Computers & Electronics

Recommend Cloning / SATA Dock

  • Last Updated:
  • Oct 9th, 2019 4:20 am
Deal Addict
Aug 25, 2006
3686 posts
1007 upvotes

Recommend Cloning / SATA Dock

Was looking to pick up another HDD for the PC. Noticed SATA docks now come with the ability to clone. Not sure I will use this feature but might as well pick one that that can allow a PC with no more SATA ports to upgrade storage. Anyone use the ORICO 2 Bay SATA dock?
9 replies
Deal Expert
Aug 22, 2006
31271 posts
17295 upvotes
Clone as in drive to drive without a PC?

It's an old standard, but if it were me I'd make sure I buy one with eSATA.
This also limits you to single bay docks.

Then again... if you have no more SATA eSATA would be useless unless you have an eSATA port.

Personally I have a shit ton of Thermaltake Blacx with eSATA. They were (are) USB2 though.
There's a USB3 model but it lacks eSATA.
Do you not have anything else to do rather than argue with strangers on the internet
Nope. That's why I'm on the internet arguing with strangers. If I had anything better to do I'd probably be doing it.
Deal Addict
Aug 25, 2006
3686 posts
1007 upvotes
Hey @death_hawk and @rabbit , this is not to dongle onto the PC. I was going to use this to clone a new disk and then upgrade storage. Not only all slots are full in the tower, all SATA power ports from the PS is all used up, cannot add anymore SATA cards lol.

I have an older Thermaltake single bay STAT dock but it's USB 2 and I think is only compatible with 2TB drives max. Was about to buy a single bay one and thought maybe I can go dual.

This one from Amazon seems ok: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00JJE ... CJNF&psc=1

Thoughts on this brand?
Deal Expert
Aug 22, 2006
31271 posts
17295 upvotes
I have a few Orico things and I can't complain.

No comment on the specific thing though.
Do you not have anything else to do rather than argue with strangers on the internet
Nope. That's why I'm on the internet arguing with strangers. If I had anything better to do I'd probably be doing it.
Deal Expert
User avatar
Jun 12, 2007
20807 posts
6623 upvotes
London
bowmah wrote: Hey @death_hawk and @rabbit , this is not to dongle onto the PC. I was going to use this to clone a new disk and then upgrade storage. Not only all slots are full in the tower, all SATA power ports from the PS is all used up, cannot add anymore SATA cards lol.

I have an older Thermaltake single bay STAT dock but it's USB 2 and I think is only compatible with 2TB drives max. Was about to buy a single bay one and thought maybe I can go dual.

This one from Amazon seems ok: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00JJE ... CJNF&psc=1

Thoughts on this brand?
I think it only off-line clones a smaller drive to bigger, it's not smart enough to off-line clone a bigger drive to smaller.
i.e 80 GB files on a 240GB drive clones to a 500GB drive (in about 20 min), but you can't off-line clone in reverse (bigger to smaller)
After cloning, use the command line to add the extra space into the volume
https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/window ... sic-volume

To reverse clone (bigger to smaller), I on-line imaged the external bigger source drive to an internal drive, then imaged from the internal drive to the external smaller target drive
(it was faster than on-line cloning slot to slot)

newegg-warm-orico-2-slot-docking-statio ... s-2120346/

Attention
HDD/SSD is not included.
The target disk must be larger than the source disk.
Make sure the USB cable is disconnected when using offline clone function.
Please backup files in the target hard drive before cloning. Any files in target hard drive will be overwritten when offline cloning occurs.
To avoid data loss, do not remove or insert hard drives when one drive is working in the docking station. Please power off the docking station before removing.
Last edited by l69norm on Oct 5th, 2019 10:23 am, edited 4 times in total.
Deal Fanatic
Jan 21, 2018
9652 posts
10924 upvotes
Vancouver
bowmah wrote: This one from Amazon seems ok: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00JJE ... CJNF&psc=1

Thoughts on this brand?
I use one of those Orico docks, along with a earlier similar one from Mediasonic, both single-bay USB 3.0. They're fine. I've used them for several years with a bunch of bare HDDs, no complaints, no problems with drive cooling or anything like that.
Sr. Member
Jan 10, 2006
878 posts
882 upvotes
bowmah wrote: Hey @death_hawk and @rabbit , this is not to dongle onto the PC. I was going to use this to clone a new disk and then upgrade storage. Not only all slots are full in the tower, all SATA power ports from the PS is all used up, cannot add anymore SATA cards lol.

I have an older Thermaltake single bay STAT dock but it's USB 2 and I think is only compatible with 2TB drives max. Was about to buy a single bay one and thought maybe I can go dual.

This one from Amazon seems ok: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00JJE ... CJNF&psc=1

Thoughts on this brand?
I have that exact same model, Orico 6629US3-C-BK, which I got from Newegg in 2015 for $30. I like the two slots, having USB3, and the cloning feature is nice, but I was always a little scared to use it (don't mix up the target and source! At least they're labelled).

One other comment: the description says max 8TB drives, and when I bought mine it said max 6TB. I recently contacted Orico support and asked if there's a limit to the capacity supported in firmware or hardware. They replied there is no limit as long as the power supply is enough to power the drive(s). With the 12V, 4A adapter that I got with it, I can confirm it works with a 10TB HDD, as well as with another 500GB HDD simultaneously.

So, I've been happy with it.
Sr. Member
Jan 10, 2006
878 posts
882 upvotes
bowmah wrote: @l69norm and @fizikz , what is the diff between these 2?

https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B00JJE ... CJNF&psc=1

https://www.newegg.ca/orico-6228us3-c-u ... 0003-00109

I prefer buying from Amazon even though Newegg has a lower price!
Model number 6228US3-C vs 6629US3-C. Features seem identical. You might want to contact ORICO and ask them.

Personally I prefer the more rectangular 6629US3-C, but the appearance is the only difference I can tell.

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