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    External HD Power

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by thecoolguy, Feb 3, 2007.

  1. thecoolguy

    thecoolguy Notebook Enthusiast

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    hello all......

    wondering - just got a 2.5" external which powers off the usb port...

    it comes with (like all others) the option to plug into 2 usb ports i suppose for more power?

    is it necessary for the drive to use up 2 ports? or is 1 fine?

    thanks
     
    thecoolguy, Feb 3, 2007
    #1
  2. olyteddy

    olyteddy Notebook Deity

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    A usb port is only specced to put out 2.5 watts. Hence the need for doubling up.
     
    olyteddy, Feb 3, 2007
    #2
  3. thecoolguy

    thecoolguy Notebook Enthusiast

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    i see....why do i hear so many people saying that using just 1 will do fine?

    my files seem to have transferred correctly and all seems well off of 1?

    is this more of a long term stability/reliability issue?
     
    thecoolguy, Feb 3, 2007
    #3
  4. Cheffy

    Cheffy Notebook Evangelist

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    If it works, it works. If not, then use two. Unless you absolutely need the extra usb port, just use two then. Or, buy a cheap powered hub.
     
    Cheffy, Feb 4, 2007
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  5. Gautam

    Gautam election 2008 NBR Reviewer

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    Like Cheffy said, if it works with one, that's good.

    The reason for two is that some hard drives have higher power demands, and some notebook USB ports are weird about their output power...it may not be consistent even though the IEEE has power specs for the USB bus.
     
    Gautam, Feb 4, 2007
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  6. olyteddy

    olyteddy Notebook Deity

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    It may work with one, but I wouldn't do it. If you have a lot of disk activity, like defragging, you could draw too much current thru the one port, at the very least causing a power interruption to the drive. Worst case you'd damage the port or the drive. It'd be like running two power tools from one extension cord, versus running two extension cords for two tools.
     
    olyteddy, Feb 4, 2007
    #6