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What is a good SATA-to-USB adapter that is capable of reading 4TB+ drives?


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#1 Uneitohr

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Posted 23 March 2017 - 06:44 PM

Hello,

 

I would like to buy a 4tb+ capable sata-to-usb adapter and would need your help in picking one.

The following questions come to mind:

  • what to look for in buying such an adapter? what specs, details etc.
  • how can I tell the drive capacity limit of the adapter? most manufacturers don't give out this information
  • do you have any recommandations? tell your experience, what you bought? what you regret buying?

 

Thank you!



#2 genetix

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Posted 26 March 2017 - 03:23 PM

Well, you will need external power source. As drives that big usually takes 12V and not 5V. As for support... Make damn sure you pick up device that supports UAS/UASP (USB -Attached-SCSI) which is 10 times the tech than these lame usual controllers.

 

Drive size itself is never an limitation, it's partitioning is.. You will need EXT4? or GPT on it for sure unless you are smart and actually read what I wrote above and pick a dock/device capable of UAS/UASP and multi-partition it, if this is an bootable media you are looking to build I'd suggest 504MB or 2047MB FAT start -> bigger Primary and use logical partition tactic for storage space.

 

There's my 2 cents about it. :)


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#3 Uneitohr

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Posted 28 March 2017 - 11:24 AM

Could you show me an example of a such a dock? All my searches on various stores were without results.



#4 Wonko the Sane

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Posted 28 March 2017 - 01:22 PM

A 3.5" disk will need both 12V and 5 V.

A 3.5" disk external enclosure WILL have a power brick to power it, normally 2.5" external enclosures DO NOT have an external power supply. 

A 2.5" disk will need 5 V only, BUT not all hard disks will be compatible with USB 2.0 power output (limited to 500 mA@5V) and you might need a "Y cable" or a powered USB hub, with USB 3.0 ports (that deliver 1000mA@5V) there is not such a problem.

 

Example of UASP enabled USB 2.5" enclosure (with additionally specified disk drive compatibility up to 6 Gb in size):
https://www.startech...port~S2510BMU33

 

Example of UASP enabled USB 3.5" enclosure:

https://www.startech...UASP~S3510SMU33

 

 

:duff:

Wonko



#5 genetix

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Posted 28 March 2017 - 06:51 PM

Could you show me an example of a such a dock? All my searches on various stores were without results.

 

Well, for example almost any LC-Power supports UASP. I use these and they are cheap. I have yet one to break down, so, chip ain't that bad.

 

http://www.lc-power....s-25/lc-25bub3/

 

For docking:

 

http://www.lc-power....ion/lc-dock-u3/

 

and also this is only one company silicon has some for even faster S-ATA M.2 interface, where of course drives again costs like cherries and berries, heh.  :)

 

and as above post startech...

 

Many like Kingston are trying to hide the fact they don't have a single device supporting real interfaces (heck, you can't even get answers out of their tech team).



#6 Kapt Blasto

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Posted 01 July 2020 - 02:54 PM

I've read somwhere, (perhaps HERE) that the difference between SATA and SAS is

SAS can do TX/RX (am I saying this right?) SIMULTANEOUSLY (edit: SAS can Read and Write to the Drive Simultaneously)

and SATA (of whatever Level) ....CAN'T (SATA can either Read, then Write....or Write, then Read....hence the different levels and the speeds to offset the Non-simultaneousness barrier?)

Is that still correct?

Because.... I'm looking at SAS right now as a Cheaper alternative to SATA.

Am I going down a rabbit hole, here?


Edited by Kapt Blasto, 01 July 2020 - 02:57 PM.


#7 Rootman

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Posted 01 July 2020 - 03:26 PM

I went through 3 or 4 of the cheapy ones which all burned out the power supply until I bout this: StarTech.com USB 2.0 to IDE SATA Adapter quite a few years back.  It's been rock solid.  

 

I see USB 3 version but the power supply looks a lot smaller.  






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