External HDD

[George Hallam]

I am buying an external HDD for my media

i am getting 500Gb

here are the list that i am able to get
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?&groupid=701&catid=14&subid=911&sortby=priceAsc

i was thinking on getting the Seagate FreeAgent Desktop 500GB (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-112-SE) its USB 2.0 do any of you guys know what the transfer rate is like

If anyone has any recommendation please say :D

[Rick]

I have only worked with one of these
it was the smaller version version of this one

It is quick ( 7200 drive)
Sorry I can't tell you what the real speeds were
it was installed as a backup for a friend and I didn't run any bench marks.

I can tell you he had only one problem.
The drive was formatted with fat32 and he found out his files were to large
Had to redo it as ntfs

Haven't heard from him in a year so it must be still running..

Thats the kind of friend some computer users have
Only hear from them when they have a problem :)

[George Hallam]

The drive was formatted with fat32

Thats ok the size don't tend to go over 700Mb

i was going to get the 320Gb Ex SATA but it was way more and i don't think the performance difference will be that major.

Only hear from them when they have a problem :)

i know what you mean :rolleyes:

[Rick]

they do have the PRO version of that same unit.
With esata,firewire, and usb

But it is $$

Unless you have your USB loaded to the max.
the usb should work without any problems

[George Hallam]

i will get the USB 2.0 500Gb seagate then :D

cheers for the help ;)

[rond36]

i was going to get the 320Gb Ex SATA but it was way more and i don't think the performance difference will be that major.

The performance difference is major! 625% faster transfer rate!
eSATA = 3000 Mbits/s ~ 375 MB/s
USB 2.0 = 480 Mbits/s ~ 60 MB/s
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Serial_ATA
Look at the chart near the bottom of the page.

[George Hallam]

The performance difference is major! 625% faster transfer rate!
eSATA = 3000 Mbits/s ~ 375 MB/s
USB 2.0 = 480 Mbits/s ~ 60 MB/s

i know that :p but will it use it?
i mean i have SATA drive now and still the wire may be able to do 3000 Mbits/s but does the drive write that fast...

im using the drive for media storage do you think a USB 2.0 will be ok for that?

[classicsoftware]

Build your own. It's the only way to go. Forget price. This is something to hold your data. Buy the fastest SATA drive and the best SATA enclosure. If you by a pre-made drive and there is a failure you will have a choice of losing your data or your warranty.....

[George Hallam]

I was going to do that but the seagate is very cheap, has 5 year warranty so IMO that is a good sign it will last....

Also i have a backed up version of my media on my internal HDD's

[classicsoftware]

There are only two kinds of computer users, those that have experienced hard disk failure and those that are going to. You are saving a few pennies and risking a great deal of aggravation. It's like getting better insurance. You don't plan on having a house fire, car accident or disability. But when the worst happens you'll be glad you didn't scrimp.

[Rick]

WD 500 7200 sata

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

$99


esata/usb enclosure
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817145029
$39

Plus shipping

Not sure what the prices will be outside the US
But having both options is a good idea
thinking toward the future


I also prefer to build my own also
But if you are going to buy a retail unit the WD is a good unit

[George Hallam]

So what should i do make my own?

what difference will it make?

If i make my own

BAD
-No warranty
-Same HDD (say if i get a Seagate HDD)
-More expensive

GOOD
-Faster?
-More reliable?

[George Hallam]

So

Maxtor 500Gb 32Mb cache (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-160-MD) + Icy Box eSATA/USB (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-004-BT&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=72) £98.68

Vs

The Seagate (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-112-SE&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=911) £65.79

[classicsoftware]

Here is the rub. If the drive goes in the warranty period due to a problem with case, your data is lost or your warranty is lost. If you crack the case to get the drive out and save your data, you will loose your warranty. If you send the drive back, you get your drive but loose your data. With a build your own, if the case fails, you open the case and remove the drive and place it in a pc or another enclosure.

[Rick]

In this case
IF you can get the usb and esata for about the same price as the usb retail

I'd go with the build with esata

The warranty on the build is going to be on each part.
Using the manufacturers warranty

Reliablity is unknown for both.
depending on the user.

A unit that is mobile and used off site is subject to more problems
a desktop unit thats site will/may last longer

The sad fact is all Hard drivers fail.
The question is when ?

[George Hallam]

Ok i have just spent the last half an hour doing research on External HDD and with most of them they seem to fail after 6-12 months, this is not just with the Seagate but most eHDD. So i think that i will save and buy a caddy and a HDD (more $$$ :()

But what are the real chances of any HDD failing?

Also on overclokers can anyone recomend a good HDD caddy from (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=14&subid=72) this section

[skwirrel]

Here is the rub. If the drive goes in the warranty period due to a problem with case, your data is lost or your warranty is lost. If you crack the case to get the drive out and save your data, you will loose your warranty. If you send the drive back, you get your drive but loose your data. With a build your own, if the case fails, you open the case and remove the drive and place it in a pc or another enclosure.

OK... I'm a newbie (I guess, to forums at least). But when you say build your own, we're talking about external drives right? As in, you buy the hard drive and an enclosure seperately? We're not referring to actually building a hard drive?

[classicsoftware]

OK... I'm a newbie (I guess, to forums at least). But when you say build your own, we're talking about external drives right? As in, you buy the hard drive and an enclosure seperately? We're not referring to actually building a hard drive?

That is correct....

[Rick]

Ok i have just spent the last half an hour doing research on External HDD and with most of them they seem to fail after 6-12 months, this is not just with the Seagate but most eHDD. So i think that i will save and buy a caddy and a HDD (more $$$ :()

But what are the real chances of any HDD failing?

