

I have a PC hardware business, and I also do repairs. So, it's easy to check out optical drives on any PC if I can make them temporarily external in a 5.25" external enclosure. With a 5.25" enclosure, that's all you need for all drives. If you only have a 3.5" or only a 2.5" enclosure, you also need one of them PLUS the 5.25" enclosure for ODD's.

So...what about my main question in my first post? 😉
 
Any of them should work with HDDs. Not working with optical drives is because they often don't do ATAPI right. Also, the ALI chipsets are know for data corruption if they get hot, and I experienced this with a Bytecc ME320 awhile back.
 
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