Best External HDD that is USB/Firewire powered

Looking for an External HDD that is USB or Firewire powered.
Preferably Firewire if that is possible but have an option to be powered via USB also.

Would like this HDD to be at least 200GB in size capacity.
Hoping to get soemthing that is under $200 if possible.
Preferably 7200RPM also.

Either a Pre-built External HDD or an Internal HDD w/ an External Enclosure is fine, as long as I dont have to lug around an extra power adapter.

 

I am sorry, I never seen a 200 gb external hd powered by USB/Firewire.

Right now, there is no 3.5" enclosure hd that uses only USB/Firewire powered.

However, 2.5" yes. But you are limit to 160 gb, and that very expensive.

JC

 

If you have any doubt, check here.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...bmit=ENE&SubCategory=92&Description=enclosure

As you can see, there is no enclosure w/o AC adapter.

JC

 

furthermore
most laptops do not have a usb that will power the enclosure by itself. most reqiore 2 usb ports

most firewire ports are unpowered as well.

some laptops have a powered usb port, and it will be advertised usually. most do not.
even the old say 8100 had a powered usb port. one.

 

Mine has all three usb ports powered. I guess I am lucky. Furthermore, USB 2.0 sticker on it does't mean a s.... I have three external usb disks and two have 13 MB/s flat because of the controller on it. They were cheap "high-speed, USB 2.0 external case with high speed transfer". Disks inside show much better performance directly on IDE or in better cases.
Then I have bought a bit more expensive Sharkoon one. The same disk inside has max 33 MB/s at the beggining and 22MB/s at the end.

Cables: I have four usb cables and although I thought (and everybody else) that they must be the same - they are not. Some cables work with my old disk, but not with new. Some new cables work with my MDA PRO, some not. Some work through USB hub, some not. So I don't know anymore, and use only one that works always, and that one came with my Sharkoon - ha...

I guess if you are buying an external disk already packed into the external case - then the disk, and the case (with controller) are already tested to provide a good performance.

Cheers,

Ivan

 

Hm, interesting guys. My external 2.5" 30 gb hd only powered by only one USB port.

JC

 

I've seen 120 GB Western Digital 2.5" powered by USB. I've seen it on a Thinkpad T43. It costs around $180 on amazon.com. WD do state that you may need to buy an A/C adapter (additionally) if your PC does not power the USB ports. Sorry, that's the best I've seen. All others with bigger capacities I've seen are powered differently.

 

OK.
So I got a confirmation that the Sager 5760 USB Ports are powered.
So lets start again shall we

 

I dont think you understand. We are not talking about the laptop, itself. We are talking about the HD. There is no 3.5 external hd that is powered only USB. Therefore you have only two choices. To get an external HD with AC adapter or get a 2.5" external hd that fit $200.

JC

 

that sucks
I guess I may as well just either get a pre-built Seagate External HDD or buy a Seagate 3.5" intrnal HDD and external Enclosure

Hmm wonder whats a good external enclosure combo.

 

If you REALLY want an external HD powered by USB, you have to spent around $25-$50 more. The lowest price for 160 GB 2.5" HD is $209.

http://www.pagecomputers.com/store/...ategory_name=29g29c565s2279&product_id=980536

You can probably get a cheap enclosure. Here is what I got.

http://store.elementsource.com/bexenhadrsl2.html

Its reliable, its fast, and its cheap, $7.

JC

 

If you want a 3.5" pre-built external hd, take a look at this.

http://www.buy.com/prod/Western_Dig..._0_Instant_Storage/q/loc/62011/202367540.html

JC

 

Thanks for the input, really helped.

I want soemthing that is at least 200GB so I guess the 2.5" HDD is out of the question.

I did see this Seagate Pushbutton Backup ST3300601CB-RK 300GB 7200 RPM 16MB Cache USB 2.0 / IEEE 1394a External Hard Drive - Retail for $164.99 + 8.69 S/H at NewEgg.

It is a few bucks cheaper than the WD MyBook and has a higher cache of 16mb vs 8mb.
Would that seem like a better buy even though it is 20gb less?

I think having both USB & IEEE 1394 is suppose to be good due to I heard that IEEE 1394 is better transfer rate?

 

Hmm, well if you care more about performance rather then storage, I would say the Seagate is right for you.

Yeah, its good to have both USB and firewire, just in case.

And indeed, firewire is faster then USB.

JC

 

Thanks
taht was painless enough

But I found an even cheaper external HDD.
http://shop1.outpost.com/{G3tRwHLQL...46928!1148693777543}/product/4430956#detailed

Any idea if this 1 is better than the Seagate I linked above?

 

Looking at both hd's features, the first one has the one button backup, and other is just normal external hd.

JC

 

Actually the Acomdata 320gb also have the 1 putton backup.

The difference is this:

Seagate:
$169.99
16mb Cache
300gb Storage

Acomdata:
$164.99 - 35 Mail-in Rebate = 129.99
8mb Cache
320gb​

Would the Cache size really matter considring I will be using either USB or Firewire on it AND I am just planning to use it to store data like music, videos, etc.
Also, is there an adapter from the big firewire to small firewire?
if not then I am stuck to USB 2.0 for input for the extrnal HDD.

 

There are adapters...but a better option is a 6pin-4pin cable. You can get one from newegg for around $14. They have them for less, but I have had trouble with the real cheap ones.

I'm running the Seagate 300GB external and I love it. Firewire is dramatically more stable than USB for me...and frees up more CPU cycles.

 

You mean soemthing lik this for adapters?
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16812149114

 

$2.27 after $25 mail-in-rebate.

http://www.buy.com/prod/Cables_To_Go_Port_Authority_2_Retractable_Cable_Kit/q/loc/101/10390747.html

However you just need only the adapter, $4.

http://www.cables4computer.com/products/individualItem.asp?groupcode=I3385

JC

 

I just ordered a Western Digital 320GB 7200RPM USB 2.0/Firewire 400 external hard drive from Dell. The price was $158.

Here's the link: http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/productdetail.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&cs=19&sku=A0615998

 

Well I decided to buy the Acomdata 320gb 7200RPM USB/Firewire External HDD from Fry's:
http://shop1.outpost.com/{G3tRwHLQL...46928!1148693777543}/product/4430956#detailed

It is just such a great deal for the price.
It was kinda hard to find any reviews about it tho.
But teh few reviews I did find usually states its a good External HDD.
The ONLY CON I found is that it is Expensive!

But for $129.99 w/ Mail-in Rebate, that Con has been negated
Guess we will see how it is after I get it and use it.