Good USB3 2.5" SSD enclosure for OSX

[brdeveloper]

Hello,

I just bought a SATA enclosure for a 120GB PNY XLR8 SSD. Despite this enclosure works fine on Windows, on Mac it always freezes Finder. Reading around I found that OSX sometimes treats these USB-SATA controllers in a more strict way than Windows, so I'd like to get suggestions of a good USB3/SSD enclosure suitable for Mac.

Thanks!

 

[Marty62]

https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/1712510/

Can't go wrong for 18 bucks !!

M.

edit - bought one and it really works / performs brilliantly.

 

[matreya]

Hello,

I just bought a SATA enclosure for a 120GB PNY XLR8 SSD. Despite this enclosure works fine on Windows, on Mac it always freezes Finder. Reading around I found that OSX sometimes treats these USB-SATA controllers in a more strict way than Windows, so I'd like to get suggestions of a good USB3/SSD enclosure suitable for Mac.

Thanks!

I have 6 of the OWC enclosures (5 x USB3 only and 1 x USB3, FW800) and they all work very well:

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

 

[brdeveloper]

Thanks for all answers. I could exchange my non-working enclosure for this one:

http://www.akasa.com.tw/update.php?...osures&type_sub=2.5 Enclosure&model=AK-ENI2U3

Appears to be working. I installed a Windows 8 virtual machine with success and it's running as fast as expected.

 

[brdeveloper]

Benchmark (enclosure + PNY SSD). I think the not-so-good results are caused by the USB-SATA controller...

https://www.dropbox.com/s/84qvuplwchgk4cv/DiskSpeedTest.png

 

[Fishrrman]

Here's a second recommendation for the Inateck enclosure as mentioned in reply #2 above.

Works fine for me.

 

[Zellio]

I suggest this, good speeds and stainless steel (so never hot):

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B006OLFMZ2/ref=wms_ohs_product?ie=UTF8&psc=1

 

[andyrugbyref]

stick to OWC

 

[SaSaSushi]

I suggest this, good speeds and stainless steel (so never hot):

And isn't UASP, the single most important feature when booting the OS off an SSD via USB.

If aluminum is your thing, Inateck is soon to be shipping an aluminum UASP enclosure in the US as well for about $3 more.

stick to OWC

Why? I don't think they even make UASP enclosures and I'm quite sure the enclosures they do make are priced a lot higher.

 

[matreya]

Why? I don't think they even make UASP enclosures and I'm quite sure the enclosures they do make are priced a lot higher.

OWC only mention that they use the ASMedia 1051e chipset, but I've used one of their Mercury On-The-Go Pro enclosures with an SSD and it tested in excess of 360MB/sec read/write.

As for price, I don't think $29.99 is that much more expensive than the enclosure you're constantly evangelising

 

[Zellio]

And isn't UASP, the single most important feature when booting the OS off an SSD via USB.

If aluminum is your thing, Inateck is soon to be shipping an aluminum UASP enclosure in the US as well for about $3 more.



Why? I don't think they even make UASP enclosures and I'm quite sure the enclosures they do make are priced a lot higher.

The one I linked to isn't aluminum, it was stainless steel. Stainless steel stays colder then other metals (In fact, it's always cold to the touch) and will keep your usb device living longer, even though it's not uasp..

 

[g4cube]

The one I linked to isn't aluminum, it was stainless steel. Stainless steel stays colder then other metals (In fact, it's always cold to the touch) and will keep your usb device living longer, even though it's not uasp..

This is because Stainless Steel is a poor conductor of heat when compared to aluminum. The aluminum will extract and radiate the heat quicker than stainless.

 

[ColdCase]

Which means the aluminum will keep your SSD cooler and perhaps extend its life.

 

[SaSaSushi]

I've used one of their Mercury On-The-Go Pro enclosures with an SSD and it tested in excess of 360MB/sec read/write.

So the Inateck is at least 15% faster. UASP is a game-changer. I have to assume if the OWC devices supported it, they'd advertise it.

As for price, I don't think $29.99 is that much more expensive

It's 40% more expensive. Better performance at a 40% lower price seems like a pretty good deal to me.

the enclosure you're constantly evangelising

If by evangelizing you mean recommending, I suppose the same could be said for your tireless OWC promotions.

For the record, I think the Inateck UASP enclosure is a really nice little device that I do own, but am not currently using.

I decided to stick with a Thunderbolt enclosure for its TRIM support. Still, as UASP USB3 enclosures go, it's hard to beat Inateck for price/performance and quality.