SATA connected external drive enclosure?
reddit / selfhosted

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DeejusIsHere · 2023-11-26 16:41

Might be a dumb question, but having a hard time googling+reddit
searching this issue.

Just bought an Optiplex 5060 MT and plan on continuously
adding/upgrading drives as I go. Gonna start with a 3.5 recertified
Exos X20 18TB(any other suggestions are VERY welcome)

Unfortunately finding out that while it can hold a 2.5 and a 3.5, I
haven't seen mods(at least well cooled ones) that can get a second
3.5" drive in there. So also looking to the future when I start
upgrading drive space, currently looking at external enclosures.

I have a USB C I can use, but wouldn't SATA be better? I can fit a
PCI-E Sata card and it shouldn't be an issue to run the cables out of
the case, but can you just buy a SATA connected external 3.5" bay
drive?

Thank you!

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Lyndeno · 2023-11-26 21:35

You could probably by an eSATA PCIe card with external connections. I
used to use an external eSATA drive dock and it worked well.

I cannot remember the technical differences between eSATA and SATA.
The connector is different, but the dock or enclosure you use will
allow you to use a SATA drive in it.

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DeejusIsHere · 2023-11-26 21:49

Thank you! Probably won't have to worry about it for a while as 18TB
should be fine(only have a 1.5TB library now) but figured I'd start
thinking about it.

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Still-Snow-3743 · 2023-11-27 05:30

I'm in the exact same situation, and I've been eyeing the device on
amazon named: "Mediasonic PROBOX 4 Bay 3.5” SATA Hard Drive Enclosure
– USB 3.0 eSATA Support (HF2-SU3S3)" - I think this is what you are
looking for.  If I understand correctly, a single eSata cable will be
able to drive all 4 drives in this box, so basically as much
expandability as you want.

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DeejusIsHere · 2023-11-30 14:37

Yep, looked at those too. Any reason why so many of the esata drive
docks have mixed reviews? Seems like such a simple setup, and I'm so
surprised there isn't just a 1-1 sata connected hard drive holder BOX
with fans, because that's literally all I'd need. I could just stick
them in little drive holder things and have the cords stick out of the
optiplex until I build a fully functional full size server, but it
seems silly that there aren't more solutions.