Which external HDD to get for PCs?

[Ant]

Hello,

I am looking for an external HDD (USB preferred, but would like a
Firewire as an option) for PCs at work. Which brands and models are the
best to get cdw.com? I doubt I can get one of those enclosures. The HDD
will be mainly for storing files, backups, and actually using it (e.g.,
VMware images, Ghost images, etc.).

Thank you in advance.
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[Ant]

Also, I forgot that I will be using it daily and for hours so heat will
be an issue. I used to have and use Maxtor One Touch HDDs, but they are
awful. They get hot and sometimes don't respond (have to turn off and
on).

Hello,

I am looking for an external HDD (USB preferred, but would like a
Firewire as an option) for PCs at work. Which brands and models are the
best to get cdw.com? I doubt I can get one of those enclosures. The HDD
will be mainly for storing files, backups, and actually using it (e.g.,
VMware images, Ghost images, etc.).

Thank you in advance.

--
o/~ All the little ants are marching, red and black antennae waving...
they all do it the same... they all do it the same... way... o/~ --Ants
Marching song by Dave Matthews Band
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[Rod Speed]

I still maintain its better to get the housing separately from the
drive so you get the full 3-5 year warranty on the drive and can
choose a housing which has decent cooling for the drive.

 

[Ant]

OK, it looks like I can get an enclosure BUT its price has to be
similiar to the all-in-ones. So any ideas? Seagate HDDs (5 years) and
which enclosure to get for my needs?
http://www.wiebetech.com/products/toughtech.php looks interesting that I
saw earlier, but I don't know if cdw.com carries it (haven't checked
yet).

I still maintain its better to get the housing separately from the
drive so you get the full 3-5 year warranty on the drive and can
choose a housing which has decent cooling for the drive.

--
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they all do it the same... they all do it the same... way... o/~ --Ants
Marching song by Dave Matthews Band
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[Rod Speed]

OK, it looks like I can get an enclosure BUT its price has to be
similiar to the all-in-ones. So any ideas? Seagate HDDs (5 years)

I prefer Samsungs even tho the warranty isnt as long. I dont believe
that there is anything in the extra couple of years, if it hasnt failed in
the first 3 years, its very unlikely to fail in the extra 2 years.

and which enclosure to get for my needs?

I just look at what is available when making the purchase.

http://www.wiebetech.com/products/toughtech.php
looks interesting that I saw earlier,

I've never been keen on fanless for your sort of use.

but I don't know if cdw.com carries it (haven't checked yet).

And I never use just one supplier. Limits you too much.

 

[Arno Wagner]

OK, it looks like I can get an enclosure BUT its price has to be
similiar to the all-in-ones.

You have to spend a bit more to get quelity. Most all-in-ones are
trash that dies young because of overheating. INcidentially that is
what the manufacturer wants, if you are not blaming them. Seems
most people do not for some reason.

Arno

 

[Ant]

I prefer Samsungs even tho the warranty isnt as long. I dont believe
that there is anything in the extra couple of years, if it hasnt failed in
the first 3 years, its very unlikely to fail in the extra 2 years.

I just look at what is available when making the purchase.

I've never been keen on fanless for your sort of use.

And I never use just one supplier. Limits you too much.

Well, my employer is stuck with this one. I have no choice. They
love cdw.com. At least *I* am not paying for it for work.

What do you think of this?
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=1107650 --
StarTech.com Portable 3.5" IEEE-1394a Fire Wire 400 and USB 2.0 Combo
IDE

Speaking of HDDs. Is it true that IDE/PATA HDDs aren't made anymore? If
so, then should I be looking at enclosures that use SATA? I do need to
get a new HDD with the enclosure.

--
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they all do it the same... they all do it the same... way... o/~ --Ants
Marching song by Dave Matthews Band
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[Ant]

You have to spend a bit more to get quelity. Most all-in-ones are
trash that dies young because of overheating. INcidentially that is
what the manufacturer wants, if you are not blaming them. Seems
most people do not for some reason.

OK, I guess I will get an enclosure as long as it is similiarly price as
the all-in-one. Any ideas on which ones are the best on cdw.com
(employer loves this place).

 

[Arno Wagner]

OK, I guess I will get an enclosure as long as it is similiarly price as
the all-in-one. Any ideas on which ones are the best on cdw.com
(employer loves this place).

Did not find any I know there. What works, for example
is the Revoltec Alu book 2 combined with a current Samsung
400GB or 500GB disk. Don't use another brand, they get
hotter.

Also generic advice: 2.5" external HDDs are significantly
more expensive, but do not have the overheating problem.

Arno

 

[Arno Wagner]

Well, my employer is stuck with this one. I have no choice. They
love cdw.com. At least *I* am not paying for it for work.

Well, if your employer can live with substdandard quality and disks
that fail, then you have a problem. At least make sure these things
are not uses for anything critical or the stuff gets backed-up daily.
But you should do that anyways.

What do you think of this?
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=1107650 --
StarTech.com Portable 3.5" IEEE-1394a Fire Wire 400 and USB 2.0 Combo
IDE

No fan. Probablu gets too hot. You could try it wit a realy low
poer disk (currently only Samsung), maybe, just maybe it cools
enough. But there is no way of knowing without ordering it and
then putting it under load for a few hours.

Speaking of HDDs. Is it true that IDE/PATA HDDs aren't made anymore? If
so, then should I be looking at enclosures that use SATA? I do need to
get a new HDD with the enclosure.

ATA disks are still made, but SATA would be a better choice.
The disks are different only in part of the interface, so the
major part (the mechanical one)is the same.

