HDD Dock

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Benjour

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#232103 29-Mar-2018 19:42

First off, sorry if this is in the wrong place, if it is, please let me know.

I was looking for a cheap HDD dock so I can take my hard drive out and about, and came across this and this. I was wondering which on to get. The latter appears to be newer and the MSRP is $10 more (but at the time of writing they are equal) whereas the former appears to be tool-less. Is there any reason to go for the former (if I don't need tool-less installation)?

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#1985642 29-Mar-2018 20:10

I have to confess to being an Orico fan-boy - I have 5 different USB3 Orico docking stations - including both of the ones that you have listed - and they are all excellent.

I would suggest looking at a third Orico option - my personal favorite: Orico SuperSpeed USB 3.0 SATA Hard Drive & SSD Docking Station for 2.5" & 3.5" SATA HDD SSD (6518US3) Black

This differs from the other two in that it leaves your HDD exposed (easier to connect, better cooling). It is not intended for "permanent" USB connections - but for testing and fixing HDDs.

You can't go wrong with any one of these three.

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PANiCnz

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#1986121 30-Mar-2018 17:43

Can't go wrong with Orico, they seem to make good quality products for the price.

blackjack17

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#1986159 30-Mar-2018 18:34

I have one of these https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/ENCWEL0603/Welland-Turbo-Leopard-ME-603S-25--35-SATA-to-USB30

Really good for cloning drives.

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shrub

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#1986165 30-Mar-2018 19:02

https://www.pbtech.co.nz/product/ENCORC2000/Orico-SuperSpeed-USB-30-SATA-Hard-Drive--SSD-Docki

Its way easier if you swap drives around. takes 3.5" and 2.5"

timmmay

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#1986181 30-Mar-2018 20:15

I've found no matter what brand of enclosure you use, they fail in 1-3 years regardless of use. I used to have 3-4 of them, and replaced occasionally I now use something similar to what @shrub posted for backup disks, along with some Orico padded plastic HDD boxes. If it fails I only have one to replace, so it's cheaper.

richms

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#1986187 30-Mar-2018 20:44

Just make sure whatever you get supports UASP protocols, there are still some being peddled without it. Also avoid ones with inbuilt card readers as they are usually pretty trash ones, and waste valuable USB resources and drive letters.

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Tinkerisk

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#1986210 30-Mar-2018 22:53

Benjour:

I was looking for a cheap HDD dock so I can take my hard drive out and about

Maybe worth to take into consideration something like *THIS* "SATA-toaster". Why?

1) you have quick, tool-less access

2) you have a cloning function very valuable for pulling a backup (without computer involvement).

Steps:

- Let the main disk (hot back-up disk) run in sync mode for the system to be backed-up,

- A) when it's time for a backup, separate docking station by unplugging USB3.0 from live system,

- B) put in a second HDD (offline back-up disk) into docking station, (should be same capacity or more than main HDD)

- C) clone HDD (hot back-up disk) in stand-alone mode,

- D) remove 2nd HDD (offline back-up) and store it safely away,

- E) re-connect USB3.0 to live system and

- let the main HDD (hot back-up) re-sync with live system until next back-up session.

It has a little bit of manual interaction but this is the minimum needed to get a true OFFLINE back-up without 3rd party involvement (having your data out of control) and permanent electrical connection (imagine destruction by overvoltage at same place/time) at the end.

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