Find out the type of hard drive
Before purchasing a hard drive enclosure (also known as HDD), you must first check the hard drive type. Is it a 3.5-inch or 2.5-inch disk, does it have an IDE or SATA connector? 3.5-inch hard drives have long been the standard configuration for desktop computers, so they are still very popular. Even today, most mass storage devices with a storage capacity of 2 TB or more have a 3.5-inch format. On the other hand, 2.5-inch HDDs mainly appear in notebook computers, and are still often used in entry-level notebook computers. Smaller formats can also enter desktops through fast SSD storage, but are increasingly being replaced by modern M.2 SSDs.
Because 2.5-inch drives consume less power, they do not require additional power when used in external cabinets. Compared to a 3.5-inch HDD that requires its own power supply, a USB cable is usually sufficient.
Since 2003, Serial ATA connectors (SATA for short) have been used in all types of drives, including hard drives, DVD and BluRay drives. The two L-shaped connections form an interface between data and power, so that the power connection is longer. The IDE interface can only be found on very old hard drives before 2005. It consists of a long connection and pins arranged in parallel, with a gap in the next row, so the connection cable will not be inserted in the wrong way. The IDE hard drive is powered by a 4-pin Molex connector.
Depending on whether your hard drive is 2.5 inches or 3.5 inches, and whether you have a SATA or IDE connection, you need a suitable enclosure. Although a 2.5-inch SATA hard disk drive is theoretically installed in the housing of a 3.5-inch hard disk drive, it cannot be fixed due to the lack of a small-sized holder. Therefore, it is best to use the correct enclosure only for the type of hard disk used. It should also be noted that 2.5-inch hard drives can have different heights. Many older 2.5-inch drives are 9.5 mm in height, while newer drives are usually only 7 mm in height.
Choose the best connection
Now that you have found the connection that the hard disk box must have, the problem now is that the hard disk box itself should be used to connect to the PC. The most common is the USB connection, but there are other alternative products, such as FireWire, Thunderbolt and eSATA. In most cases, USB is the best solution because it is good value for money. However, there are also significant differences in the performance of USB, which should be taken into consideration when purchasing an external case. Must distinguish between USB 2.0, USB 3.0 and the latest USB 3.1. The transfer speed difference between USB generations is sometimes very large.
USB 2.0 can transfer data at a maximum speed of 480 megabits per second (Mbit / s), while USB 3.0 can transfer at a speed of no less than ten times the maximum speed of 4.8 Gigabit (Gbit / s) per second. In addition, USB 2.0 only supports hard drives up to 2 TB. However, when using USB 3.0, a larger capacity can be used.
USB 3.1 is again more than twice as fast, and can reach data transfer rates of up to 10 Gbit / s. Especially if you want to install a fast SSD in the case, it is recommended to use at least USB 3.0 or even USB 3.1. It is not recommended to use a USB 2.0-connected enclosure because it is slower and is at most an option for older hard drives with low capacity. USB 3.0 cases are usually only a few euros more expensive.
The choice of connector type connector
shape is more of a priority issue. Those who choose USB 2.0 can choose between type B and mini-B connectors, of which type B is more likely to appear in a 3.5-inch housing, while mini-B type is particularly large due to its large size. In a small shell.
When using USB 3.0 connection, it is necessary to distinguish between B-type connectors and microB-type connectors. Type B connectors look similar to USB 2.0 connectors, but have five additional contacts to achieve higher transfer rates. The USB 3.0 Type B port is backward compatible with USB 2.0 Type B cables.
Recently, there are also hard disk drive boxes with USB Type-C connections. The elegant Type-C connector has very small advantages, but the transfer rate is higher and the current transmitted by the older USB type is larger. The plug is also reversible, which means there is no top or bottom, so it is always used for the first time.
Select housing material The
external hard drive housing is made of plastic or metal. Cheap plastic shells are lighter and therefore more suitable for take-out, but do not radiate heat like metal shells. Therefore, they are more suitable for short-time access, such as backing up and moving files. On the other hand, the metal casing is suitable for continuous operation, and sometimes even equipped with a small 3.5-inch fan, which can keep the temperature inside the hard drive low, thereby extending its service life.
When buying a chassis, you should also pay attention to how the hard drive is installed. In some cases, the hard drive can be inserted without tools. Especially in the metal case, the driver must be fixed with screws. Usually, a Phillips screwdriver is sufficient.
Installation
Even before purchasing a hard drive enclosure, you should first test whether it is still working. For this, the hard disk status must be checked by the computer, so it may be necessary to temporarily install the hard disk in the PC. If the hard drive is in a PC, you can use multiple methods to test the integrity.
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