Best External HDD

I am still looking around while I wait for the Clevo M570U to be released.

I was thinking that maybe I can reduce the price of it a bit by having an extrenal HDD.
I can use the internal HDD for my games (possibly using the default 7200rpm HDD that it will come with) and the external HDD for everythign else.

Please note that I am a gamer and my primary use for the Clevo M570U will be for gaming purposes.
Also thinking of learning how to use Photoshop, Video Editing with my new mini-DV Camcorder and possibly soem webmaking.

You guys have any suggestions when it comes to Extrnal HDD?

 

get western digital
IMO they're the best
i personally have always had trouble with maxtor
so don't get Lacie, cause they use Maxtor's
best to get a WD, as you know what you're getting
if you get a brand that doesn't make the HD themselves, you don't know what you're getting.
i got a WD 160gb 7200 on dell's deal of the day for $79.
am very happy

 

Hello,

You can make your own external hd if you want to. Just get a USB or Firewire or both enclosure and just get nornmal size hard-drive. This will save some money. For example, I have an external DVD-burner, and with that USB enclousre, I can use it as a external hd.

JC

 

Your best bet would be to do that. You can get an enclosure online for less than $20 and then choose what HDD you want to use. You can get a 300GB 16mb 3.5 internal HDD fro $99 right now. The equivalent prebuilt externals start at $170 (if you can find it at a good price).

 

Is there a link with details of building my own external hd? I was looking at newegg and found so many different type of HDs with different interfaces (PATA, SATA, USB, Firewire etc.)..

If I buy a USB enclosure and SATA internal HD, will they work together..Will the USB interface be as fast as other commercially available external HDs?!

Thanks a lot guys for posting all these valuable information here..

 

Is it hard to do?
And is it really much cheaper and better than an external HDD?

I was looking at the:

WD Mybook Premium Edition
500gb
7200rpm
16mb cache
$350

or the

WD Mybook Essential Edition
320gb
7200rpm
8bm Cache
$250

Is there anything better than the above External HDD?

 

Where'd you find one for less that $20? I can't find one anywhere. I've seen them for about $30 before, but that's the lowest.

 

enclosures

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?N=2010090092+1053807123&Submit=ENE&SubCategory=92

a couple guides:

http://www.jakeludington.com/hadware_upgrades/20040909_diy_external_hard_drive.html
http://wiki.ehow.com/Build-an-External-Hard-Drive

 

Do they need external power or can they run off USB's provided power?

 

ALL 3.5 external enclosure require external power. And it is better to get the enclosure separate and put your own hard drive in it. You can get a 160Gb hard drive for about $25 after rebates and I bought a 3.5 enclosure for $14 from geeks.com.

 

Better meaning cheaper. Which is not necessarily better.

If this is to store random files, and you can live without some features (power management and backup), you can build your own.

If this will be used as a back-up drive for important data, then you might want to spend a few extra bucks for security and peace of mind.

 

Sadly, this solution is only going to work for desktop replacement folks. An external power cord makes it ultra-unportable.

 

if you get a notebook drive you don't need external power, though they are definitely more expensive than desktop drives, it all depends on how much you plan on moving that external drive around

 

But I do use mine for backup. The ready-made externals do not have any better drives in them than the ones you can buy. And if you need the power management and backup software that comes with them and don't know how to do these tasks otherwise, then, yes, you need those ready-made externals.

 

My Diablo Ultra Slim 5.25" Aluminum Enclosure costed $25. But tigerdirect isnt selling it anymore.

http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-detailsInactive.asp?Sku=D15-1050

And this is the drive that I bought go with the enclosure.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16827101006

Its fits wonderful, and saved about $50.

JC

 

That's not true. External hdd enclosures are available with everything available in a prebuilt unit. Plus, if you build an external HDD yourself you know exactly the quality of the drive inside; you won't end up with last years overstock. All this and you'll save cash, who doesn't like that?

 

Nice but we're talking about hard drive enclosures...

On a side note I probably should've gone that way instead of buying the my Sony external; although those Sony's are sexy.

 

JC

 

Yeah, I know. My enclosure can be used as an external HD (up to 350 GB).

JC

 

What would be considered the BEST and QUIETEST Enclosure & HDD combo?
Preferably a HDD that is 120gb or more.
(The more the better I guess, my home PC already has its Seagate 7200rpm 120GB HDD at 100gb full )

At this time I saw the Western Digital My Book Essential WDG1U5000N 500GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache USB 2.0 External Hard Drive for $279.99.

Just looking for the best HDD that is Quiet, fast and reliable.

PS:
Is it viable to have your games in your External HDD or is it best to install them in your Internal HDD?

Also, if I get an enclosure, does it matter what interface the HDD is?
If not, which interface is the best?

 

You will get a lot more bang for your buck if you bought the enclosure and drive separately. Is this an option for you?

 

Ya its an option.
I am still awaiting for the M570U to b released.
Just planning what I will do when it does get in my lap

Primary use for the laptop is Gaming.
Secondary is learning Video Editing w/ my new mini-DV Camcorder and possibly some photoshop.
Probably put the bulk of the files in the external HDD and use a basic 7200rpm internal HDD for my games.

Just want a Quiet, good, reliable external HDD combo.
never made 1 myself so I dunno much about it.
I did hear that the Firewire external is better than the USB 2.0 ones.

Also.
Is it better to install games in the Internal HDD vs the External HDD?

 

Firewire is faster, more stable, and uses less cpu power than USB2.
Don't forget about SATA 2 external haeddrives too(if the laptop have an expresscard slot).

 

hmmmh...have a look at the AMS Venus (search newegg), it has a nice large quiet fan inside it and there a version with both usb2.0 and firewire, or just single usb2.0.

I would then bang in a seagate 3.5" driver, just cause they offer a 5 yr warranty as versus only 3 yrs from the others. Look around, seagate always has specials that they do with various company like CC...

 

I have an Iomega 80GB External...works nice

 

Killim, putting one together is a piece of cake:

1. Open brand spanking new case.
2. Plug power and ribbon cables into drive.
3. Secure drive to case - two or four screws.
4. Close case.

 

Cool.
But do I have to worry on what type of HDD I use?
Should it be ATA, IDE Ultra ATA100/133, SATA150, SATA 3.0Gb/s , whatever?
Or does it not matter because its an external HDD?
Which would be best?

Havent really upgraded or worked much on PC for a long time.
And I am just trying to plan for later.

 

Yes, the case matters depending on whether you get a Pata, Sata. I don't know if the various Sata types need a different case though. Sata would be faster, but more expensive, both for the case and the drive.

 

I have a few different external hd's and for all of them I have purchased the case and hd seperately and put them together myself. Its cheaper and only takes 5 minutes to put together.

I purchased this one awhile back and it has worked great so far. It is firewire and USB 2.0 compatible and also accepts either Sata or Pata hard drives. It doesnt have a fan but as long as you dont put in a heater of a hard drive it will be fine. I use a 160Gb Samsung in it myself.

On Friday I ordered a Bytecc external 2.5" case and a Samsung 5400rpm 40Gb notebook hard drive. I got a 2.5" external because with my laptop I would like something a little more portable.

 

I was looking the Western Digital 320GB dual combo. It has the USB and firewire ports. How do I know if its compatible with my laptop?