2.5" HDD enclosures:

SooTyLaD · 6 Aug 2006 at 10:16

how do

has anyone got either of these enclosures from OcUK?

• Icy Box External Enclosure IB-281U 2.5" USB - Black/LED (HD-012-BT)

• Enermax Vanguard 2.5" External Enclosure - USB2.0 (HD-004-EN)

these are my two faves by the look of it but would like some input from anyone who has one (or at least seen them)... or if they are not much cop care to recommend one? i want as small and aesthetically pleasing as poss

Sandmaster500 · 6 Aug 2006 at 12:56

Haven't had experiance with either but my personal choice would be the icybox, i've got one of the 3.5" versions and it's perfect, easy to get setup and a good way to backup/trasfer data. And the aluminium looks very good (matches my case).

Other thing that would sway me is that i believe the Enermax is not USB powered where as the Icybox is which for me would be a big thing, having to crawl under a desk to plug a plug in can be a pain.

Hope that helps a bit

Yewen · 6 Aug 2006 at 13:28

I have a 2.5 Akasa enclosure, very good for the money.

After having bad experiences with 10, (yup, 10) enermax enclosures I would not touch them with a long pole with something on the end.

Icy Box are just about the best I have used, at the time the Akasa was much cheaper thats why I went for it, but I trust the brand name a lot, as it usually is very good gear.

noxidjkram@hotm · 6 Aug 2006 at 20:35

Vantec Nexstar 3 in black.... grrrr....

M

Journey · 6 Aug 2006 at 20:37

I have that exact Icybox with a 120GB WD Scorpio drive in it, I am not sure if it would take a 160GB so I played it safe

It's been great, still running like the day I bought it had it 16 months now, not to heavy or large, and well protected.

I can't remeber how much I paid for it, think it was about £13.

EDIT: Yep was £13 and I hve had it since Jan '05, so it's doing well considering the beatings it gets and it age.

SooTyLaD · 6 Aug 2006 at 21:26

Journey said:
I have that exact Icybox with a 120GB WD Scorpio drive in it, I am not sure if it would take a 160GB so I played it safe

It's been great, still running like the day I bought it had it 16 months now, not to heavy or large, and well protected.

I can't remeber how much I paid for it, think it was about £13.

EDIT: Yep was £13 and I hve had it since Jan '05, so it's doing well considering the beatings it gets and it age.

you paid £13 that long ago??? you sure its the same one cuz its £23 here :confused:

Maximum Pc · 6 Aug 2006 at 22:25

I agree with yewen that the akasa is a great enclosure and that icy box are also a good make but IMO the build quality on the 3.5" designs isnt great but ok

Journey · 7 Aug 2006 at 00:34

QuiKsiLVeR said:
you paid £13 that long ago??? you sure its the same one cuz its £23 here

Yes, and yes. OCUK are good but they are not always the cheapest, employ your searching techniques and you may be finacially better off, not to mention you'll save on delivery too.

blueCAT · 15 Sep 2006 at 00:24

Can you buy 2.5" SATA enclosures?

They don't seem to specify... anywhere! ...and surely it matters?

blueCAT · 15 Sep 2006 at 00:39

I guess my real question - just a sanity check - if anyone would care to just give me a yes/no... is... will buying this:

'Icy Box External Enclosure IB-281U 2.5" USB - Black/LED (HD-012-BT)' @ 18.95 UKP

...from OCUK, work with the HDD I'm taking out of my new macbook:

'2.5" 60GB 5400-rpm Serial ATA hard disk drive'

Mujja · 22 Sep 2006 at 09:30

No, that case only supports PATA disks, not SATA.

I have 3 of those ICYBOX cases and they are worth the money at £13. That's what I paid for them, bought 2 last week.