external hard drive enclosure recommendations

[keakar]

im looking for some external hard drive enclosure recommendations

im looking to buy an enclosure because a hdd and enclosure is way cheaper than the assembled external drives they sell.

thing is to know whats the best to buy so here are my questions:

whats the best internal interface? (IDE, SATA, or SATA 2) - HDD connection

whats the best external interface? (SATA, SATA 2, eSATA, or USB 2.0) - PC connection

whats better to have if its only being used as a windows restore drive? (fan or fanless)

is aluminum case better than plastic or does it really matter?

i was hoping to get a nice external drive for about $20 but no more than $30 + shipping
and i will just ghost a clean install of windows with all my files, games, and programs installed then its back in the box and i'll put it in the closet untill needed for a format and reinstall.

thanks to all

[AsRock]

whats the best internal interface? (IDE, SATA, or SATA 2) - HDD connection

SATA 2 unless you go SCSI ( Exspenive ).

whats the best external interface? (SATA, SATA 2, eSATA, or USB 2.0) - PC connection

I know USB sucks ass for it. eSATA i beleave is the way to go. And think it's the same as SATA1 \ SATA 2. I'm sure some one will correct me lol.. Just make sure the SATA addon card supports your SATA drives.

whats better to have if its only being used as a windows restore drive? (fan or fanless)

a fan for sure but some enclosers only have a fan that will move about 6-9CFM

is aluminum case better than plastic or does it really matter?

I would say Aluminum but cannot see there being all that much differance to be honest.

[keakar]

wow, i guess if usb connections suck then thats why nobody uses external hard drives or at least thats what im assuming because i didnt get any opinions so i guess no one knows anything about them. i sure was hoping to here about actual users comments.

thanks asrock

[AsRock]

Well SATA 2 be the fastest unless SCSI is a option. And as far as i see with external cases for HDD's support SATA2.

Maybe some thing like this.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812226003
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16816119010
Or even
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ShowImage.aspx?CurImage=17-716-028-05.jpg&Image=17-716-028-02.jpg%2c17-716-028-03.jpg%2c17-716-028-04.jpg%2c17-716-028-05.jpg%2c17-716-028-06.jpg&S7ImageFlag=0&Depa=1&Description=Galaxy+METAL+GEAR+3500MGB-RAID%2fBLK+Black+External+Enclosure