I need recommendations for an external hard drive case

[nombrecinq]

Please recommend some good options because I need to back everything up pronto before my computer decides to be stupid again.

 

[undeclared]

check http://www.newegg.com for single HD external cases..

However if you want for 4-8 drives (or more) for some reason it gets ridiculous pricy and not worth it (e.g. cheaper to buy a 2nd ATX case, an old p2, and a 10/100/1000 ethernet card to boot in freebsd and just use it over the lan)..

 

[INM8]

The Vantec Nexstar 3 is very nice, and well priced. I'v got one and i think its great... Just dont get it if you want any kind of "shock" protection, because this one doesnt have any. From what iv seem, most of the aftermarket ones dont. Its Aluminum, and doesnt have a cooling fan. The case acts as a good heatsink for the hard drvie.

 

[Zap]

Originally posted by: xtwells
However if you want for 4-8 drives (or more) for some reason it gets ridiculous pricy and not worth it (e.g. cheaper to buy a 2nd ATX case, an old p2, and a 10/100/1000 ethernet card to boot in freebsd and just use it over the lan)..

I actually came up with a solution for this, and a friend of mine has a separate, similar solution. My friend uses a pull-out tray with a USB to IDE connector - one of those cables without an actual box. He has the tray mounted inside one of his 5¼" drive bays and the USB connector is plugged into the motherboard using a header adaptor.

My solution is kinda similar. I bought a 5¼" dual drive firewire box, and have two HDD trays mounted in it. I bought a bunch of extra trays and have all my drives mounted in the extra trays. Need to use different drives? Tell Windows you are removing, and turn off external box, swap drives, turn box back on.