Also on overclokers can anyone recomend a good HDD caddy from (http://www.overclockers.co.uk/productlist.php?groupid=701&catid=14&subid=72) this section


I will only say one thing about these caddy units. (Pata)
I have two at the moment
BOTH are Back in the original boxes
After only a few weeks of use and testing.
They were slow, bulky, Plastic,Junk
Someday I will deposit them in the trash dumpster when I feel the need to waste the time it takes to carry them out there

I won't even offer to give them away !!
I don't need any more enemies..

In the case of the pata they use a 50 pin ( Old style Scsi connector as in1980's )
To connect the drive cage to the caddy unit

[classicsoftware]

I will only say one thing about these caddy units. (Pata)
I have two at the moment
BOTH are Back in the original boxes
After only a few weeks of use and testing.
They were slow, bulky, Plastic,Junk
Someday I will deposit them in the trash dumpster when I feel the need to waste the time it takes to carry them out there

I won't even offer to give them away !!
I don't need any more enemies..

In the case of the pata they use a 50 pin ( Old style Scsi connector as in1980's )
To connect the drive cage to the caddy unit

Just because you purchased crappy models, does not make all drive enclosures a bad idea.

[Rick]

All Hard drives fail
If you look inside one
It is inevitable

A platter spinning (at 5400 or 7200 rpms) and a metal arm being held above it by a cushion of air created by the spinning disk

A good bump and it's crash time.
yes that is the true meaning of the word crash when talking about hard drives
The arm and head crashing against the disk and scratching and or gouging it

If you want and need removable storage and it is not intended for portable use
Then why not go with an external drive unit that is not intended to be moved around
I happen to prefer NAS ( Network attached Storage ) or the esata/usb in a unit that will be setup and Not moved

just turn the Nas off and it's gone from the system.
Using the Ethernet cable you can place them almost anywhere

I place mine on the bottom shelf at the very back behind a wire screen and they are not moved or even bumped
Self cooled and 6 feet away from anything involving the desks or computers

[Rick]

Just because you purchased crappy models, does not make all drive enclosures a bad idea.


They were at the time
The BEST units available !!

I am talking about Caddy units.
NOT all external drive enclosures

I have yet to see a Caddy unit worth the price

CADDY as in these things
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-006-BT&groupid=701&catid=14&subcat=72

Junk is Junk

[classicsoftware]

I have switched all of my customers to external hard drive backups. I was using tape and CD, but the price of the drives and the fact you don't need compression makes retrieval easier. I was using the caddy's that had fans, but the fans would fail and make a lot of noise. Now I go with the aluminum cases and I have no problems. I've sold dozens and dozens w/o a problem.

[Paul Komski]

I agree about the caddies - they seem to have a very limited life span unless the caddy is left in place and never changed. They may have a place on older systems that lack USB but in general I too would steer clear of them.

Personally, I really like 2.5" enclosures; they are more robust than their desktop cousins and will suffer greater shock without becoming damaged. They are superb if you really need to move the drive around a lot and the fact that they seldom need auxilary power from desktop systems (and often obtained from a second power-only USB plug when needed) and so one has fewer wires and a charging unit to clutter everything up with. You can now get at least 320gb drives (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822149072) and I realise that they are a bit more expensive than the 3.5" counterparts. There are also a wide range of enclosures including ones that have both eSATA and USB external connections (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817256031).

If you will be constantly wanting to attach different hard drives via USB then consider getting a multiport (2.5", 3.5", SATA, PATA)-to-(USB) converter cable.

Many many options depending on one's own personal needs.

[Rick]

I have switched all of my customers to external hard drive backups. I was using tape and CD, but the price of the drives and the fact you don't need compression makes retrieval easier. I was using the caddy's that had fans, but the fans would fail and make a lot of noise. Now I go with the aluminum cases and I have no problems. I've sold dozens and dozens w/o a problem.

I agree with all of this.

BUT have you switched them to Aluminum Caddies or Aluminum external usb/esata ?

My guess is external usb/esata and Not caddies correct ?

I have and still use a tape drive ( old win98 fax/scanner server) 3 nas and 4 external usb enclosures ( 2 2.5 and 2 3.5 units)

to date I have had 2 external usb drives fail
The failure was because of ?
My guess is the kids ( Both my kids and the grand kids)
not handling them correctly ? ..
A dropped hand bag or laptop case spells damaged drive when it comes to these external usb enclosures . ( accidents will happen )

After all that is what they are designed and intended for.
to be mobile and transportable

[George Hallam]

lol so i should go with a 2.5" drive with an aluminum case?

im confused :confused: :p

[Rick]

Are you going to be carrying the drive around or setting it on the desk and leave it there?

The 3.5 drive enclosures can be bulky
I know this is One of the reasons at least one of my drives took a dump

The youngest daughter couldn't fit it in her laptop case
So it was dropped when she put her bag in the car :(

In some cases that is all it takes to trash a new drive :(

[mjc]

lol so i should go with a 2.5" drive with an aluminum case?

im confused :confused: :p

In short...yes.

And for maximum protection, wrap the whole thing in several layers of bubble wrap...;) :D

[Rick]

In short...yes.

And for maximum protection, wrap the whole thing in several layers of bubble wrap...;) :D


And then keep it away from My Grand Daughter
She loves to pop that stuff.
Even when it is still around whatever it is protecting

[George Hallam]

And for maximum protection, wrap the whole thing in several layers of bubble wrap

:p will keep it nice and toasty warm

all it is for is sitting on my desk for looking pretty :D and i haven't got much room in my tower for another HDD. And i am thinking when i get new parts to make a second PC for media and plug it into a TV and use the eHDD to play movies from

[Paul Komski]

If you want a fairly static external that won't be moved around much then get a 3.5". They also can hold much more data than 2.5" drives. But the handiness and robustness of 2.5" drives takes a lot of beating IMHO.