Hard Drive Enclosures

A hard drive enclosure enables you to turn an internal drive into an external or portable one. You can use it to access data from a laptop drive on a desktop computer, to run regular backups or to extend storage beyond the capabilities of a motherboard and its internal bays. Hard drive enclosures offer flexibility. Some require a power adapter, but some can draw power from the connected PC via USB. Choose between 2.5"" enclosures, typically used to access laptop drives, and 3.5"", which is the standard size for a desktop hard disk. External interfaces include SATA, SAS and Ethernet connectivity, which ensure optimal use. With built-in eject buttons in dual-bay docks, it's easy to dock drives seamlessly while multitasking at work.

Expand Your Storage Using Existing Hardware

Convert old drives into functional data storage devices by using an external drive enclosure. Choose an enclosure that matches the size of your hard drive. As noted, standard laptop drives and desktop drives are usually different sizes, but there are exceptions, so check the specifications before buying an enclosure. When you convert an old hard disk, it saves you from having to invest in new storage, and allows easy access to the data. Even if an old drive is incompatible with a new PC, you won't have to transfer data from one PC to another to save valuable time.

Protect Your Data With an External Hard Drive Case

Protecting your data is important, whether it is personal or professional. A hard drive enclosure with a power pack can run independently to your computer, and allows for regular backups and prevents data loss. Using an external hard drive case also enables you to keep the internal temperature of your computer down, which can be difficult if you install multiple drives inside the device. You can also attach the new drive device to some routers, enabling you to backup data from multiple PCs and other hardware to create a central repository for all of your files and software. In this case, check the ports on your router. You may find ethernet as well as USB ports that give you the option of deciding how you want to connect your hard drive docking station. High-end businesses can use external hard drive cases, computer cases and other accessories to safeguard sensitive information, such as billing details.

Access Data on Multiple Disks With a Hard Drive Docking Station

A hard drive docking station enables the connection of two or more storage devices. You can expand existing storage with terabytes of space, depending on the size of the drives. Ensure that the docking station has the appropriate interfaces. Some hard drive models include SATA and IDE connections, which enable connecting multiple drive types. The external interface determines how you connect from a computer to the new dock. USB and Thunderbolt are a common choice, but some models have SATA and eSATA connections.

Bestselling Hard Drive / SSD Enclosures Reviews:

Christopher A.

5/5/2025 7:51:54 AM

Worked for system drive clone

“ Hard drive enclosure worked well for cloning previous WD sn850x 2tb to WD sn850x 4tb. ”

KingSpec M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure, Tool Free NVMe PCIe SSD Adapter USB 3.1 Gen 2 10Gbps with USB C to C+A OTG Cable, Support M Key/B+M Key PCIe SSD 2230/2242/2260/2280 Silver Grey

Anonymous

5/4/2025 10:01:02 AM

Wavlink Dual Bay External Hard Drive Docking Station

“ This Wavlink External Hard Drive Docking Station was purchased to help with light PC maintenance. ”

Wavlink USB 3.0 to SATA Dual Bay External Hard Drive Docking Station for 2.5"/3.5" SATA I/II/III HDD SSD with Offline Clone & UASP, 2 USB 3.0, 2 Fast Charging Port, SD & Micro SD Card Reader, 2 x 16TB

Robert P.

3/10/2025 7:50:32 AM

Easy to install and use. It just works.

“ Once I installed a storage HDD I had been using in a big ATX tower, This enclosure's button style and placement and its LED indicator located on the back end of the side of the box where I can see it make this box nicer and easier to use as an external drive on a daily basis. ”

ORICO Aluminum External Hard Drive Enclosure for 2.5 3.5 inch HDD/SSD USB3.0 to SATA Hard Drive Docking Station Max 16 TB with 12V Power Adapter

Anonymous

2/14/2025 10:55:29 AM

Good basic enclosure with adequate full metal lid heatsink cooling for basic use

“ Even this gets a bit hot for my liking on full drive writes and i've pointed a fan or just zip tied a larger m.2 heatsink in place of the lid. I think people are just using slow drives or letting their drives cook in enclosures, and or are mostly doing light writes and reads to never really heat the drive. ”

ORICO M.2 NVMe SSD Enclosure, USB 3.1 Gen 2 (10 Gbps) to NVMe PCI-E M.2 SSD Case Support UASP for NVMe SSD Size 2230/2242/2260/2280(up to 4TB)

John W.

1/31/2025 10:58:01 AM

Should work fine

“ Have a few Vantec Usb hubs and hard drive enclosures, all good , some are over 5 years old and 0 issues ”

VANTEC NST-536S3-BK 5.25" Blu-Ray / DVD / CD SATA Drives Black Standard SATA / SuperSpeed USB 3.0 USB 3.0 External Enclosure for SATA Blu-Ray/CD/DVD Drive

Mark F.

1/23/2025 6:12:59 PM

EAsy to use

“ overall an easy to use external housing for sata hard drives at a price easy on the wallet. ”

Sabrent USB 3.0 to SATA External Hard Drive Lay-Flat Docking Station for 2.5 or 3.5in HDD, SSD (EC-DFLT)

Bluesman62