Thermaltake BlacX ST0005U External Hard Drive SATA Enclosure Docking Station 2.5” & 3.5” USB 2.0 & eSATA

 

$30 after promo EMCJJJJ58 (expires 11:59pm PT on 11/13/2011)

$10 after MIR (expires 11/13/2011)

 

Thermaltake BlacX Duet ABS Plastic 2.5" & 3.5" Black USB2.0 & eSATA Dual Hard Drives Docking Station

 

$45 after promo (11:59pm PT on 11/13/2011)

$25 after MIR (expires 11/13/2011)

 

Either one would make a nice preclear station.

Just curious, i have the duet version, which i havent used since building my unraid server (used to be my storage method using that + many drives). How does one go about using it to preclear? That function could allow me to bring it out of the box in the basement.

 

 

First of all, you would need to use the eSATA connection to your server.  You cannot run preclear over USB.  If your server doesn't have an eSATA port, then you could purchase a SATA to eSATA conversion cable and run the cable from your motherboard or controller card out to the toaster dock (use the case's water cooling ports if it has any).  Next, you will have to power down the server to add a drive, just like you were adding a new drive permanently into the server.  Once you boot up with the new drive inserted in the toaster dock, then you would run preclear like normal.  The beauty of eSATA is that the BIOS and OS don't know the difference from regular SATA.  Therefore, unRAID and preclear will both treat the drive connected via eSATA as if it were a regular internal SATA drive.  While you could actually add drives to your array permanently using an eSATA dock, I wouldn't recommend it.  The drive will run hotter  and use more power, plus be exposed to accidental damage.  However, at least a few enterprising unRAID users have attached a regular case fan to their toaster docks and used them in a more permanent setting.

I have not played with the duets, is it a port multiplier in it for the esata?

I would presume so. Swells, do you know?

 

Sent from my DROID2 using Tapatalk

Im not sure, but I would guess so. You can use both drives over the single eSATA port or single USB2 port. Its actually a really nice thing to have laying around, even if you don't think you will need it right away.

Thanks for the post Raj!  This is a great time to use up my newegg gift card.

You're welcome!  I still wish I could trade in my USB only version for an eSATA version... Oh well.  I got mine as a free gift with some other thing I purchased.  Can't complain about free...but I can try!

ugh, I just missed this and really wanted one. Thanks for posting the deal!

There's another on sale today, but it is a USB only version:

 

Rosewill RX-DU300 2.5" & 3.5" USB 3.0 Hard Drive Docking

 

$25 shipped after promo EMCJJJE42 (expires 11/21/2011)