Recommended external HDD caddy?

Ol!ver · 7 Jan 2009 at 11:53

I'm looking for an external caddy for connecting a HDD to my MacBook. Is there a recommended caddy out there? Looking for as quiet as possible, USB 2 and one that takes 3.5in drives.

Also, is there one that I can leave turned on all the time and puts itself into some kind of power saving mode ?

Cheers

Ol!ver · 7 Jan 2009 at 12:02

bledd. said:
icybox 390

dunno about power saving, i just turn mine off when not in use (95% of the time)

That's the one I've got my eye on. Already got a drive with all my rubbish on, so think just sticking that in this (moving from desktop solution to portable) is better than buying a whole external drive.

Ol!ver · 7 Jan 2009 at 12:36

bledd. said:
does your mac have esata? that'll give you full drive speed

usb2 is limited to ~35mb/s (still quick, but esata is noticeably faster)

No it's USB only. I'm still contemplating some sort of NAS solution, as I'd like the files instantly accessible, even if the MacBook isn't sat next to the drive.

Ol!ver · 7 Jan 2009 at 14:41

bledd. said:
icybox 390

dunno about power saving, i just turn mine off when not in use (95% of the time)

Right, all ordered. Just realised I've another question though: Does this have its won power supply or does it pull it through the USB cable ?

Ol!ver · 8 Jan 2009 at 11:10

So the Icy Box turned up this morning, but it won't turn on. Had it work once then it turned itself off. There's no power getting through to it 'cos the little light's not coming on. :mad:

Ol!ver · 8 Jan 2009 at 11:41

bledd. said:
does the brick have power going to it?

i've set up over 10 of them, all flawless

might need to send it back

Well, I moved it while it was turned on and it sprang to life, so it looks like a connection somewhere. Been working since so I'll see how I go.

Ol!ver · 8 Jan 2009 at 21:57

SimonC said:
Would someone mind emailing me (in trust) a link of where your getting an icy box 390. I must be going blind

And would it work okay with this hdd Western Digital WD5000AAKS 500GB?

Here you go matey: http://www.overclockers.co.uk/search_results.php?sortby=&groupid=&search=icy+box+390

Mine's fine now. Put the HDD that's going into it permanently in and it's powering up fine even after swinging the thing around while moving cables. The drive that's gone in is the same as yours Simon, the AAKS. Works fine. Very quiet when idle, though the thing makes a hell of a racket when reading. That might be down to me not having it sat flat on its feet though - it's stood on its side.

Ol!ver · 10 Jan 2009 at 20:26

I've got another problem with the enclosure (it's going back Monday, but I've got another on its way so I'm a bit worried).

When the thing does actually power up, it works fine for a few minutes then the disc starts clicking, the red light starts flashing and the disc is no longer mounted. The drive's fine, so I'm stumped.

Any ideas?