Question How cheap can we convert an Internal HDD to an External HDD Now-a-Days?

[PrabhakaranKaruppaih]

Hi All,
I am Prabhakaran from India. I need to convert an Internal HDD to an External One. How cheap can we do it now?
Please reply. Thank You.
Regards,
Prabhakaran

1 TB SATA Western Digital (WD)

 

[kanewolf]

Hi All,
I am Prabhakaran from India. I need to convert an Internal HDD to an External One. How cheap can we do it now?
Please reply. Thank You.
Regards,
Prabhakaran

1 TB SATA Western Digital (WD)

How permanent does this external HD need to be? An adapter with no case that can be used to copy data off a drive is different than a drive that needs to be protected because it is connected/used by a router 24/7.

 

[PrabhakaranKaruppaih]

How permanent does this external HD need to be? An adapter with no case that can be used to copy data off a drive is different than a drive that needs to be protected because it is connected/used by a router 24/7.

Right now copying Data has the highest priority...Thanks for the reply.

 

[USAFRet]

Hi All,
I am Prabhakaran from India. I need to convert an Internal HDD to an External One. How cheap can we do it now?
Please reply. Thank You.
Regards,
Prabhakaran

1 TB SATA Western Digital (WD)

AmazonUS, $20-$25 for an external enclosure or toaster style dock.

 

[kanewolf]

Right now copying Data has the highest priority...Thanks for the reply.

About $10 -- https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-SATA-USB-Cable-USB3S2SAT3CB/dp/B00HJZJI84?th=1
Probably cheaper if you will accept Chinese direct purchase ...

 

[punkncat]

You can get various adapters or enclosures for a HDD which will connect via USB to the host PC. The cheapest route is probably going to be a "drive caddy" where there is a slot that you simply slide the drive down into. Moving up from that would be enclosed.
If the drive is going to be utilized a lot in this position, I suggest looking for a type with a fan, which is even a bit more expensive.

I am not familiar with your market, but cheap ones typically start around $10-15 and go well up from there.
The biggest issue I have had out of these type of devices is whether they actually stay connected and work as they are supposed to.

I was recommended this one by a member here and it has stood up well:
Amazon.com: Cable Matters USB 3.0 Hard Drive Docking Station (USB to SATA Docking Station) with 10TB+ Drive Support for 2.5 Inch & 3.5 Inch HDD SSD - USB-C Cable Included for Thunderbolt 3 & USB-C Computer : Electronics

 

[USAFRet]

About $10 -- https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-SATA-USB-Cable-USB3S2SAT3CB/dp/B00HJZJI84?th=1
Probably cheaper if you will accept Chinese direct purchase ...

That won't work for a 3.5" drive.

 

[kanewolf]

That won't work for a 3.5" drive.

Good point.

 

[Cj-tech]

Hi All,
I am Prabhakaran from India. I need to convert an Internal HDD to an External One. How cheap can we do it now?
Please reply. Thank You.
Regards,
Prabhakaran

1 TB SATA Western Digital (WD)

As @kanewolf mentioned, you can get them for less than $10 that aren’t branded. I’ve purchased this item from the seller twice on eBay. The second time, it didn’t work but they replaced it for free. This will only work for a 2.5 inch drive though.

 

[CountMike]

3.5" HDDs need a separate 12v power supply and USB alone provides only 5VDC.
This https://www.aquivaelnombre.com/xaid...apter-bjeovynkk-cables-and-interconnects.html is a minimum to be fully portable.

 

[Deleted member 14196]

Yeah I wouldn’t buy that I would buy this. I’ve got a fast hard drive in one of these things. The performance is amazing in one of these

StarTech.com USB 3.1 Gen 2 External Hard Drive Enclosure for 3.5” SATA Drives - Fan-less UASP Enhanced Single Drive Enclosure (S351BU313) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XLAZEFC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_FPJ95JWTPBH0KPMNZ9ZX?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

 

[CountMike]

Yeah I wouldn’t buy that I would buy this. I’ve got a fast hard drive in one of these things. The performance is amazing in one of these

StarTech.com USB 3.1 Gen 2 External Hard Drive Enclosure for 3.5” SATA Drives - Fan-less UASP Enhanced Single Drive Enclosure (S351BU313) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00XLAZEFC/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_FPJ95JWTPBH0KPMNZ9ZX?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

He asked for cheapest one.

 

[USAFRet]

He asked for cheapest one.

That cable thing might be good in a technicians toolbox, for very temporary use.

For something that is going to sit on your desk for every day use? No.

 

[CountMike]

That cable thing might be good in a technicians toolbox, for very temporary use.

For something that is going to sit on your desk for every day use? No.

It's still usable and much cheaper although not ideal but can be easily transferred to another disk 2.5 or 3.5" No needtoopen a case. .

 

[USAFRet]

It's still usable and much cheaper although not ideal but can be easily transferred to another disk 2.5 or 3.5" No needtoopen a case. .

And for $20, something like this would work MUCH better as a temp/perm solution:
https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-External-Lay-Flat-Docking-EC-DFLT/dp/B00LS5NFQ

 

[Deleted member 14196]

Jeez Louise

Hard Drive Enclosure RSHTECH USB 3.0 to SATA Aluminum External Hard Drive Dock Case for 3.5 inch HDD SSD up to 16TB Drives, Support UASP (RSH-339) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07LCFQ9C3/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_JPFJCK3TJW2MA6P4S52W?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

But I cannot vouch for performance on that unit

 

[CountMike]

And for $20, something like this would work MUCH better as a temp/perm solution:
https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-External-Lay-Flat-Docking-EC-DFLT/dp/B00LS5NFQ

Ah that's a nice one !!!

 

[Deleted member 14196]

It’s so nice that I can’t even see it Amazon says it’s a broken link. The second one I list it is also $20

 

[USAFRet]

https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-External-Lay-Flat-Docking-EC-DFLT/dp/B00LS5NFQ2

https://www.amazon.com/ORICO-Toolfree-External-Enclosure-Support/dp/B00GAML7OK