CENMATE 4 Bay Hard Drive RAID Enclosure with Cooling Fan
CENMATE 4 Bay Hard Drive RAID Enclosure with Cooling Fan for 2.5/3.5″ SATA HDD/SSD with USB A/C 3.0＋eSATA Cable, 3.5 Hard Drive Reader Supports 80TB Capacity, 8 RAID Modes(NO NAS)
CENMATE 4 Bay Hard Drive RAID Enclosure with Cooling Fan for 2.5/3.5″ SATA HDD/SSD with USB A/C 3.0＋eSATA Cable, 3.5 Hard Drive Reader Supports 80TB Capacity, 8 RAID Modes(NO NAS)
I use this enclosure with two HDD installed as overflow storage for large projects. I work a lot in video and it’s good to have everything downloaded to my system without having to mess about clearing space on my internal Hard Drive. It performs brilliantly for what I use it for, and having the facility to configure it in different RAID modes is great.
Very impressed with this rig. Has 4 slots which can be used and used in anyway you like with the RAID enclosure just follow the simple steps and you will could unlock a while different world and use a variation which suits you best.
72tb! Is an insane limit which I by no means will be able to fill for quite some time, having that there is definitely give me peace of mind knowing I can expand my storage at anytime and very easily at that.
The enclosure is very sturdy and made up of aluminium alongside the fan allowing for optimum efficiency when running the drives and the non slip feet are great and help keep it sturdy.
Overall very happy and would recommend
After having problems backing up my data, I ordered this Cenmate 2-bay hard drive enclosure so I could keep my hard drives contained and the cooling fan added extra appeal so nothing would overheat. It was easy to install the hard drive and the strong-looking box stays put thanks to the non-slip feet.
I’m not techie at all and also lack dexterity, I just needed something easy to install that wouldn’t get lost and held the hard drives securely so data wouldn’t get lost and I could store what I wanted to keep but don’t need to use regularly (or possibly ever again) away from my computer on external hard drives, especially large files.
I found the video on the sales page to be useful when installing different-sized hard drives. It feels sturdy, the fan isn’t too loud and it does what I need at my admittedly very basic level but the peace of mind is huge, 5*
This enclosure comes in economy packaging that gives the impression of a business-oriented product.
Here are my main likes and dislikes for this product:
Like:
Easy to set up
Quiet cooling fan
72 Terabytes capacity
Very good design
Robust build quality
Dislike:
No RAID or NAS functionality
A little expensive
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The most impressive things are the solid build quality and the ease of access. The setup is simple and just works perfectly with any 2.5 or 3.5 drives, whether HDD or SSD.
I didn’t encounter any problems transferring my SSD collection. Access speeds were as expected for all drives, which isn’t surprising given how basic this is. The fan needs to be connected with a USB cable but is quiet despite only being tiny.
The price seems a little high considering the limited functionality. They do a RAID version for 20 more, but they don’t seem to offer any NAS support on that version either.
Overall I have to say that despite the price this is still a good buy and one that I can recommend.
I have two 1-bay hard drive enclosures. I am not using my Desktops so I have four 3.5 inch 2TB hard drives and a 2.5 inch 1TB. Accessing these hard drives using the single docking stations meant a lot of swapping. Now I have 4 Hard Drives inside this docking station. It is not just neater it is also much easier to remove a hard drive if I need to do so.
This is a robust docking station that is easy to use.
As someone who juggles a vast collection of photos, videos, and documents, storage is a constant concern. This enclosure has been a lifesaver. It accommodates my growing collection of hard drives, keeping them organized and easily accessible. The RAID functionality offers an extra layer of security, ensuring my data remains safe even if one drive fails. The cooling fan keeps everything running smoothly, even during extended use.
I recently bought the CENMATE 2 Bay Hard Drive RAID Enclosure and it has been fantastic. It is perfect for expanding your storage capacity for both SATA HDD and SSD drives. The built-in cooling fan keeps my hard drives cool and prevents any overheating issues. With the included USB A/C 3.0 cable, transferring data is fast and efficient. It has a maximum storage capacity of 40TB, which is great for storing large amounts of data. The enclosure also offers 4 RAID modes, allowing you to customize your data management based on your needs. Overall, it is a reliable and efficient solution for anyone looking to expand their storage capabilities.
The hard drive RAID enclosure has been reliable for my data storage needs. Setting it up was straightforward, and the multiple RAID options allow for flexibility in how I manage my data. The cooling fan keeps the drives from overheating, and the device operates quietly. It connects easily to my computer, and transferring files is quick and efficient. This enclosure has provided me with peace of mind knowing my data is secure.
This is a really useful gadget and possibly vital to my business. If you’ve ever had your hard drive die on you without backup, you will understand the pain of losing everything! When unpackaging this enclosure, my first impression was just how sleek and compact it was, making it a great fit on my desk without taking up too much space. It’s strong, too, with a sturdy construction that gives me confidence in its durability. The cooling fan is a fantastic addition, keeping the drives cool even during heavy use, which is crucial for maintaining performance and extending the lifespan of the drives.
