Suggestions for External Hard Drive

[Daave]

I'm in the market for an external hard drive to back up data and to also
store hard drive images.

What is the best way to go? Pre-made like a Western Digital "My
Passport"? Or purchase an internal drive and external enclosure? What
about size? 2.5" or 3.5"?

TIA.

 

[Paul]

I'm in the market for an external hard drive to back up data and to also
store hard drive images.

What is the best way to go? Pre-made like a Western Digital "My
Passport"? Or purchase an internal drive and external enclosure? What
about size? 2.5" or 3.5"?

TIA.

I'd go "internal drive and external enclosure".

The problem with pre-built 3.5" external enclosures, is they
do too much "head parking", which could contribute to an
eventual drive failure. They park the heads, so the drive
can be put in a lower power state. It makes up for the
lack of cooling of the drive enclosure.

With regard to 2.5" drives, they do consume less power.
But read the reviews, because they may not be as reliable
as they were a few years ago. At one time, when you shopped
for 2.5" drives, you could find a model or two, which seemed
to have pretty positive comments from users. The same might not
be true today.

It's actually pretty hard to find a "good" drive. You're picking
through the best of a bad lot.

Paul

 

[larry moe 'n curly]

I'm in the market for an external hard drive to back up data and to also
store hard drive images.

What is the best way to go? Pre-made like a Western Digital "My
Passport"? Or purchase an internal drive and external enclosure? What
about size? 2.5" or 3.5"?

Sometimes you can get a pre-made external for less than an internal
drive alone, and right now Staples has an $80 w/coupon deal on a 1TB
WD external USB 2.0. I think it's an Elements, which isn't hard to
open up (but contrary to the YouTube video that shows how, use a thin,
dull knife, not a screwdriver).

USB 3.0 can be a lot faster than USB 2.0, but you'll need a USB
adapter in the computer to take advantage of its extra speed (about
3-5x USB 2.0). USB 3.0 enclosures don't seem to cost any more than
USB 2.0 versions.

Almost all 2.5" external drives now are made only for USB, meaning you
can't remove the drive inside and use it as a SATA or eSATA. OTOH
all 3.5" external drives still seem to contain SATA internal drives.

 

[Daave]

I'm in the market for an external hard drive to back up data and to
also store hard drive images.

What is the best way to go? Pre-made like a Western Digital "My
Passport"? Or purchase an internal drive and external enclosure? What
about size? 2.5" or 3.5"?

TIA.

Thanks to all for your suggestions.

 

[Derek]

Or purchase an internal drive and external enclosure?

That's the way to go, simply because in that case you know exactly
what you are buying.

Derek