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    Best usb 3.0 portable external HD

    Discussion in 'Accessories' started by visithwy61, Nov 24, 2010.

  1. visithwy61

    visithwy61 Notebook Guru

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    didnt see a thread on this...maybe i missed it. in the market for a new external drive. any thoughts on whats out there and what is the best option? probably looking to get a 1 TB drive.

    thanks all
     
  2. Killa Joe

    Killa Joe Notebook Deity

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    good post! I too would love to know what external HD is available for us with 3.0 usb ports.


    KJ :cool:
     
  3. ViciousXUSMC

    ViciousXUSMC Master Viking NBR Reviewer

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  4. Romiyo

    Romiyo Notebook Evangelist

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    too bad im not in the United States.
     
  5. JamesJones

    JamesJones Newbie

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  6. Krane

    Krane Notebook Prophet

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    There are a number of drives out there by the major manufacturers with superspeed ports. And although Buffalo was the first, they are by no means in a class by themselves.

    The last portable HD review I read put most of them basically in the same performance category. The major difference was in price, case design and accessories add-ons--to make them more damage resistance.

    The Buffalo was mentioned as having he most expensive 3.0 card connector. But you can buy the connector aftermarket for less than any of the HD manufacturers.

    Check these out:


    http://www.pcworld.com/article/207782/seagate_freeagent_goflex_ultraportable_drive.html
     
  7. Jeffrey1987

    Jeffrey1987 Notebook Evangelist

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    Can I just buy a normal 7200 RPM HDD and plug it into one of the 3.0 USB external HDD enclosure?

    Is it any 3.0 USB external HDD enclosure available out there guys?
     
  8. Krane

    Krane Notebook Prophet

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    Absolutely! I've got two. The enclosure just assures a much more secure measure of ruggedness for transport. If you drop a "normal" drive, chance are good your data will be gone.
     
  9. Jeffrey1987

    Jeffrey1987 Notebook Evangelist

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    Thanks for your prompt reply. :D I plan to swap my 2nd HDD out from my notebook and plug it into one of the USB 3.0 HDD enclosure. Any recommendation for 3.0 enclosure? :)
     
  10. Krane

    Krane Notebook Prophet

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    Unfortunately no. They weren't yet available when I made the same upgrade you intend to make. I did however, get the esata (which is still faster than USB 2.0) but it does require an extra USB port for power.

    I'll check back on any input from others for a good (aka, inexpensive) 3.0 enclose though. I'd like to swap out my current Hitachis and use them in a RAID array when I upgrade to SSD after the new year.
     
  11. unreal25

    unreal25 Capt. Obvious

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  12. visithwy61

    visithwy61 Notebook Guru

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  13. Voodooi

    Voodooi AFK for a while...

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  14. a3r0x

    a3r0x Notebook Evangelist

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  15. Abula

    Abula Puro Chapin

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  16. sgogeta4

    sgogeta4 Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    But you live so close to the US and it's Black Friday (and soon to be Cyber Monday)!