Good and cheap way to access bare HDDs?

[dfk]

Hi, whats the best solution for accessing 3.5" and 2.5" disks that are bare, USB 2/3 is fine as not using them often. Currently attaching them internally and it's quite a hassle to remove both panels to connect a disk each time.

• USB 3.0 to SATA + IDE (2.5 / 3.5 / 5.25") with Power adapter (there are some with molex connector..)
  http://i.imgur.com/BMpjZbK.jpg
  
  HDD Dock
  http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=0VN-0003-000H5
  
  5.25" Hot Swap bays? Cant find any that support 2.5", slightly costlier, requires compatible chassis.
  
  Separate enclosure + cable (higher cost for many cases).

 

[giantbucket]

i bought a Kingwin on Amazon that takes 3.5" and 2.5" easily since it uses a door/flap that is cut to let the smaller one slide right through. it's cheap ($) and cheap (china)

http://kingwin.com/kf-255-bk-2/

 

[USAFRet]

I have one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Vantec-CB-ISATAU2-Supports-2-5-Inch-5-25-Inch/dp/B000J01I1G

$19
Works quite well for temp connection of random drives.
Laptop 2.5, IDE, SATA....

 

[boosted1g]

I also use the hotswap bays like giant bucket is referring to.
http://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-5-25in-Trayless-Mobile-3-5in/dp/B000KS8S9W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1445027923&sr=8-1&keywords=3.5+hot+swap

For the 2.5" drives you also need an adapter:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100006519%2050008336%2040000043&IsNodeId=1&SubCategory=43&Manufactory=8336&SpeTabStoreType=1


Another option if you have ESATA is to get a separate desk dock.
http://www.amazon.com/Anker%C2%AE-External-Docking-Station-Support/dp/B005UA3I72/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1445028221&sr=8-1&keywords=esata+hard+drive+dock

 

[dfk]

I have one of these:
http://www.amazon.com/Vantec-CB-ISATAU2-Supports-2-5-Inch-5-25-Inch/dp/B000J01I1G

$19
Works quite well for temp connection of random drives.
Laptop 2.5, IDE, SATA....

Are the cables/power adapter safe to use?

 

[USAFRet]

Are the cables/power adapter safe to use?

Safe? Yes.
Mine has neither blown up the house, popped a circuit breaker, killed the PC, nor killed any of the dozens of drives I have plugged into it.

 

[giantbucket]

i use one of those USB-to-SATA based ones as well, but it's on the older USB2 port and it's obviously not a native SATA connection, so i prefer to rely on something else.