Windows 7 Choosing the Right Docking Station for SATA Data Transfer: Price and Interface Insights

[seekermeister]

This is an item I have heard about in passing many times, but never paid much attention to, because at the time, I didn't see why I would want one. However the notion struck me that it would be a convenient means of transferring data via a hard drive from one computer to another, so I quickly looked at them on eBay. The thing that impressed me most, at first glance, is the price range difference...anywhere from a few dollars, up to $2,500. I can't imagine anyone choosing to pay that upper end price, but then again, I know so little about them, I don't know what one should expect to pay for a good and reliable unit?

As said, all I would probably use it for is occasional data transfer via a standard sized SATA hard drive. Size isn't too much of a factor, since I wouldn't be traveling with it, but then I don't want something that takes up a lot of space for nothing. If someone would share their insights with me on this, it would help a lot.

EDIT: Perhaps I should add to the question as to which type of interface would work the best in my situation? I only have USB 3 on one computer, so that would limit my choice to USB 2, should that be a critical factor. I could go ethernet, but I suspect that would be slower...don't know?

 

[seekermeister]

badrobot,
That's a rather odd ad, because while it calls it a USB 3 docking station, everything in the specs below only state USB II capability. Not that it matters too much, because I'm not going to order anything from China if I can help it.

 

[Jimbo22]

My docking station is built into my case....Thermaltake OverSeer RX 1

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811133194

 

[badrobot]

Badrobot.....with your docking station; how does the hot swap work....being it's a usb external. With my case for the hot swap to work I have to have the RAID/AHCI driver installed and set in the BIOS for how swap to function properly.

Bass, it uses the Windows USB driver. It's basically Plug n Play. I plug it between my PCs (Win 7 & Win 8) without needing to install any drivers. Just safely remove the drive (because it is in USB dock), turn the power off and eject the drive and the place a new one turn the power back on.

Yours is connected directly to the motherboard that's why you need a driver for it. Anything that you attach to the mobo needs a driver.

 

[seekermeister]

I've been communicating with the seller of that DupDocStation and he says that those SATA I & SATA II labels on top of that unit are nothing more than references...like bay 1 & bay 2, but then in the specs in the ad, it says "Compliant with USB 2.0/1.1", So I don't know if what he is saying is true.