4+ bay usb3 enclosures for 10.8.5 onwards

[thecounthahaha]

Hi,

I've got a load of usb2 2tb HDDs that have slowly been replaced with usb3/larger drives over the last 5 years and I'm looking to put them back into service (all with backups!)

I could use them all as is, but I'd be running at least 6-8 of them all with separate power, cables, etc plugged into 1 Mac mini so 2x4 bay JBOD (4 or more bays) is what I'm looking for.

Are there any good, cheap usb3 enclosures that work with Mac osx10.8.5+? I've found that a lot of the ones on Amazon have very poor reviews re macs and often eject and or crash without warning.

Ideally I don't want to spend too much as they do run at the moment, it's just very messy having that many cables running about the place!

Thanks very much.

 

[LorenK]

Icy Dock. I had been buying other brands before (Rosewill and Vantec), only to have them crap out after a year or so. While I just bought the Icy Dock a few months ago, I am more impressed with the design and the quiet running fan. Here's a link to the one I bought: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817198061

I can say, however, I don't know what the reviews on Amazon are talking about, but I've never had a problem with discs being randomly ejected, even with the other brands I've used, just an issue of useful life. I'm hoping that the fan design helps extend the useful life of the Icy Dock, but I'm happy so far with the performance and design.

 

[thecounthahaha]

That looks great, thanks for the link - although I'm in the UK so that particular shop will cost me £40 in shipping!

I've not come across it in my searches but I'll have a dig and see if I can did a uk seller that doesn't charge an arm and a leg for it.

 

[jnachbar]

Hi,

I've got a load of usb2 2tb HDDs that have slowly been replaced with usb3/larger drives over the last 5 years and I'm looking to put them back into service (all with backups!)

I could use them all as is, but I'd be running at least 6-8 of them all with separate power, cables, etc plugged into 1 Mac mini so 2x4 bay JBOD (4 or more bays) is what I'm looking for.

Are there any good, cheap usb3 enclosures that work with Mac osx10.8.5+? I've found that a lot of the ones on Amazon have very poor reviews re macs and often eject and or crash without warning.

Ideally I don't want to spend too much as they do run at the moment, it's just very messy having that many cables running about the place!

Thanks very much.

I've had good luck with this Mediasonic, been running fine for a couple of years, very basic.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...NFhDccsIrQXhBntELEyQIhoCz8vw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

[thats all folks]

I think you've answered your own question, low cost housings are unreliable in the long run. also, is it a good investment to spend more money on older drives? new drives are ever cheaper.

I don't know what the equivalent retailer in the UK is but,
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1258960-REG/wd_wdbbkd0040bbk_nesn_4tb_my_passport_ultra.html
4TB in a small bus-powered package.

maybe you should look at re-evaluating your file management strategy if you need 8 multi-TB drives connected to your machine?

 

[LorenK]

That looks great, thanks for the link - although I'm in the UK so that particular shop will cost me £40 in shipping!

I've not come across it in my searches but I'll have a dig and see if I can did a uk seller that doesn't charge an arm and a leg for it.

It's at Amazon.co.uk, 62 pounds.

 

[hallux]

I've had good luck with this Mediasonic, been running fine for a couple of years, very basic.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...NFhDccsIrQXhBntELEyQIhoCz8vw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

I have one of these as well. That's a tempting price to add a second to start keeping a backup of what's on the primary...

 

[thecounthahaha]

It's at Amazon.co.uk, 62 pounds.

Unfortunately that's the version without the usb3 back panel

Will keep looking!

 

[macs4nw]

I think you've answered your own question, low cost housings are unreliable in the long run. also, is it a good investment to spend more money on older drives? new drives are ever cheaper.

I don't know what the equivalent retailer in the UK is but,
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1258960-REG/wd_wdbbkd0040bbk_nesn_4tb_my_passport_ultra.html
4TB in a small bus-powered package.

maybe you should look at re-evaluating your file management strategy if you need 8 multi-TB drives connected to your machine?

Couldn't agree more, but I would add the reliability on most of the new crop of ultra low-cost portable HDDs generally seems to be rather poor also, and most of the ratings reflect that. If the OP opts for new drives, now more than ever, multiple redundancy is an absolute must for anything worth keeping or hard to replace.

If he insists on reusing those older drives, I would just go for el cheapo USB3 enclosures, and use them on a rotating basis. My Vantecs (both 2.5" and 3.5") have not given me any problems.

To the OP: Multi-bay enclosures, while great for RAID setups, when used in a JBOD configuration, are a rather expensive option, and if something goes wrong with that enclosure, all your drives are likely inoperable.