External Hard Drive Recommendations

[Boyo]

Can anyone please point me in the direction of a good External HDD? I'm looking for something in either 250GB or 300GB. This will be used for back-ups to my new rig.

I have 2 internal HDD's: WD 74GB Raptor & WD Caviar RE16 250GB.

I looked at the WD externals, but they all seem to have these buttons to press for doing back-ups, and the reviews I read weren't too hot. I wasn't really impressed. Anything else that is on the short list of solid External HD's?

 

[Noubourne]

Grab an external enclosure from Newegg and slap a regular internal hard drive into it.

Even the best enclosures are only like $40.00, and you don't have to pay the insane premium for a fully-automated external drive.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: Noubourne
Grab an external enclosure from Newegg and slap a regular internal hard drive into it.

Even the best enclosures are only like $40.00, and you don't have to pay the insane premium for a fully-automated external drive.

:thumbsup: Exactly!

 

[pkme2]

I recommend a 7200RPM 8MB/16MB hdd. Transfers are easier.
Getting an external enclosure is a good option. I prefer a mobile rack

Just click on the links and you have choices. I've just turned to mobile racks because I can transfer large bits of info between computers easily and quickly.
Since they don't need power sources, I find them very portable.
Pick what's best for you.

 

[athens101]

if you want you can build ur own like noubourne mentioned.

i buitl one for my sis using the case below.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817145011

i didnt have any trouble in building it.

i also bought the one below for myself
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16822148077

they both work fine. i didnt use the seagate software. all i did is just plugged it in and used it.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: pkme2
I recommend a 7200RPM 8MB/16MB hdd. Transfers are easier.
Getting an external enclosure is a good option. I prefer a mobile rack

Just click on the links and you have choices. I've just turned to mobile racks because I can transfer large bits of info between computers easily and quickly.
Since they don't need power sources, I find them very portable. Pick what's best for you.

I like mobile racks as well, but they require connection to one of your IDE controller ports which might not be available.

 

[pkme2]

The mobile rack also comes with SATA connection
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817121908

 

[Boyo]

It's interesting that no one has a recommendation for an external HD. I say that because the external HD's that I have shopped all look the same with junk proprietary back-up software and bad reviews.

A year ago I bought an 80GB Teac which came only with a USB 2.0 cable and formatted to FAT32. It's perfect and has never once been a problem. But I've filled it, so I am giving it to my Mom to back up her laptop. I don't know what the heck happened since then, but now all of these externals have push button back ups, etc....Junk IMHO.

I have never heard of an external enclosure. Essentially now, I only turn on my Teac to back up, or restore. Otherwise it's always off for security reasons.

I clicked the links for the enclosures, but I am confused. I take it you buy a 3.5" SATA (WD Caviar for an example), put it in the enclosure and then the enclosure hooks up to your PC's external USB port? And it is able to turn off the HD too? Can somebody explain how that is possible? It seems to me that you are effectively placing an internal HD into the enclosure and I have never seen an on/off switch on those. I'm lost. Help?

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: Boyo
I clicked the links for the enclosures, but I am confused. I take it you buy a 3.5" SATA (WD Caviar for an example), put it in the enclosure and then the enclosure hooks up to your PC's external USB port? And it is able to turn off the HD too? Can somebody explain how that is possible? It seems to me that you are effectively placing an internal HD into the enclosure and I have never seen an on/off switch on those. I'm lost. Help?

External HDDs are the same as internals. When in a USB or Firewire enclosure, they are hotpluggable, and also come with their own power sources. To turn one offf - just disconnect it.

 

[mauiblue]

I favor Seagate external hard drives. The larger capacity one (400 GB) has a 16 MB cache. They may be more expensive than rolling your own but I was one that liked to buy off the rack. I've owned a 120 GB and 200 GB Seagate external drive for about two years now with no problems. I use True Image to do all my disk recovery since the drives are recognized when I need True Image to go into DOS mode.

 

[fredhe12]

I've been using this AcomData external drive from Fry's for about a year with no problems. Keep DVDs, music, pics, etc. on it. Was going to go with a Firewire version, but transfer rates on USB 2.0 were comparable and it was cheaper. No buttons, no software, no frills. Just appears on my list of drives and works like it should.

The only cons are that it's a bit on the loud side, but not obnoxious. The second thing is that the blue LED (red when it's writing) is extremely bright. So if you like using your comp in the dark (I only do it for gaming ) you'll want to cover it or turn it off.

Really a great unit!

I've also used the mobile racks mentioned before. For $5, they do the trick.

 

[pyrosity]

I hardly know a thing about external enclosures, so I have a couple of questions as I am looking into getting an external HDD myself.

It sounds that external enclosures exist for turning internal HDDs, whether IDE or SATA, into external HDDs. First question: Because of the USB 2.0 transfer, would it really matter if the separate internal HDD is IDE or SATA interface?

Second question: How are these drives powered by the external enclosure?

Thanks for all of the assistance, guys.

 

[corkyg]

Originally posted by: pyrosity
I hardly know a thing about external enclosures, so I have a couple of questions as I am looking into getting an external HDD myself. It sounds that external enclosures exist for turning internal HDDs, whether IDE or SATA, into external HDDs. First question: Because of the USB 2.0 transfer, would it really matter if the separate internal HDD is IDE or SATA interface?

Second question: How are these drives powered by the external enclosure?

Thanks for all of the assistance, guys.

1. The transfer rate will be that of the channel used regardless of the type of drive.

2. The good externals always have their own power supply.

 

[Boyo]

I visited a bunch of websites last night reading up on enclosuers, as everyone recommended using. You are all too right in saying that is the way to go. I'm so happy for the tips, I just wanted to say thanks. You saved me a lot of headaches. Enclosures are most definitely the way to go.

 

[Speedwagon]

Yes, there was a lot Good! info on external cases that I found very helpful.
Can anyone suggest what Backup Software to use with a External HD enclosure?

 

[Boyo]

Originally posted by: Speedwagon
Yes, there was a lot Good! info on external cases that I found very helpful.
Can anyone suggest what Backup Software to use with a External HD enclosure?

I'm looking for the same thing, but all I hear is Ghost and Acronis, which I don't really like too much......