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    External HDD eSata/USB >500GB

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by brncao, Nov 16, 2009.

  1. brncao

    brncao Notebook Evangelist

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    I wanted to buy an external HDD to store stuff and backups. Can anyone recommend me a good brand name?
     
    brncao, Nov 16, 2009
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  2. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    Buy a Vantec enclosure with USB and eSata and choose a WD HD like the Scorpio Blue 500GB drive for about $130 CDN.
     
    tilleroftheearth, Nov 16, 2009
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  3. brncao

    brncao Notebook Evangelist

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    brncao, Nov 16, 2009
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  4. Trottel

    Trottel Notebook Virtuoso

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    It doesn't really matter unless it has lots of bad reviews. Just get whatever you think looks nicest. You are just buying a plastic case and an interface board, all of which are functionally identical. That's what I've done and I've never had any problems. My oldest is about 4 years old.
     
    Trottel, Nov 17, 2009
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  5. brncao

    brncao Notebook Evangelist

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    Why are the external hdd on newegg cheaper than buying a hdd and an external case separately?
     
    brncao, Nov 17, 2009
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  6. Judicator

    Judicator Judged and found wanting.

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    Depends on the case and hard drive in question, compared to the external hard drive in question. You can buy a 1 TB hard drive for about $80, and an external enclosure for $10-$15. Most 1 TB external hard drives start at right around $100. The bonus of the bare drive and enclosure is that you can buy multiple bare drives, and swap them out in the enclosure at need. This allows for future upgrades as well. Buy a 1 TB bare HD now, and replace it with a 2 TB bare HD in a couple years when those become available (assuming they don't break backwards compatability, etc, etc). You could _maybe_ do that with an external drive, but you'd have to a) take it apart, and b) hope it doesn't use some sort of proprietary connector inside that keeps you from mounting a different hard drive.
     
    Judicator, Nov 17, 2009
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  7. Bullit

    Bullit Notebook Deity

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    Buying an internal hard drive and putting it in a external case it is just a little more expensive.The benefits:
    - manufacturer RMA warranty which is usually 3 years.
    - some external cases have more than one type of connection like SATA or Firewire as plus of USB.
    - that hard drive can be moved inside a PC in case of need, put in a server when its size turns it almost obsolete.
     
    Bullit, Nov 17, 2009
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  8. brncao

    brncao Notebook Evangelist

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    If they're cheap (fantom drives, cavalry, eagle tech) because of quality (higher failure rate), then I'm going to go buy them separately for that reason. Quality is important to me. From the reviews of those cheaper drives, it's a hit or miss. I don't want to gamble and take the risk.

    Well now I know what to go for. Thanks everyone for your help.

    EDIT: This looks like a good combo. Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 and this

    Edit2: Bought! Est. Dec 1. Can't wait. I won't feel limited by space any more! I bought it from Amazon and had a $10 discount by using discover card. All that's left is to buy an eSata express card for my laptop
     
    brncao, Nov 18, 2009
    #8