Building External Harddrive

[Jdogg6590]

Hey all!

Well, I'm trying to build an external harddrive to save money instead of buying a full external harddrive.

I'l be using this sto store all my things, games, music, movies, pictures, documents, software, and just about everything.

I want to have plenty of memory to last for a looong time, I'm thinking 320gb+.

I want speed and what not, and a reasonable price for the whole project (harddrive+enclosure).

Also, I think i'll go with IDE format because I'm not sure if my computer supports SATA, and I may be transfering this from different computers.

So...now to the advice.....what harddrive and enclosure do I get?

I need reliability, speed, 400-500gb, and a nice price.

I was thinking about the Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3400620AS 400GB Hard Drive?


Please help me out!

-Jeff

[azzey]

It doesn't matter if it's SATA or PATA if it's being put into an external enclosure, as long as the enclosure uses the same interface as the drive.

Most enclosures use USB Hi-speed, which is compatible with virtually all non-archaic computers. Do you have an enclosure picked out?

What is your budget?

[Jdogg6590]

Ohh, ya I was thinking about that..well that opens my options.

No, I do not have an enclosure picked out. I'm thinking of picking out a harddrive first, then finding a fitting enclosure (that has cooling device(s) and looks cool, of course).

So...with SATA and IDE both options...i'm looking to spend around $100 on the harddrive. I can find good deals on ebay and what not I hope.

I'm looking for usb 2.0 and firewire ports on it.....any suggestions on the harddrive?

I want 400gb at least....500 would be nice, but if its too pricy then i wont bother

[Budfred]

Given the availability of external drives these days, I suspect you will pay less to buy the drive already assembled than to buy the drive and then buy and enclosure... If you already had a drive, it might make sense, but to do the whole thing from scratch -- I would just keep an eye on sales for external drives...

[Jdogg6590]

Are you sure, from all the things I read they kept on saying that making your own turns out to be quite less.

ANd also, I can customize it more.....what do you guys think?

[Budfred]

Are you sure, from all the things I read they kept on saying that making your own turns out to be quite less.

ANd also, I can customize it more.....what do you guys think?

It depends on the sales each week... I just looked up an external 400 gig on Newegg and it was over $100... However, I am pretty sure I have seen better deals in the weekly ads that come with the Sunday paper... I wasn't looking for one, so I didn't notice today, but that is a good place to start...

Also, how do you customize an external drive?? It is a drive in a box... I put a couple of externals together a year or two ago with drives I had sitting around... Except for the hassle of really crummy assembly directions, they were pretty basic...

[Sylvander]

There have been quite a number of recent posts on this topic.

If you do an advanced search for...
User Name : Sylvander
Key Word(s) : ViPowER
You should find them all.

Here are a couple:
http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=50578
http://www.pcguide.com/vb/showthread.php?t=42919

[Jdogg6590]

Ya, well, by customizability, I am referring to being free to pick what type of harddrive, along with what size and connections, and then get a fitting case that I like (more choice in style/color/features).

I think I've decided to build one.

The posts were helpful, and now I'm just going to make my final decisions.

I didnt look through all the posts, but I'm not sure if they really cover this exactly.

I've been using these websites that have like...selecting options that you want the drive to have, and it bit by bit narrows your results. I want 400-500gb preferably, 7200 rpm, 8-16 mb cache, usb 2.0 and firewire(usb definently, firewire is just a plus, but not a necessity), preferably SATA (for speed and less cable space for better cooling/reliability), high transfer rates.

For a price, I'm looking for the whole thing to be around $150.

So....I've come up with the Samsung SpinPoint T HD501LJ 500 GB SATA II Hard Drive as an option, SAMSUNG SpinPoint T Series HD400LJ 400GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822152046 ), Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 ST3400620AS 400GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148138 ), HITACHI Deskstar T7K500 HDT725040VLA360 (0A33439) 400GB 7200 RPM SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822145134 ).

Do you think those are good for me, and which would you say is the best?

