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Thread: External SATA III to USB for additional storage

  1. #1
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    Feb 2003
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    External SATA III to USB for additional storage

    Do any of you use an external docking station for plugging desktop HDD's into for additional storage or backups? I have like 10 TB of desktop drives that are just sitting around from my PC days and I'd like to use the drives that are new enough to add external storage to my iMac. One of the drives is a brand new WD Gold Data Center drive 4 TB which would be plenty for what I need currently. My desktop drives measure 4" outside to outside for width.

    Please advise as my budget is limited.
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  2. #2
    I use several external drives for storage and backup on my Late 2009 iMac. I can't remember the WD drive models, but I put them in OWC Mercury Elite housings and connect them via the Firewire 800 bus on my iMac. My photo library is on an external drive and is backed up daily as well. I use Carbon Copy Cloner for the daily backups of the bootable system drive and my photo library.

    At one time, I had ten of these daisy chained to my iMac for different projects and never had a problem with access, speed, or reliability. In fact, the only HDD that failed was the 1TB drive that came with my iMac. It was part of the recall for the Late 2009 model, but I replaced it myself. The backup drives were at the end of the chain so I could disconnect them and rotate them with the drives I stored off site.

    Here is one from OWC that might work for you:

    https://eshop.macsales.com/shop/fire...W800_FW400_USB
    Last edited by Mike Kreinhop; 11-24-2018 at 3:12 PM.

  3. #3
    Yup, I have an external docking station that holds 2 drives and it works just fine. It's hot swappable. I think it cost about $40 when I got it.

  4. #4
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    Yeah - I use(d) a SATA/IDE adapter to pull the data off my old laptop with a dead motherboard.
    Got it from Amazon for under $20.
    I'm not sure if it's hot swap or not.
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  5. #5
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    Google "hard drive reader" and you will find the exact flavor to suit you. Some come with a nice little soft "rubber" holder for the hard drive that's been pulled out of whatever.

  6. #6
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    This looks like the cheapest one for what you describe:
    https://www.amazon.com/Sabrent-Exter.../dp/B00LS5NFQ2
    (I've been using their $10 case-style adapters for years for old portable notebook drives.)
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  7. #7
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    I use the BlacX Duet from Thermaltake. It's a duel drive docking station that accepts 2.5"/3.5" Sata HDD eSATA and USB up to 3 TB.

  8. #8
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    I like my link station NAS that way anyone can add files or retrieve them

  9. #9
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    Dennis, I have five drives plugged into my Mac (via USB) with my docking station as the connection point. For the iMac, I just used a quality USB "hub". I can't help with the SATA III aspect you mention because all of my drives are already USB. OWC has a bunch of drive mounting solutions, however, and while they are not the least expensive source for things, what they sell works as advertised and they specialize in the MacOS marketplace.
    --

    The most expensive tool is the one you buy "cheaply" and often...

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