SABRENT2.5 Inch SATA to USB 3.0 Tool Free External Hard Drive Enclosure [Optimized for SSD, Support UASP SATA III] Black (EC-UASP)

We've transitioned all of our home computers to NVMe M.2 SSDs, leaving a fair number of the older 2.5-inch form factor SSDs gathering dust in drawers. These high-quality enclosures are perfect for incorporating those older SSDs into audio, home theater, and computer external drive applications, like computer backup drives that can then be stored in a fireproof safe (check) and ripped FLAC files for the audio streamer (also check). Note that the SSD installation is a tight fit, and I removed the small rectangular piece of foam glued onto the end before inserting the SSD (then replaced it since still sticky). Not working? Don't forget the on/off switch on the top end of the device. Great item from a great brand.

Initial impressions - just received today: Item was as described, easy to install Crucial 2.5 SSD. Used EASUS Partition Manager to configure SSD - which was free and easy to use to quickly delete contents, re-partition, and format drive. Tested to work fine - fast file transfer, and fast access! Great for backup drive, or for pictures or music files. Assume the reliability will be a function of the reliability of the Crucial SSD. Though, I will leave the switch in "on" position to avoid unnecessary wear. Seems to be a great alternative for convenient backup drive, or external storage of music files on your digital music player with USB connection.

I own 5 or 6 of these that I use to back up computer files for repairs I am doing, as a USB source for movies, videos and music played through my home theater setup and to keep software tools on for when I have to make service calls for PC repairs. I have had only one go bad over the years.

I'm going to keep the two enclosures I bought since they are so cheaphowever these are *NOT* high performance enclosures as far as I cantell (having only one non USB3 enclosure to compare it to.)I'm using a a tool called hdparm and I'm going to show the "buffereddisk reads" since "cached reads" are very similar even with my M2drive which is obviously higher performance than all others.Here is the performance of *this* enclosure with the 1 TB samsungdrive when connected to a non "SS" port.$ sudo hdparm -Tt /dev/sdb1Timing buffered disk reads: 120 MB in 3.04 seconds = 39.46 MB/secConnected to an SS port, I get very similar performance (while I hopedit would improve):$ sudo hdparm -Tt /dev/sdb1Timing buffered disk reads: 120 MB in 3.04 seconds = 39.47 MB/secThis doesn't really *prove* that much. Maybe my non SS ports areactually SS ports. Since some peripherals work in the SS ports andothers don't (how lame) they have *some* difference so I do basicallytrust this result already but you should require more proof.Let's check out what happens when I use the bigger brother 4 TB SSDdrive which is now connected directly to the motherboard using theSATA port:$ sudo hdparm -Tt /dev/sdaTiming buffered disk reads: 1596 MB in 3.00 seconds = 531.82 MB/secThe buffered disk reads has jumped from 39 MB/sec to 531 MB/sec. Thisis more in line with what I was hoping for. While 531 MB/sec isimpressive, an SS port is actually rated at 625 MB/sec so the drivecould in theory still be supported at full speed with an SS port andthus in theory it's little brother drives could also work that fastwith a kick ass enclosure.Before I deliver the death blow, here is what my 512MB "M2" main driveplugged into the motherboard delivers:$ sudo hdparm -Tt /dev/nvme0n1p1Timing buffered disk reads: 512 MB in 0.42 seconds = 1228.80 MB/secThis is clearly why if you have a choice, you really want a really big"M2" style drive. BTW, M2 style drives differ in length -- I had toreturn one 2 years ago because it was too long to fit in my tiny assmotherboard because I opted for a small system (a mistake).**But here is the death blow.**I have a *non* SS enclosure I bought a few years ago so let'sbenchmark that (it doesn't work in my SS usb ports so only onenumber):$ sudo hdparm -Tt /dev/sdb1Timing buffered disk reads: 104 MB in 3.01 seconds = 34.52 MB/secMy conclusion is that the "SABRENT 2.5-Inch SATA to USB 3.0" enclosurebeing reviewed by me is only better than by old USB 2 one by 15%though they do work in any USB port I hook it up to.The good:* It appears to work reliably in any USB port including SS ports* My model of SSD fit perfectly and nothing will wiggle once installed* Backing up 500 GB will take about 2 hours - not great but OK forincremental backup with something like time-machine, etc.* The transparent case option is very, very nice. I can now see what'sinside without taking anything apart. The flashing red LEDs (thereis a always on blue LED too) could be annoying to some but OK forme. ((Just finished my copy and unmounted, the red LED turned offthough the blue LED is still on. This is good.))* My slower enclosure was actually a mesh material. After a 2 hourbackup, while there was a slight hotspot, if you're using with anSSD and not a rotational disk, I don't think you'll have a problemat all.* The cost of $10 is very reasonable. I probably will not return forprecisely this reason.The Bad:* This enclosure seems to perform only incrementally better than a 2year old enclosure rated for USB 2 no matter if hooked into an SS ornon SS USB port.* While it's not hard to slip *in* the SSD drive, it's a bit hard toremove a drive once inserted (though certainly not impossible toremove -- I've already done so at least twice). Had they simply leftthe "bottom" open (the part with the electronics) it would be reallyeasy to slide in and out using thumb friction. Then slipping on thetop would have secured everything in just the same manner with nogaps for dust or anything provided the "top" went all the way downon the back. It's a very trivial change. I'm not an expert oninjected molded plastic but for crying out loud this can't reallycost that more and five minutes of user testing should havediscovered exactly this.* Although the correct cable is supplied, the USB Micro-B connector onthe drive side is very weird (outside of the external hard driveworld - perhaps par for the course - two Seagate external drives Ihave use this same stupid connector). The mesh USB SATA enclosurehad an almost equally hated Mini USB cable though I actually had afew of those because I hoard cables and cell phones and Palm pilotsused this briefly in like 2008.

Perfect fit. Slide in the hard drive and snap the cover on the enclosure, plug in the USB cable to the PC and you are good to go. Sabrent is a very reliable company. I have two of their enclosures for 5.5 in hard drives. Very easy to set up.

This product was fantastic. The description was completely accurate. I received the product on time and it was very easy to use. It didn't get too hot as I was running a recovery program on it. The USA-A to USB-A connection is a bit outdated, but it was fine. It is very nice to have a bright blue light as well as an on and off switch on the device itself. That fact alone let's this particular product stand out among the crowd. There are no screws to deal with and the size is perfect

I have a SSD drive I put in the enclosure, I am not sure how well an older platter drive would fit. I think the sizes are the same. Nice big blue light lets you know it is operating. The on off switch is nice too. Easy to use.

Why did you pick this product vs others?:It's got a small footprint, and DOESN'T require another power source. Just plug it into the USB port.