As for the enclosure...I think these are the results I'd like..not sure http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Category=9&N=2010090092+1053907126+1053807123+1054007129+1054 107131+1054207137+4025&Submit=ENE&SubCategory=92
I dont know where to find out what type (usb/firewire) the drive has...where is this found, so I know what to get the case with.

[Sylvander]

"I dont know where to find out what type (usb/firewire) the drive has...where is this found, so I know what to get the case with"
The HDD isn't USB or Firewire.
In my case my HDD is IDE/ATA, and the external case caters for IDE and converts to a USB 2.0 connection to the PC.
It does this using a USB 2.0 "Smart Cable" [model number VP-9208], which has the USB circuitry built into the plug on the cable.
This makes the cable slightly more and the casing slightly less expensive than if the USB was inside the casing.
It's done so that you could have a number of inexpensive enclosures all connecting using the same USB 2.0 cable.
ViPowER have a huge range of different setups.
HERE (http://www.vipower.com.tw/P_ExternalEnclosure.php?model_no=VP-9258V) is the "Smart Family" enclosure [model number VP-9054V] into which you fit a 3.5 inch IDE drive.
I think model number VP-9051V would take a 3.5 inch SATA HDD [I can't figure out their system].
Seems like you can have all kinds of combinations of HDD type and connection interface type.

[HomeSA]

Given the availability of external drives these days, I suspect you will pay less to buy the drive already assembled than to buy the drive and then buy and enclosure... If you already had a drive, it might make sense, but to do the whole thing from scratch -- I would just keep an eye on sales for external drives...

I agree. There are good deals on external drives already assembled. I did look into buying an external enclosure and using HDs laying around, but after reading about the flimsy construction of most enclusures, I bought an external drive all put together. Very happy with my decision.

[Jdogg6590]

When it says interface type for the enclosure, does that mean the input or ouput. Input being what is needed for it to hook up to hdd (sata/ide interface), output meaning usb 2.0, firewire, etc.

And do you think the ViPower enclsoure could cause it to overheat? It says it is plastic and there is no fan. I kinda wanted metal for heat dispersion and then a fan in it if possible.

EDIT
n/m, it has a cooling fan.
Think i'll get this enclosure.

[Jdogg6590]

Well, I'm between a few of them now.

here they are all compared: http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductCompare.asp?Category=15&Nty=1&Submit=ENE&N=2010150014+1035915133+103530113+4017&SubCategory=14&CompareItemList=N82E16822148138%2CN82E16822152052% 2CN82E16822136014%2CN82E16822144016

The 400gb one is basically the same spec wise, and has a nice rating. They are all basically the same spec wise. So i'm looking at the ratings and number of ratings.

I'm thinking though...I wanted to spend around 150 for the hdd and case....if i get the 400gb one that is $120 and then the case will be $55 ( http://www.vipowershop.com/P_SmartFamily.php?id=129 ).

I have one question though....for this case http://www.vipowershop.com/P_SmartFamily.php?id=129 it says it is for IDE i believe....what do i get then?

Also what do you think about this case http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817163047 and this hdd http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822148138

[Sylvander]

"When it says interface type for the enclosure, does that mean the input or ouput"
INPUT I believe.
An IDE interface within the enclosure means the enclosure takes an IDE HDD.

"do you think the ViPower enclsoure could cause it to overheat?"
I see it in action and it doesn't overheat; just very slightly warm.

"It says it is plastic and there is no fan"
The inner drive holder is metal and the outer case is plastic and there IS a fan behind a small grille on the front [as you discovered].

THIS ViPowER model that you linked (http://www.vipowershop.com/P_SmartFamily.php?id=129) is the one I'm using right now and I've found it to work just fine [and looks good too]. It has an IDE interface inside the VP-9054V "Smart Family" housing and connects using a VP-9208 USB 2.0 "Smart Cable".
You also get a power unit that connects from the mains supply to the back of the housing. The housing has a power switch on the back near to that connection to power the drive off and on.
I leave mine permanently connected to the USB input socket and the mains and switch it on/off as needed.

