Customer Reviews

Vantec NexStar 3 NST-360SU-BK External Hard Drive Enclosure (Onyx Black)

5 star:		(37)
4 star:		(17)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I bought a NexStar enclosure early last month to use a 250GB Seagate SATA internal HD I'd mistakenly bought last year when looking for the older IDE sort. Until finding reference to SATA ensclosures with USB 2.0 attachments, I thought I only had the option of putting the SATA drive in my G-5.

The enclosure went together quickly (including connecting a separate light cable) and the SATA HD using just the USB cable popped onto the screen to be initialized just like an IDE drive. Though it can be inferred from the product description that this NexStar enclosure will work with USB connections at the slower USB 2.0 speed, I'll just make it clear that this product comes with a SATA cable that allows faster SATA data rates in the case of you having such a SATA port in your computer--but if not, the enclosure will allow you to operate a SATA HD with the USB connection alone. Very handy--as it allows you to replace SATA drives from a a Apple G-5 and install the old one in the SATA enclosure to make use of the data. Nice way to upgrade and still use the old HD.

Haven't run the enclosure long enough to comment on heat issues. I'm inclined to run external HD's for a limited time as they are needed for back-up, so any heat build up would likely be avoided if it is an issue at all. The NexStar appears to be made of sheet metal and is not nearly as robust as Acomdata's aluminum brick enclosure--but Acomdata doesn't seem to offer a SATA to USB enclosure.

I was looking for an Enclosure with eSATA and USB that could handle a 2 Terabyte internal drive. This works so far. I haven't tested the eSata. I put a Hitachi Deskstar 2TB SATA HD32000 IDK/7k drive in it and it works fine. You do have to use the disk management program in Windows to first initialize it and then format it. I chose simple volume which is the most common format type if you don't need RAID. The specs said it goes up to 1.5 TB so I wasn't sure it could do 2TB in one partition but it seems fine. I like the no fan to break and slim design. If I load more than about 30GB at a time I give it a rest to cool down a little just in case. But, it only seems a little warm not bad. It wasn't plug and play though. You do need to take those two steps to get the computer to see it as an external drive. Was able to get the Hitachi 2TB drive for $108 on sale. So, a pretty cheap combo external drive setup. Good luck.

As of 4/28/11, Vantec says only Version 1.02 will support 3TB drives. This is indicated on the outside of the box next to the barcode and not on the unit itself. Not sure if Amazon can check what version they have in stock. Also, it depends on the OS on whether the enclosure will support 2TB or 3TB. Windows 7 & Vista will support 3TB on the eSATA and the USB. XP will only support 2TB for both the eSATA and USB.

This is an excellent product, with a first-class design, both in its operation and in its classy appearance. It has a very small footprint in the vertical position. I have it sitting on a 1/2 inch styrofoam pad, which I do as a matter of course with drives of this sort in order to lessen any vibration effects. However, there are none at all; it is impossible, either by sound or feel, to detect that the drive is running.

It was very easy to install a 500gb Seagate Barracuda SATA drive, which of course required formatting before use. After formatting, the drive worked as expected, with no fussing or fiddling. Most important, the fan-less aluminum enclosure runs very cool. The warmest surface temperature which I measure using a laser spot thermometer (in an ambient surrounding of 75 degrees F) is 95 degrees F.

All pros and no cons!!

The reason I bought this case is to build my own "super fast" eSATA drive. I also bought an eSATA 3.0gb drive as well as a PCI-E card. I have tried many compbinations but I cannot get the drive work in 3.0gb mode. The only way to make it work is to jumper the hdd to 1.5gb. So, if you have a HDD drive and a PCI card that are 3.0Gb compatible, this enclosure will limit your drive's speed to 1.5Gb. It is a really nice enclosure, made with professional grade materials, but if you are looking for the top speed this one will not cut it.

After much research I ordered two Vantec NexStar 3 NST-360SU-BK 3.5-Inch SATA to USB 2.0 and eSATA External Hard Drive Enclosures. It took me all of about 5-minutes to install the first one. It worked perfectly with my 320GB WD SATA HDD connected to USB 2.0. However, the other unit would not power up and after about 20 minutes of swapping out cases, cables and power supplies, I determined the second unit had a defective power supply.
I returned the defective unit to Amazon and ordered a replacement, which to Amazon's great customer service, came within 48 hours. The replacement device worked as well as the first unit I connected to my PC.
Not sure if it's the cases or what, but the transfer rate on these drives is as quick as I've ever seen. They seem as fast as eSATA, but sadly are slower than the two Fantom USB 3.0 HDDs I also ordered from Amazon.
Like I said, I would have loved to give these 5-stars, but a defective unit wouldn't allow me to do that. That said, I highly recommend these cases and would have no problem recommending them to a friend or ordering another if the occasion arose.

I have used various cases in the past and this one was tops for ease of use and quiet. As noted by another reviewer, its footprint is very small in the vertical position sitting in its stand with no vibrations and is very quiet. I use it for backups so it is not on for longer than an hour at a time so heat really isn't an issue and the metal construction keeps it pretty cool even after an hour. Connecting your hdd is so easy I was amazed. Other cases are too cramped and the wiring too short and there is much fiddling and straining with concerns upon closing them. That is not a problem with this case. The price has gone up since I purchased mine, but I am in the market for another case for my 1TB hdd and will most likely get this one again, provided there isn't an aluminum competitor that has improved their product (which was my material of choice the first time but after reading the reviews of other brands at the time, I opted for this one instead and was pleasantly surprised.) In less than 10 min from opening the package when it arrived to popping in my hdd that was salvaged from another computer, I was backing up files and happy. Excellent construction. If I had a concern/complaint it would be that this is really for a one time insert - constant swapping of hdds isn't recommended - ideal for salvaging hdds from dead or older systems or adding a bigger drive for storage and backup.

I bought this enclosure for my 400GB SATA drive and it fits great and works great. Nice sleek, glossy design makes it stand out !! the installation is soo easy and the user manual is well documentated for 1st timers.
it doesnt make any noise (well depends on ur HDD), the enclosure does a good job in dissipating the heat out, so no need for a fan !!

One minor improvement is I wish there is some kinda clip which joins the casing and the front silver opening through which the HDD is fitted inside. So, when we fittign is done, we have to push the silver side towards the enclosure, which needs some pressure and there could be a tiny gap if enough pressure is not applied.


Overall, great product.. Highly recommended.

If half stars were possible I'd give it 4.5 because I have only a few minor, well wishes more than complaints.

Vantec has a USB 3 version "coming soon" and I may get another when it does.

Easy to assemble probably was 10 minutes from start to ready to use. Windows 7 needed no drivers for eSATA or USB operation.

Measured speed on Windows using file copy was 24-59 MB/s eSATA and a pretty consistent 21-22 MB/s for USB.

I've been running for over an hour now and the case is not more than a few degrees above room temperature well within tolerances.

The power supply is a brick with a plug, I hate those things but these 1ft extension cords 5-Pack 1ft POWER STRIP OUTLET EXTENDER / OUTLET SAVER / POWER EXTENSION CABLE solve that issue well.

I added images of the Linux disk benchmark tests to compare a USB and eSata a 2TB Seagate drive (Seagate Barracuda Green 2TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache 3.5-Inch Internal Bare Drive ST2000DL003). Since it is testing one drive, I don't think it's applicable to the Windows file copy tests.

Drive housing does exactly what it's supposed to...Easy to install drive in housing. The eSATA interface is awesome, since I have an external e-SATA on my Dell Studio XPS. Have bought two of these so far (one uses USB, the other eSATA). Excellent service and shipping from Amazon!