The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Best external HD

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Clutch, Jul 21, 2009.

  1. Clutch

    Clutch cute and cuddly boys

    Reputations:
    1,053
    Messages:
    2,468
    Likes Received:
    28
    Trophy Points:
    66
    I am looking for an external HD (will be buying next week).

    I would really like to have eSATA, but it has t have usb as well
    wall wort does not matter
    I have always like western digital, but not adverse to change
    I dont really want to build my own unless it is the best way
    I already have software to transfer stuff
    Able to be partitioned
    320GB min 500GB better
    reliability is priority over all!!!!!!!!!


    Less than $100 please

    I found the HD I would like to use

    Western Digital Caviar Blue 640 GB for $59.99, so now I need and enclosure and I have $40 to spend on it.

    requirements, I like amazon and newegg, hold a 3.5inch HD, eSATA, hot swappable, and the plug itself should only take up one power outlet (the AC adapter should be internal or in the middle of the cable, not on the prongs).
     
    Clutch, Jul 21, 2009
    #1
  2. Clutch

    Clutch cute and cuddly boys

    Reputations:
    1,053
    Messages:
    2,468
    Likes Received:
    28
    Trophy Points:
    66
    Anyone, please?
     
    Clutch, Jul 22, 2009
    #2
  3. steelroots7xe

    steelroots7xe Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    73
    Messages:
    397
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Hey Clutch.

    I purchased a few gadgets from B&H Pro Audio and stumbled on the following HD enclosures. All of these fit your budget under $40 and are all 3.5", eSATA, and should be hot swappable.

    I'm not too sure though if they all fit your requirement of the plug taking up only one power outlet. You might want to do some extra research on that.

    Macally makes a few:
    1. Macally T-S350SU eSATA and USB 2.0 External Drive Enclosure for 3.5" SATA Hard Drive

    2. Macally G-S350SU eSATA and USB 2.0 External Drive Enclosure for 3.5" SATA Hard Drive

    This one's from Iogear:
    Iogear 3.5" eSATA 3Gbps and USB 2.0 Combo Hard Drive Enclosure

    This last one from Macally also has Firewire-400
    Macally PHR-100SUA eSATA, FireWire-400, and USB 2.0 External Drive Enclosure for 3.5" SATA Hard Drive

    Hope it helps...
     
    steelroots7xe, Jul 22, 2009
    #3
  4. Clutch

    Clutch cute and cuddly boys

    Reputations:
    1,053
    Messages:
    2,468
    Likes Received:
    28
    Trophy Points:
    66

    I will look into these.

    so far I found these

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817173043

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817173042

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817182179

    http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817153071
     
    Clutch, Jul 22, 2009
    #4
  5. nu_D

    nu_D Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    741
    Messages:
    1,577
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Check out this thread.
     
    nu_D, Jul 22, 2009
    #5
  6. steelroots7xe

    steelroots7xe Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    73
    Messages:
    397
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Ventilation on those Rosewill RX358s look very reliable and functional for the long-term. I'd go for the Black RX358 for functionality, design, and the 80mm internal fan. 40bucks is a good deal for it too.

    Plus, if you have an NZXT Cryo LX, it would perfectly match the Rosewill RX358s.
     
    steelroots7xe, Jul 22, 2009
    #6
  7. Tatenda

    Tatenda Newbie

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    yeah, the ventilation is the 2nd biggest pro of that model
     
    Tatenda, Jul 23, 2009
    #7
  8. Clutch

    Clutch cute and cuddly boys

    Reputations:
    1,053
    Messages:
    2,468
    Likes Received:
    28
    Trophy Points:
    66
    Clutch, Jul 24, 2009
    #8
  9. bense

    bense Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    7
    Messages:
    87
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    you're not going to find a reliable harddrive. If you have critical data I would suggest backing it up on multiple sources or build yourself a RAID cabinet.

    From me researching around, http://www.addonics.com/ has a lot of great options for hooking up to a notebook.
     
    bense, Jul 24, 2009
    #9
  10. paradoxguy

    paradoxguy Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    15
    Messages:
    311
    Likes Received:
    2
    Trophy Points:
    31
    I know you are probably looking for an external hard drive other than Western Digital, but I want to mention the WD Passport series. I've had great success with this series and own three of them (I collect a lot of videos and pictures and am a general pack rat to boot), two 500GB and 1 320GB. The 320GB Passport is over 3 years old and I've carried it on various travels and it currently works well. On Amazon, the 500GB is a little over $100, but the other sizes, including the 320GB, are below $100; here's a URL to the Passports on Amazon:

    http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_p...uters&field-keywords=western+digital+passport

    Best luck with your search!
     
    paradoxguy, Jul 24, 2009
    #10
  11. nu_D

    nu_D Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    741
    Messages:
    1,577
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Ah. Why wouldn't you get that drive I posted? Initially it will run you $10 more but after MIR it will end up being ~$10 cheaper, all the while giving you double the capacity in a sleeker looking case? Your call...
     
    nu_D, Jul 24, 2009
    #11
  12. Clutch

    Clutch cute and cuddly boys

    Reputations:
    1,053
    Messages:
    2,468
    Likes Received:
    28
    Trophy Points:
    66
    It is a name that I dont know, I am sort of paranoid about that kind of thing.
     
    Clutch, Jul 25, 2009
    #12
  13. Clutch

    Clutch cute and cuddly boys

    Reputations:
    1,053
    Messages:
    2,468
    Likes Received:
    28
    Trophy Points:
    66
    I like the pass port but I was hoping to get a eSATA port because I move a lot of data around. And I have read that they get rather hot for extended write times.
     
    Clutch, Jul 25, 2009
    #13
  14. ntheo

    ntheo Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    24
    Messages:
    159
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    I have a black Rosewill RX358s enclosure and a 750GB Western Digital Green Drive.

    So far everything works for me...and it came out under $100 through a couple of deals.
     
    ntheo, Jul 25, 2009
    #14