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    WD Black versus Green in a USB 2.0 Enclosure

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by darklich, Jan 3, 2010.

  1. darklich

    darklich Notebook Consultant

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    Would a USB 2.0 hard drive enclosure bottleneck the speed of the Western Digital Black drive making it more sensible to just use the cheaper Green drive?
     
    darklich, Jan 3, 2010
    #1
  2. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    Yes get the cheaper one.

    When I connected an Intel G2 SSD through USB I got about 30 MB/sec in HDtune (iirc).
     
    Phil, Jan 3, 2010
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  3. UniqueQ

    UniqueQ Notebook Geek

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    Cheaper one for USB2

    When I connected a Western Digital Green I got about USB2 20-25 MB/s and ESata 45-65 MB/s depending on file size. ESata was through the ESata motherboard port.
     
    UniqueQ, Jan 3, 2010
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  4. darklich

    darklich Notebook Consultant

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    What if I used an expresscard 34 esata adapter?
     
    darklich, Jan 3, 2010
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  5. UniqueQ

    UniqueQ Notebook Geek

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    I dont know expresscard. The esata motherboard port was noticeably faster than usb2.
     
    UniqueQ, Jan 3, 2010
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  6. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    if you have luck, the expresscard could use pcie power. if you have bad luck, it connects just to usb2 internally (a sata-usb converter, then), and you're back at the same speed. read carefully and google a product for infos before buying.

    but even then, the differences shouldn't be big, and it should be a mostly data only disk. so get the cheaper one. i guess.
     
    davepermen, Jan 3, 2010
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  7. darklich

    darklich Notebook Consultant

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    It seems my original question has now changed to this. Would the faster Black drive be noticeably faster than the Green using an expresscard 34 esata adapter or would the speed boost from the expresscard adapter still fail to yield better speeds then the Green drive?

    I need the external drive for video editing. Thanks!!
     
    darklich, Jan 3, 2010
    #7
  8. tilleroftheearth

    tilleroftheearth Wisdom listens quietly...

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    Ah! Video editing...

    The Black would definitely ensure that the HD was not the limiting factor, especially as it got full. Now, you have to make sure that the enclosure is not the limiting factor. ;)

    As for the ExpressCard - make sure that it is not eSata to USB internally (as someone has already mentioned).

    Used to be for video editing, FireWire was the one to have. But I distinctly remember reading where eSata was a huge percentage faster than even FireWire 800 (almost double, if I recall).

    Myself, I always get the fastest drive - for the small price difference to the 'basic' model, it is infinitely the better (performance) buy - even when cost is taken into account and especially if you'll be using it to it's capacity.

    Good luck.
     
    tilleroftheearth, Jan 4, 2010
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  9. DEagleson

    DEagleson Gamer extraordinaire

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    Recommend the WD Green series for USB 2.0 interface, but since you will use it for video editing get a WD Black with eSata.
     
    DEagleson, Jan 4, 2010
    #9