Diskless ThunderBolt or USB3 Drive Cases/Bays?

Johnf1285 · Dec 4, 2012, 08:32 AM

Does anyone have recommendations for a diskless ThunderBolt or USB3 four drive bay? I want to find something that could accomodate about four disks (two depending upon price, since I see that ThunderBolt isn't cheap).

I want to also have the ability to turn certain disks on and off. Does anyone have any first hand experience?

I have looked high and low, so I would like to hear from other forum members.

randy98mtu · Dec 4, 2012, 08:35 AM

I am interested in this also. I have found a few USB3 options, but all seem to have some shaky reviews or specs. I think I'm just going to go for a single USB3 or NAS solution instead.

Johnf1285 · Dec 4, 2012, 08:36 AM

Yeah a lot of what I see looks cheap. I guess I may have to pay more than I was anticipating. I want something that looks classy next to the iMac.

MattSepeta · Dec 4, 2012, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnf1285

Yeah a lot of what I see looks cheap. I guess I may have to pay more than I was anticipating. I want something that looks classy next to the iMac.

I just ordered a WD Duo Thunderbolt.

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/bnh/cont...G&Q=&A=details

Ef me, it just went down $30 more since I ordered a week ago!

Only two slots and no fan so it comes with 2 x 3TB WD green 5400 drives.

Mr. Retrofire · Dec 4, 2012, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MattSepeta

Only two slots and no fan so it comes with 2 x 3TB WD green 5400 drives.

Should come with WD Red drives:
http://wd.com/en/products/products.aspx?id=810

because they are more 24x7 and RAID compatible.

whdigital · Dec 4, 2012, 09:59 AM

Haven't used one of these particular enclosures myself, but I'd hang my hat on anything these guys made:

http://oyendigital.com/hard-drives/store/RC-M4SP.html

FireWire2 · 05:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Johnf1285

Does anyone have recommendations for a diskless ThunderBolt or USB3 four drive bay? I want to find something that could accomodate about four disks (two depending upon price, since I see that ThunderBolt isn't cheap).

I want to also have the ability to turn certain disks on and off. Does anyone have any first hand experience?

I have looked high and low, so I would like to hear from other forum members.

Yes there is a TB | eSATA | USB3.0 - triple interface five drive supports hardware RAID/JBOD
http://www.datoptic.com/hardware-rai...ve-drives.html

Or a simple five drive JBOD USB3.0 is here
http://www.datoptic.com/five-tray-le...enclosure.html

Johnf1285 · Dec 4, 2012, 05:02 PM

Thanks for the suggestions everyone

Peace · Dec 4, 2012, 05:04 PM

I have yet to see anybody sell a TB enclosure without selling included hard drives.

mmomega · Dec 4, 2012, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Peace

I have yet to see anybody sell a TB enclosure without selling included hard drives.

Drobo sells a 5bay, USB and TB enclosure. $849 empty.

and @Mr. Retrofire, unless they've recently changed the drives to WD Reds, my Thunderbolt Duos have Green Drives.

joeblough · Dec 4, 2012, 09:13 PM

i posted this in another thread, but the short story (for me anyway) is that the cineraid 4-bay usb 3.0/esata enclosure just does not work with OSX. if you check the newegg 1 and 2 egg reviews you will see that other people are reporting the same thing. these enclosures use jmicron usb-sata chipsets. i would not be surprised if every 4-bay usb 3.0 enclosure uses the same chip.

Lance-AR · Dec 5, 2012, 11:11 AM

Promise Pegasus J4 was just announced as a 4 bay 2.5" TB enclosure. I believe there are two models, one with 4x500GB HDD and one with empty bays.

Outrigger · Dec 5, 2012, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmomega

Drobo sells a 5bay, USB and TB enclosure. $849 empty.

and @Mr. Retrofire, unless they've recently changed the drives to WD Reds, my Thunderbolt Duos have Green Drives.

$849 empty, I must LOL.

the WD comes with green, not red drives since its fanless.

FireWire2 · Jan 23, 2013, 12:57 PM

DATOptic Inc

Just drop their price on thunderbolt five bay cases
http://www.datoptic.com/data-storage...subsystem.html

I'm going to get one? Any other enclosure should I look/compare?

TIA

Dec 4, 2012, 08:32 AM	#1
Johnf1285 macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey	Diskless ThunderBolt or USB3 Drive Cases/Bays? Does anyone have recommendations for a diskless ThunderBolt or USB3 four drive bay? I want to find something that could accomodate about four disks (two depending upon price, since I see that ThunderBolt isn't cheap). I want to also have the ability to turn certain disks on and off. Does anyone have any first hand experience? I have looked high and low, so I would like to hear from other forum members. __________________ 21.5" iMac 2012; 11" MacBook Air 2011; iPhone 3GS
	0

Dec 4, 2012, 08:36 AM	#3
Johnf1285 Thread Starter macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey	Yeah a lot of what I see looks cheap. I guess I may have to pay more than I was anticipating. I want something that looks classy next to the iMac. __________________ 21.5" iMac 2012; 11" MacBook Air 2011; iPhone 3GS
	0

Dec 4, 2012, 09:59 AM	#6
whdigital macrumors regular Join Date: Jul 2011	Haven't used one of these particular enclosures myself, but I'd hang my hat on anything these guys made: http://oyendigital.com/hard-drives/store/RC-M4SP.html __________________ 2012 MacBook Pro 15", 2.6Ghz HR-AG
	0

Dec 4, 2012, 05:02 PM	#8
Johnf1285 Thread Starter macrumors 6502a Join Date: Dec 2010 Location: New Jersey	Thanks for the suggestions everyone __________________ 21.5" iMac 2012; 11" MacBook Air 2011; iPhone 3GS
	0

Dec 5, 2012, 11:11 AM	#12
Lance-AR macrumors 6502 Join Date: May 2012 Location: Little Rock, AR	Promise Pegasus J4 was just announced as a 4 bay 2.5" TB enclosure. I believe there are two models, one with 4x500GB HDD and one with empty bays. __________________ My reproduction oil paintings
	0

Dec 4, 2012, 08:35 AM	#2
randy98mtu macrumors 6502a Join Date: Mar 2009	I am interested in this also. I have found a few USB3 options, but all seem to have some shaky reviews or specs. I think I'm just going to go for a single USB3 or NAS solution instead.
	0

Dec 4, 2012, 05:04 PM	#9
Peace macrumors P6 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Space--The ONLY Frontier	I have yet to see anybody sell a TB enclosure without selling included hard drives.
	0

Dec 4, 2012, 09:13 PM	#11
joeblough macrumors member Join Date: Oct 2006	i posted this in another thread, but the short story (for me anyway) is that the cineraid 4-bay usb 3.0/esata enclosure just does not work with OSX. if you check the newegg 1 and 2 egg reviews you will see that other people are reporting the same thing. these enclosures use jmicron usb-sata chipsets. i would not be surprised if every 4-bay usb 3.0 enclosure uses the same chip.
	0

Jan 23, 2013, 12:57 PM	#14
FireWire2 macrumors regular Join Date: Oct 2008	Disk-less Thunderbolt DATOptic Inc Just drop their price on thunderbolt five bay cases http://www.datoptic.com/data-storage...subsystem.html I'm going to get one? Any other enclosure should I look/compare? TIA
	0

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