Can anyone recommend a USB 3 enclosure for a single 2.5 drive? (BUS Powered)

[StressedSnowCat]

I need a dock but all I can find are either docks that seem cheaply made or fragile... Is there any real quality out there when it comes to docks?

Ideally I want something tough and good looking, maybe in aluminium? It also needs to be bootable. Any suggestions? (PS: I live in Europe)

I want to put a single 2.5 HDD in it at 5400rpm to serve as a backup clone of my Mac Mini's hard drive.

 

[ender78]

While not aluminum, the OWC "Mercury on the Go" is VERY fast. I get nearly 400MB/sec with an SSD in that enclosure

http://eshop.macsales.com/item/Other World Computing/MOTGS3U3/

 

[Gav2k]

Op you can look at usb2 drive caddies too if your going with a mechanical hdd! You won't top the bus out.

 

[StressedSnowCat]

Hmm, thanks for the suggestion, this one's kinda ugly though, anything more discreet?

Op you can look at usb2 drive caddies too if your going with a mechanical hdd! You won't top the bus out.

I need to be able to boot and work on the drive contained within the enclosure so no, USB 2 is a bad idea I would think.

 

[thedeske]

I need a dock but all I can find are either docks that seem cheaply made or fragile... Is there any real quality out there when it comes to docks?

Ideally I want something tough and good looking, maybe in aluminium? It also needs to be bootable. Any suggestions? (PS: I live in Europe)

I want to put a single 2.5 HDD in it at 5400rpm to serve as a backup clone of my Mac Mini's hard drive.

Agree - the available docks look cheap. That said, I've had very good luck with Thermaltake's BlacX 5G. Only one drive in ten I have failed in it. I use it every day with different 2.5 and 3.5in drives.

OWC's USB3 cases in plastic or the more expensive alu work well.

This is the fastest swap enclosure to date for 2.5 - http://www.firmtek.com/seritek/miniswap-u3/

 

[HenryAZ]

Oyen Digital Mini Pro 2.5" hard drive enclosure.

 

[Mr. Retrofire]

Oyen Digital Mini Pro 2.5" hard drive enclosure.

@OP: Yes this is the fastest non-Thunderbolt enclosure for 2.5" drives (HDD or SSD).

@HenryAZ: +1

 

[trancinchino]

I ordered the SilverStone RVS02 over Black Friday. I'm overseas so I haven't been able to try it yet, but the reviews seem decent. I will let you know how it goes after I get home in 10 days or so.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256077

 

[Fishrrman]

This looks interesting:
http://plugable.com/products/pss-dd1

.... but not sure if they are available in Europe.

 

[GGJstudios]

You might consider either the OWC Express or the OWC Mercury Elite Pro mini.