Setting up the enclosure was very easy. It supports both 2.5″ and 3.5″ SATA HDDs/SSDs, making it versatile for different storage needs. I appreciated the inclusion of USB A/C 3.0 cables, which made connecting to my computer straightforward. The impressive data transfer speed, with a maximum of 6Gbps, ensures quick and efficient backups and data access.
One of my favourite features is the support for four RAID modes. Whether you need redundancy for data protection or performance boost, this enclosure covers you. I’ve started using it in RAID 1 for data mirroring, and it has given me peace of mind knowing my important files are safely backed up. The 40TB capacity is more than enough for my needs, providing ample space for all my files.
The performance has been outstanding. I’ve noticed a significant improvement in data transfer speeds compared to my previous setup. Whether I’m transferring large video files or accessing archived documents, everything runs smoothly and efficiently.
Overall, the CENMATE 2 Bay Hard Drive RAID Enclosure is a fantastic investment for anyone needing reliable, high-capacity storage. It combines excellent build quality, versatile RAID options, and impressive performance in one streamlined package. Whether you’re a professional needing secure data storage or a tech enthusiast looking to upgrade, this enclosure is a must-have. Highly recommended!
I have been using this for a month now. I started with using it as a RAID 0 using two 2TB SATA mechanical drives as a whole 4TB backup storage. This worked well, using the Windows 11 backup system with File history feature. But I decided to change this to Normal mode, because my files were not reaching anywhere the capacity of needing 4TB, I only have 100GB of important files to backup, so I reverted to Normal mode instead. Using one drive for the backup and the other drive for video and photos dump.
The enclosure keeps the drives cool with built in fans. The beauty of having this external is that I can switch it off and only switch it on when I do my manual backup and photo/videos dump to save power. I am conscious of reducing power consumption and waste. If I install these drives internally, they will draw power even when idle. Also, I use mechanical drives for the enclosure because they actually draw less power than SSDs when it comes to disk writing.
I have not tried RAID 1, as i don’t need the extra redundancy because I also have cloud backup with file history. but it’s great that the option is there.
Overall, this works as promised and I am happy with it.
Ordered via vine,
Since I have a fair bit of data I want to backup, not quite as much as 40TB yet but this will do fantastic. I’m not currently utilising both trays until I buy a better SSD, but i;ve tested it with an existing one.
The 2″ cooling fan is a very nice touch, and as per title it’s built like a tank which is reassuring as ambient temperatures heat up, providing we have no direct coronal mass emjections. Though it came in quite a plain box its actually very well designed, and apparently made of aluminium alloy. So it’s not heavy (when empty) and looks rather good.
The bays are easy to access, and I specially like the 4 underside large non slip feet, which are to be expected I suppose but it looks rather good as a unit, a few LED indicators and the CENMATE logo. It looks good on my desk and hopefully i’ll keeo my data nice and safe. I won’t be doing a whole lot of regular transferring, but 6GBps is more than adequate for the drives.
Overall a really solid and compact unit and I can’t fault it.
This hard drive enclosure has been a great addition to my tech setup. It’s sturdy and well-ventilated, thanks to the cooling fan. The USB A/C 3.0 cable provides fast data transfer speeds, making backups a breeze. The four RAID modes offer flexibility depending on my storage needs. The only minor issue is that it can be a bit noisy when the fan is running. Overall, it’s a reliable and versatile enclosure that keeps my hard drives cool and secure.
I recently got the this 3.5-inch hard drive enclosure, and I’m thoroughly impressed with its quality and functionality. The enclosure is built from sturdy Aluminum-Alloy materials with effective heat dissipation, ensuring durability and quiet operation thanks to its 2-inch Silent Fans. It supports both 2.5-inch and 3.5-inch HDDs and SSDs, accommodating up to 72TB of storage (18TB per drive), making it perfect for personal and small business use.
One of its standout features is the versatile RAID support, including RAID 0/1/3/5/10, CLONE, LARGE, and NORMAL modes, allowing users to tailor their data storage and protection needs accordingly. Setting up RAID configurations is straightforward, although caution is advised about potential data loss when switching RAID modes.
In terms of performance, the enclosure offers high-speed connectivity with USB 3.0 and eSATA interfaces, delivering data transfer speeds up to 6Gbps under UASP control. This ensures fast backups and seamless access to data across different operating systems, including Windows, Mac, and Linux, without the need for additional drivers.
Setting up the enclosure was hassle-free, and it worked seamlessly with my existing setup right out of the box. The inclusion of lifetime technical support from Cenmate further adds to the peace of mind, ensuring any queries or issues are promptly addressed. I’m very impressed.
I recently ordered the CENMATE 2 Bay Hard Drive RAID Enclosure and have been impressed with its performance and build quality. Setting it up was easy; the included USB A/C 3.0 cables ensure compatibility with various systems, and the RAID configuration options are straightforward to navigate.