I don't know enough about various hardware to comment, but the "Powermax" looks a bit primitive in contrast to the sophisticated lines of the ViPowER.
The ViPowER's sexy curves make it sit nicely in the hand [it's "handsome"], and quite weighty [the weight of the HDD inside] and [because of those curves] sits nicely in its rest/saddle [easy to seat/locate].
The small green/red LED at top front glows green when switched on and blinks/flashes red around the edges when reading/writing.
A slight fan noise [not loud enough to be annoying, but enough to know it's on] can be heard when it's running.
I've never had to replace the fan, but it might be prudent to buy a spare if you can get one.

[Jdogg6590]

Alright, I think I know what I'm going to get now.

For an enclosure, the ViPower VPA-35018 (found here (http://www.vipower.com.tw/P_ExternalEnclosure.php?model_no=VPA-35018)).
It seems to be for the SATA HDD 3.5", has cooling features, USB 2.0 output to hook up to my computer and everything; tell me if I'm mistaken please.

Then, for a HDD, I will get the Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 400GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?item=N82E16822148138).

What do you guys think? Good choices?

So far total is looking like:
HDD $126 shipped
Enclosure $75.75 shipped
--------------------------
Total $201.75

Does this seem good?

[Sylvander]

A little boxy but I'm sure you will be deighted with it. :)

More expensive and much higher spec than mine. :cool:

[Jdogg6590]

So do you think that case is the best one I can get for this and the price? Will it work with that seagate hdd? And do I really need a firewire, this doesnt have it, but i dono if i really need it, it is slower than usb anyways.

Also, is this a good hdd?

This is just my last check on it before i start purchasing and building.

[Budfred]

For the price you want to pay now, you can get more drive for less...

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Order=PRICE&Page=1&Category=15&N=2010150414+131021357&Submit=ENE&Nty=1&SubCategory=414

[Jdogg6590]

Ya, but most of those are pretty crappy....like 2 mb caches and slow seek and what not times.

Here are a few that I though looked good.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822165032
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822204034
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136025R

I especially like http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822136025R . WHen i was looking to buy a full ext hdd i was looking at the my book series. My question is .... "open box"?

I'll email them.

But i think i'll get this.Is it better than the setupd i was goign to get?

[Budfred]

I have used a MyBook while working on a friend's computer and it was impressive... That Buffalo also has some interesting features, but it isn't clear what all the specs are...

[Jdogg6590]

Actually, I dont think I am any longer interested in teh opened box type. It "may or may not" come with the necessary cables (power and usb) to use it, and where there is only 15 days to return it in, I may get it with no cables, and not ahve enough time to test if it works...if i do get hte cables later and find out it doesnt work, I'm screweed.

Soo...I did some more searching.. http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Category=15&N=2010150414+50001306+131021354+1310221302+4802&Submit=ENE&Manufactory=1306&SubCategory=414

I figured 320gb is still plenty. Only major difference between these is that one has firewire and usb2.0 and one has just usb 2.0.....which do you think I should get/is better?

[Budfred]

I sure wouldn't pay $35 to get firewire if I don't intend to use firewire anyway...

As for the "open box"... I would be really surprised if Newegg shipped it without the proper cables... Especially the power cable since it would not be easy to replace...

[Jdogg6590]

Well, I went to the live chat at newegg and they said that it might not come with all the essential stuff needed to use it....so I'd rather just get it new.

I read that firewire is more reliable for external harddrives?

I mean...my computer has firewire and usb2.0, I"m also considering what most other computers have, so if i need to hook it up to another one....most others have usb 2.0 right, and usb wont get put outta use any time soon, right? Think i should just go for the usb one.

Also, is there a difference between http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Category=15&N=2010150414+50001306+131021354+1310221302+4802&Submit=ENE&Manufactory=1306&SubCategory=414 these two besides one has firewire and what not?

You guys think I should get the firewire one?

Also, is this from amazon http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000EVMK62/ref=olp_product_details/104-5347882-2439937?ie=UTF8&seller= the same one as the firewire/usb that i linked to on newegg? If so it is cheaper shipped....160 shipped, newegg is 174 shipped.