Conclusion:
From start to finish, the review of the
Kingwin KF-4000-BK 4-Bay Hot Swap SATA Drive Rack has made a positive impression on me, and I find myself a bit more excited about a drive enclosure than I would have previously thought possible. It is well made, has a simple but attractive appearance, was simple to install, and it works perfectly. The steel latches and drive eject mechanisms add to the solid design, and not having to install each drive into a tray makes things very convenient.
The only negative comment I have is related to the combination data / power / status cables. While they do provide a quick and easy all-in-one solution, I would have preferred separate cables. This way you could use SATA data cables of the length you need, and you could take advantage of the SATA power connections your modern power supply most likely features. While you could use your own SATA data and power cables, the status LEDs are pretty much dependent on the combination cable in order to be functional.
A search of
PriceGrabber finds the KF-4000-BK available from a few retailers for as little as $70 (US). Compared to other 4-bay mobile racks I have seen and used, this is a very appealing price. You aren't sacrificing quality for this price, and you could easily pay twice as much for a comparable enclosure.
For the simplicity, high quality, and competitive pricing the
Kingwin KF-4000-BK 4-Bay Hot Swap SATA Drive Rack earns the rating of "Highly Recommended".
Pros:
» Well made with steel latches and drive ejection mechanism
» Easy installation, especially with a tool-less chassis
» Aluminum housing with two fans to keep drives cool
» No drive trays required
» Attractively priced
Cons:
» Combination data, power, status cable could be improved
Special thanks to
Kingwin for providing the Kingwin KF-4000-BK 4-Bay Hot Swap SATA Drive Rack to Bigbruin.com for review!
