VantecCB-ST00U3 NexStar USB 3.0 to SATA 6Gbps Optical/Storage Adapter, Black

Had to retire my over 10 year old PC but wanted to keep the CD/DVD Read/Write drives. My solution was the Vantec SATA storage adapter with USB 3.0. I removed the CD/DVD drives from my PC and connected one of them to the SATA port on the Vantec adapter. Plugged the USB 3.0 cable into my Laptop (also connect to a Laptop docking station when using another Laptop). It just started working with no drivers, etc. Couldn't have been easier and now I am able to run applications, play music and create picture DVD's using any application that can see a CD or DVD in Windows 10 or 11. The performance appears to be better than it was in my old PC, which is probably due to the USB 3.0 connectivity. The adapter also supports SATA hard drives, but I have not utilized it for that purpose. However if I need it in the future, the specs says that Vantec SATA adapter supports any SATA drive.So for the $20 this is the best solution that I've found and highly recommend it to anyone.

Purchase two in order to use a Blu Ray Writer (yes I know it’s old tech but I still very much use physical media for various things) and a external Drive. Works absolutely flawlessly with both. Windows picked up both devices first time.Build quality is solid and over all I have to say the product is reliable and does exactly what it was designed to do. If you need an easy way to connect SATA optical drives or storage devices via USB, this is a great option.

Nice interface to sata devices. The main piece has the sata and power connector in one small rectangular piece. The power and usb cable plugs into this so its easy to plug into any sata device with this one piece with both connectors on it. It has a on switch so its easy to test devices before it gets installed or to use your dvd burner or load hard disk before installing in a system. Overall 5 stars looks quality and was easy to use.

Understand that this is just an adapter, not an enclosure. It attaches to the back of your SATA-III optical drive (such as an internal Blu-Ray, DVD, orCD drive or burner, or a hard drive) and lets you use the internal drive externally. Many desktop cases no longer come with a slot for these drives. And of course if you want to use an old internal-desktop drive with a laptop, you also need an adapter like this, or an enclosure. Vantec does make a different SATA-III enclosure that does what this adapter does, plus surround your internal drive, if that's what you want.Be sure the internal drive you want to use with this adapter has a SATA-III connector in back. Websearch that if you're not sure what it looks like; many older internal CD , DVD, and hard drives have an older SATA connector that *will NOT work* with this SATA-III adapter. The other end of the SATA-III cable that comes with this adapter goes to a USB-3 (blue) port on the outside of your computer case; you can connect it to an earlier version USB port, and it will work, but data will transfer much more slowly. I'm not sure a Blu-Ray drive could play a Blu-Ray disk without choking unless you use USB-3.The only reason I'm taking off a star is that both the included SATA-III-to-USB-3 cable to connect your drive to your computer and the AC power cable you have to use are at least two feet *too short.* Sure, you can buy or repurpose a longer cable and AC extension cord, but why should you have to?? If you use the very short included cable and cord, it's too easy for the adapter to get pulled off the back of the drive, possibly at a very bad time if you're using your drive to write data. Also note that the power cable has a moderately big brick which won't fit well on some power strips.Otherwise the adapter works great to repurpose an old internal drive into a fast external one.

It works great.

This review is for the Vantec CB-ST00U3 NexStar USB 3.0 to SATA 6Gbps Optical/Storage AdapterAfter my music hard drive failed, and I lost all my FLAC CD rips, I needed something to hook up an old DVD optical drive so I could start ripping CDs again. I don't have an optical drive in my main PC (NZXT H440), and I wanted an external option I could use across multiple computers. This fits the bill nicely. Small and portable so I can throw it in a bag, and cheap enough to be soft on my wallet (external 5.25 enclosures are $50? What?). As a plus, I could use it with any hard drive or SSD as well. Also, USB 3.0 speeds rock. Plus, plus plus.Not all is perfect, though:The adapter block is small, but it has no support of its own. It's not heavy by any means, but the entire weight of it is supported by my DVD drive's SATA and SATA power ports. This may or may not be an issue if you plan to leave it plugged into a 5.25: drive for an extended period. This probably isn't an issue with a 3.5" hard drive, due to drive thickness.The cords are short, especially the USB cord. This seems to be an industry standard for USB 3.0 peripherals - super short USB cord.Overall, though this is a net positive. Windows 10 recognized my DVD drive right away, and I'm ripping CDs all day long with AcurateRip.

The gizmo was easy to set up and allows quick switching of devices.The LED flows solid red when on and blinks when the device attached to it is in use.Lack of full chassis means that the connector brick may easily be disconnected from the optical drives SATA connectors and is likely more prone to jostles or jolts. But that's a small thing and for something quick and easy between multiple devices, even disk drives, this is slick.