Question 1

Does this thing come with the wall wart power adapter?

Accepted Answer

Yes this model comes with a wall wart power adapter, and a USB A to B cable. The older model (NST-530S3-BK) plugged directly into a 120 volt outlet.

Question 2

will this fit the Sony Optiarc AD-5290S Drive?

Accepted Answer

It should.  I used this enclosure for a standard DVD (desktop) drive to make it into an external USB DVD drive for a laptop that didn't have it's own.  The Optiarc looks to be a similar drive (for 5.25" bay), so it ought to fit.

Question 3

Does this come with a wall outlet adapter to power this? If not, where does it get the power from and why does it have a power plug on the back?

Accepted Answer

It is mentioned in the offer but not shown in the photos  Package Contents
Package Contents
5.25" NexStar DX Enclosure

Quick Installation Guide

USB 3.0 Cable

AC Adapter

Installation Screws

Question 4

Could this be easily modified to use the provided power and an external sata cable?  I can't use a usb for this application and new case doesn't have 5.25" bays.

Accepted Answer

Not easily. With this enclosure, like others (or docks), there's a single piece combining SATA data and SATA power connections. Also I don't see how you would find enough room for some kind of improvised arrangement with added parts. Everything is made so that the drive fits snugly while mating with connections and aligning with drive-mounting screws.

Question 5

Can a 3.5" SATA hard drive mounted in a Startech mobile rack be installed in this enclosure and operate successfully under Windows 7?

Accepted Answer

I just installed an 5.25" optical drive in this enclosure.  W/o knowing the details of the StarTech rack fittings, I would say "maybe".  As long as your 3.5" HDD is installed in a standard 5.25" adapter bracket, it should fit.  As far as SATA chipset, I can't answer, but would say "probably".

Question 6

Can this be coupled with Asus BW-16HT?

Accepted Answer

Sounds like it meets all the requirements, 5.25, sata interface to the drive.

Question 7

I will only purchase this if it comes with a 3A power supply.  Many people having issues with the 2A that it comes with.  I have an LG BluRay burner and the 2A supply probably won't work.  I don't want the hassle of returning if it don't work.  Might there be a possibility that Vantec would consider putting a 3A power supply in with it to work as advertised?

Accepted Answer

I received the following answer when I asked Vantec about the NST-536S3 power supply.  Your mileage may very.  I don't have a NST-536S3 yet to verify the below, however I have no reason to doubt them.
---
Vantec Technical Support
Dec 7, 2020

Hi ...,

Since your optical requires much more power than normal (2.5 Amp @ 12 volt), you do need a bigger ac adapter. The ac adapter goes straight to the SATA power port, there is no bottleneck.

You should get a bigger ac adapter like 12VDC, 3A, or better (like 4A is also good).

We do offer ac adapter that is not for this optical drive (it is designed for other USB 3.5” SATA drive enclosure, 12VDC, 3A), but the port fits and can be used.

Here is the link.
(Sorry Newegg says not to include like)

You can also get any ac adapter from other sources close to you. Just make sure, it is 12VDC, 3A or better, center pin positive, plug size is here below for your reference.

(Vantec sent a nice picture showing dimensions. However I don't know how to post it here.)

CX, 66 plug 10 mm length, 1.75 mm inner diameter, 5.45 outer diameter

When selecting an ac adapter, it is good to make sure the marking on the ac adapter has all the necessary regulatory marking like FCC, UL or if you are in Canada, UL Canada marking.
  
If you have any further questions, please don't hesitate to ask and we will do our best to answer them.

Regards,

Technical Support
Vantec Thermal Technologies

Question 8

Does this actually connect to the drive with a SATA III interface, or is it II or I?

Accepted Answer

It connects to any SATA drive it can be I, II or III, it does not make a difference as long as you have a SATA CD/DVD/BR drive.  Once the drive is connected, it uses a USB port to connect to the computer.  The only difference in the SATA interfaces is the speed and you will probably not see much of any difference using a CD drive connecting externally.

Question 9

Will this allow me to use an old Maxtor 5.25 hard drive as an external hard drive? I am trying to recover old files from a failed old PC.  Thank you in advance

Accepted Answer

The VANTEC NST-536S3-BK is designed for 5.25" Blu-Ray/DVD/CD SATA drives, not hard drives. It is unlikely to be compatible with a 5.25" Maxtor hard drive.

Question 10

Can this be coupled with ASUS BW-16HT?

Accepted Answer

The product description and review summary indicate that the VANTEC NST-536S3-BK external enclosure is designed for 5.25" Blu-Ray/DVD/CD SATA drives. However, users have reported issues with the power supply for higher-power drives. Therefore, while it is likely that the ASUS BW-16HT (a 5.25" SATA Blu-Ray drive) could be coupled with this enclosure, you should ensure that the power requirements of the ASUS drive are compatible with the enclosure's power supply.

Questions & Answers