Portable Performance: Four USB 3.0 Enclosures For Your 2.5” Drive

Features
By Thomas Soderstrom
published

USB 3.0 is set to become the de facto standard for performance-oriented portable devices. We take a look at four enclosures that bring modern performance to pocket-sized storage. If you have an old laptop drive laying around, throw it in one of these.

SIIG JU-SA0312-S1

SIIG’s unique additions to today’s roundup include an enclosure that supports screw-free drive insertion and a pair of rubber strips that reduce rattle with loosely fitting drives.

Like many of its competitors, the JU-SA0312-S1 includes USB 3.0 and auxiliary power cables, a cushioned bag with an internal cable pouch, and a cryptic name.

Squeezing an end tab firmly allows the cap to be lifted away for drive insertion. Little effort is required to snap it back into place.

Screws at the other end should never require removal, although we took them out to photograph the interface card. An activity LED sits opposite the auxiliary power jack

ASMedia’s ASM1051 tucks deeply into the JU-SA0312-S1 end cap, on top of an interface card that’s securely glued in place.

Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom
Thomas Soderstrom is a Senior Staff Editor at Tom's Hardware US. He tests and reviews cases, cooling, memory and motherboards.
28 Comments Comment from the forums
  • I know this isn't relevant, but what is in the pcie1 slot?
    Reply
  • Gin Fushicho
    You guys are really benching cases? I figured they'd all be close to the same anyway.
    Reply
  • Crashman
    SubSonix1I know this isn't relevant, but what is in the pcie1 slot?
    Nothing, the slot is covered by an extended chipset heat sink.
    Reply
  • TomD_1
    So basically, they all have identical hardware, and IMO all look ugly
    Reply
  • Crashman
    TomD_1So basically, they all have identical hardware, and IMO all look ugly
    You forgot to mention they all fit in a shirt pocket. That is the most important part.
    Reply
  • thejerk
    Scraping the bottom of the barrel for non-iPad news?
    Reply
  • warmon6
    thejerkScraping the bottom of the barrel for non-iPad news?
    Um.... few things,

    1. They haven't been just covering the ipad. They been covering alot of other things.

    2. This isn't news. This is a review. Learn the difference.
    Reply
  • kelfen
    if ya think about it this is more cost effective per GB to buy one of these and a hard drive then buying a usb drive
    Reply
  • Good... so I can share my pirated movies more faster?( sarcasm )
    Reply
  • rooket
    What's the performance like if you use it with a hard drive? Just same as usb 2.0 I'd imagine? Odd that they're only hitting 35MB/sec with USB 2.0. It should go 60MB/sec. Why is this only half the speed?
    Reply