The cooling fan operates fairly quietly and efficiently, keeping the drives cool even during extended use, which is a significant advantage for maintaining drive longevity. The enclosure supports both 2.5″ and 3.5″ SATA HDDs/SSDs, and the ability to handle up to 40TB is fantastic for extensive data storage needs.
Performance wise, the data transfer speeds are fast. This reduces the time I spend on large file transfers. The four RAID modes offer great flexibility, allowing me to choose between performance and redundancy based on my requirements.
In terms of build, the enclosure feels sturdy and durable. The drive bays are easy to access, making swapping drives in and out a hassle-free process. Important to note when the protrusions of the tray conflict with the hard disk, cut off the protrusions or unplug the blue tabs and install the hard disk using the screws. Overall, the CENMATE RAID enclosure has met my expectations in terms of functionality, ease of use, and performance. It’s a great investment for anyone needing reliable and versatile storage solutions.
This is great for storing your hard drives in place.
Super easy to set up and is good quality.
I used it to connect external storage to my laptop.
The cooling fan also works great.
Highly recommend
Setting up this hard drive enclosure was a breeze. The ability to support multiple drives offers extensive storage options, which is perfect for both personal and business use. The aluminum-alloy body and built-in cooling fan keep the drives at an optimal temperature, ensuring reliable performance. While the fan is slightly audible, it does its job well. This device provides a solid solution for anyone needing to manage large amounts of data efficiently.
This is a review for the TWO BAY version which is no longer listed on this page, or at least isn’t at the time of writing this review.
It’s a simple device to set up – slot two (ideally same sized) drives into the two trays, screws and screwdriver supplied. Plug in – connects to Pc via USB, there is no network connection here, so it can be used either as PC storage, hooked up directly or via a docking station. Or you could use it to extend a NAS if the NAS supports an external USB drive.
2 dip switches hidden away at the rear allow you to select between:
– Normal – each disc accessed separately
– JBOD – both discs treated as one drive
– Raid0 – striping – for performance
– Raid1 – disc mirroring, for data resilience
I notice another review states they couldn’t find the dip switches – the device ships both with and without RAID options, so it’s possible they received the wrong item. On mine the switch positions are really clearly labelled on the rear.
I set it up as a RAID 1 enclosure, allowing me to back up my DJ music automatically – so much work goes into it, I can’t afford to trust a single drive.
I had to use a knife to cut some little nubs on the trays away when installing the discs – odd that it’s necessary but it wasn’t a major issue and it’s mentioned in the advert.
I like the almost total lack of boot-up time – the drives appear quickly.
Data transfer speeds were great with no obvious slow-down due to the mirroring.
It looks quite good and the aluminium construction is excellent for heat dissipation. So far can’t really fault it.
This is an excellent drive enclosure. It’s really well made; looks good and most importantly, does exactly what it claims it will do.
I have a couple of older 3.5″ HDDs that I rescued from PC’s that I was upgrading. They were just in a box in a cupboard. I thought this enclosure might allow me to get some further use out of them.
Inside the box there is the enclosure; a power lead, a USB cable and an SATA cable, ie everything you need. There is no hardware set up needed at this stage. This is just a question of plug and play once you have positioned your HDD(s). Doing that was very staightforward; a bit like putting a cassette in a player. You just position it; click it into place and closee the drawer. After that it’s just a question of turning the enclosure on and setting up your drive(s). The instruction manual leads you through the options depending upon what kind of drive you are installing – 2.5″ or 3.5″; old or new. Both of mine were old, 3.5″ drives and both were immediately recognised by my PC so it was then just a question of formatting the disks. I was up and running about 5 minutes after opening the box.
As you can see from the images I used slots 1 and 2 – see blue lights on the right hand side. The second image shows the two unused slots sitting open.
In conclusion, I can only say I am absolutely delighted by this drive enclosure and that I am very happy to recommend it.
These Cenmate hard drive enclosures are perfect when you do not have enough hard drive bays in your computer case or want external access for on-the-fly drive swapping. This is a non-raid enclosure, that supports 2.5″ and 3.5″ SATA 600 hard disk drives. The caddies are a toolless design, however, for 2.5″ drives you will need to remove the blue guides and fix your HDD in place with M3 screws from underneath. A selection of screws is included.
I tested the following old drives.
TOSHIBA DT01ACA050 500.1 GB
ST1000LX015-1U7172 1000.2 GB
ST4000NM0033-9ZM170 4000.7 GB
They performed no differently as if connected directly to my motherboard which is reassuring. Copying between drives may result in a performance drop running off the same USB. The ST4000NM0033 has a large cache and performs the fastest. Plus, the enclosure has an auto-sleep function to reduce the abrasion of the hard disk and consume less electricity, you will notice all lights go off on the front when this happens. However, they will spin back up again as soon as they are used. The internal fan will maintain optimal temperature throughout. USB 3.0 connectivity will be the fastest although eSATA is also an option and both cables are included in the box with full instructions.
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Update 23/06/2024
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I ordered the 4-bay non-rain and 2-bay raid enclosures. So far it has produced two raw large-capacity hard disk drives. I am going to lose files even with the restoration software!