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how to choose hdd external connection system

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Dunc

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I have 2 SATA hdds (electromechanical not ssds); one is 4 TB, the other is 8 TB. These are bare drives - not in a box (like WD My Book). There are any number of adapters that allow connecting a SATA hdd to a power source and carry the data across a usb cable. Given the hdd capacity, how can I determine if the hookup I select will recognize the total drive volume capacity ( 4 & 8 TB)? Some devices specify their capacity; others say nothing. Is it related to the usb version? Assuming a devices stated capacity is (for eg) 2 TB would pre- partitioning the 4 TB drive into 2 partitions (2 TB per partition) (& similarly 4 x 2TB for the 8 TB drive) be a workaround? The desktop computer that these drives will be connected to is capable of recognizing these drives if configured in a single partition (win 11, 64 bit)
If not, what alternatives are available?
Thank you!
 
What kind of devices are you looking at?

My experience with connecting mechanical drives externally to PCs via USB leads me to believe that there isn't a capacity cap, just a bandwidth restriction based on the throughput of the USB connection.

I've used both HDD caddies in which you install the hard drive (basically turning it into an external drive) that support varying versions of raid, as well as external plug-in caddies that you just slot the drive into. Either style had no issues supporting a pair of 8TB drives, and on the external slot version I used it with unraid to pre-clear a 20TB drive without issue.



edit:

So.... looking through the listings on amazon there are indeed some devices which list max capacity, but the lowest I'm seeing for newer devices is 8TB. Based on that, I'd suspect that any device you're looking at which lists a cap below the drive size(s) you want to use expect that the cap is total for the drive... you wouldn't be able to create multiple partitions to get around it as the controller is limited to only recognizing that size of HDD.
 
Last edited:
Dunc said:
I have 2 SATA hdds (electromechanical not ssds); one is 4 TB, the other is 8 TB. These are bare drives - not in a box (like WD My Book). There are any number of adapters that allow connecting a SATA hdd to a power source and carry the data across a usb cable. Given the hdd capacity, how can I determine if the hookup I select will recognize the total drive volume capacity ( 4 & 8 TB)? Some devices specify their capacity; others say nothing. Is it related to the usb version? Assuming a devices stated capacity is (for eg) 2 TB would pre- partitioning the 4 TB drive into 2 partitions (2 TB per partition) (& similarly 4 x 2TB for the 8 TB drive) be a workaround? The desktop computer that these drives will be connected to is capable of recognizing these drives if configured in a single partition (win 11, 64 bit)
If not, what alternatives are available?
Thank you!
Click to expand...
If your looking for a cheaper tool free option this enclosure works nicely and will do what your wanting it to do and if used with a Windows PC it should show the capacity of the drive and how much is used unless you got a reall strange format and file system.

https://www.amazon.ca/UGREEN-Extern...773430&sprefix=ugreen+hdd+encl,aps,143&sr=8-6
 
sswilson said:
This is the single drive enclosure I settled on.....


A bit pricier than the UGREEN, but I've had good luck with a Nexstar DVD enclosure from years ago so I trust the brand.
Click to expand...
It's nice to see that Vantec has decided to get rid of that stupid connector for the power supply that was circular with 4 pins in it,I like Vantec stuff as well.

I have used UGreen and Orico and a few cheaper no name brands for hard drives off aliexpress and I have found that they all work well and haven't had any problems with any of them,the only thing that makes me not buy an enclosure is if it use's that stupid USB Micro connector.
 
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