Arno

 

[Gerald Abrahamson]

Hello,

I am looking for an external HDD (USB preferred, but would like a
Firewire as an option) for PCs at work. Which brands and models are the
best to get cdw.com? I doubt I can get one of those enclosures. The HDD
will be mainly for storing files, backups, and actually using it (e.g.,
VMware images, Ghost images, etc.).

Thank you in advance.

I bought Ultra brand external USB2/Firewire cases from
TigerDirect and have used them for hours at a time with no
problems for almost a year. There is a fan and it comes with
a separate power plug--which is what I wanted. There is a
Seagate 120gb HDD in each (have two of them).

TigerDirect had new 500gb SATAII HDDs for $100 each (5 yr
Seagate warranty). I think the Ultra cases were $25 each.

 

[Rod Speed]

Well, my employer is stuck with this one. I have no choice.
They love cdw.com.

Surely they arent actually so stupid as to insist they
be used even when they have no suitable product ?

At least *I* am not paying for it for work.

What do you think of this?
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=1107650 --
StarTech.com Portable 3.5" IEEE-1394a Fire Wire 400 and USB 2.0 Combo IDE

That looks like its fanless too. No way of knowing how well it cools
the drive, you cant even usually monitor the drive temp using SMART.

Speaking of HDDs. Is it true that IDE/PATA HDDs aren't made anymore?

Nope, they are still made.

If so, then should I be looking at enclosures that use SATA?

That certainly provides more future.

 

[Ant]

OK, it looks like I can get an enclosure BUT its price has to be

Well, if your employer can live with substdandard quality and disks
that fail, then you have a problem. At least make sure these things
are not uses for anything critical or the stuff gets backed-up daily.
But you should do that anyways.


No fan. Probablu gets too hot. You could try it wit a realy low
poer disk (currently only Samsung), maybe, just maybe it cools
enough. But there is no way of knowing without ordering it and
then putting it under load for a few hours.

Are there any brands and models, on cdw.com, that have fans? I am upset
with all these Maxtor One In Touch that just freezes/don't respond
easily. Others' HDDs have them just die. I was hoping to avoid this.

ATA disks are still made, but SATA would be a better choice.
The disks are different only in part of the interface, so the
major part (the mechanical one)is the same.

OK, I will aim for SATA. I hope it's cheaper too.
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men." --Mortimer J. Adler
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[Ant]

Surely they arent actually so stupid as to insist they
be used even when they have no suitable product ?

Heh, you tell them. I am just a measley peon/worker ant.

That looks like its fanless too. No way of knowing how well it cools
the drive, you cant even usually monitor the drive temp using SMART.

Isn't that true for all USB connectioned HDD? I recall a discusssion
that SMART can't be read via USB in this newsgroup.

Nope, they are still made.

Ah OK. I thought companies stopped doing that.

That certainly provides more future.

OK.
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[Ant]

Did not find any I know there. What works, for example
is the Revoltec Alu book 2 combined with a current Samsung
400GB or 500GB disk. Don't use another brand, they get
hotter.

Hmm, no Revoltec brand on cdw.com which is the only place I can request
from (dumb, I know). I didn't know Samsung made HDDs. Intereting.

Also generic advice: 2.5" external HDDs are significantly
more expensive, but do not have the overheating problem.

Ah, because of laptops/notebooks. Aren't they slower too?
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[Ant]

I bought Ultra brand external USB2/Firewire cases from
TigerDirect and have used them for hours at a time with no
problems for almost a year. There is a fan and it comes with
a separate power plug--which is what I wanted. There is a
Seagate 120gb HDD in each (have two of them).

TigerDirect had new 500gb SATAII HDDs for $100 each (5 yr
Seagate warranty). I think the Ultra cases were $25 each.

It will have to be cdw.com. The biggest one is 80 GB (sheesh, tiny). Is
this a similiar one?
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=629867 -- EDGE 80GB
DiskGO™ Ultra Portable External Hard Drive

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[Arno Wagner]

On 10/2/2007 2:28 AM PT, Arno Wagner typed:

Hmm, no Revoltec brand on cdw.com which is the only place I can request
from (dumb, I know). I didn't know Samsung made HDDs. Intereting.

Actually Samsung makes quite good HDDs.

Ah, because of laptops/notebooks. Aren't they slower too?

Yes, you get maybe 50-60% of the speed of a large HDD.
But it you are truely stuck with cdw.com, this may be
a reasonabel option.

Arno

 

[Ant]

Actually Samsung makes quite good HDDs.

Interesting. Did Samsung just started making HDDs? I like Seagate so
far. I haven't used its five years warranty too!

Yes, you get maybe 50-60% of the speed of a large HDD.
But it you are truely stuck with cdw.com, this may be
a reasonabel option.

OK.
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[Gerald Abrahamson]

I bought Ultra brand external USB2/Firewire cases from

It will have to be cdw.com. The biggest one is 80 GB (sheesh, tiny). Is
this a similiar one?
http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/default.aspx?EDC=629867 -- EDGE 80GB
DiskGO™ Ultra Portable External Hard Drive

No. That is a 2.5" drive, the Ultra is a 3.5" and it has no
HDD--you add your own.

 

[Rod Speed]

Rod Speed wrote

Heh, you tell them.

Thats what I always do. It works too.

I am just a measley peon/worker ant.

Wota wimp. It isnt hard to drive an aircraft carrier thru any bureaucracy.

Isn't that true for all USB connectioned HDD?
Nope.

I recall a discusssion that SMART can't be read via USB in this newsgroup.

Its just plain wrong, and there was a recent report in here of one that does it fine.