Enermax Mighty Charger ECR301 & ECR 501 Card Reader and Front Panel Review

Introduction

It is rare that a chassis has all the front connection you want or need, especially if you need more than few USB ports and maybe an SD card reader. If you feel like that, then Enermax’s Mighty Charger ECR301 and ECR501 Card Reader and front panels might be just the right thing for you.

The ECR301 is the 3.5-inch model that naturally doesn’t have as many options as the bigger brother. Less volume is a natural limitation. It still packs a 5-in-1 multi-card reader that can access most mainstream cards such as CF, Micro SD, SD, RSMMC, MS, and M2.

Since cards aren’t for everybody, it also has a USB 2.0 Super Charge port with up to 2.4A charging power, three normal USB 2.0 ports, a USB 3.0 and an eSATA port. There aren’t many storage mediums you can’t connect an arsenal like that at your disposal.

The bigger ECR501 5.25-inch model packs the same great features as the ECR301 but kicks it up another notch. The card reader has been extended to a 6-in-1 card reader that also takes Extreme Digital cards.

It has six USB 2.0 ports next to the USB 2.0 Super Charge, USB 3.0 and eSATA port. It packs even more features when turning it around, having the ability to mount both two 2.5-inch and one 3.5-inch drive into the enclosure.

That is a lot of expansion ability in a single expansion slot, probably the most you’ll find.