Buying an external HDD...

[tiesto]

Hi,

I am fairly new in this type of business. I was looking to buy an external HDD for my laptop and I wanted to ask you about what brand/model to choose.

I am looking for a bargain, as I don't want to spend over $150 for that. I am not looking for mega-uber storage, but more storage capacity is obviously better. I am looking for a 320-to-500 GB HDD, preferably (no need for 1 TB, and if i can get more reliability out of a 320 GB, so be it).

So, which brand? WD? Seagate?

Thanks in advance!

PS: Ah, I forgot to ask... huh, if I want to store video files on the HDD, can I read them on my TV by connecting the HDD with, for instance, my PS3 (or any DVD player hooked up with my TV)?

Big thanks!

 

[dizint]

I recently got a WD 1TB EADS drive and AZIO eSATA/USB enclosure for less than $150 shipped from NewEgg. works great!

 

[tiesto]

Basically, you are telling me that it is better to buy an internal HDD and an enclosure than an external HDD?

Is it more reliable? Faster?

 

[dj_2004]

Basically, you are telling me that it is better to buy an internal HDD and an enclosure than an external HDD?

Is it more reliable? Faster?

An external HDD is simply an internal drive with an enclosure; however, this enclosure will not be nearly as good as say the Antec MX-1 enclosure. Many times, these premade external HDD packages do not sufficiently cool the HDD and sometimes have faulty connectors which may fail. This is why it is best to buy a regular internal HDD and place it within an aftermarket enclosure. One of the best aftermarket enclosures is the Antec MX-1 (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817371008&Tpk=antec mx-1).

Now, with your budget, I would pop one of these in the Antec MX-1: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136319 or one of WD's Green drives (lower heat, but somewhat slower).

This all pertains to a 3.5" enclosure. If you are looking for a 2.5" (smaller, less heat, no external power other than a USB cable, but costs more), then I would personally suggest a WD Passport. The 320GB seems to be $95 on Newegg - http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136227

As always, look around for the best price.

 

[Shane_c82]

I think for your case it would just be easier to buy a WD Passport or WD MyBook external, the Seagate FreeAgents are also popular.

 

[tiesto]

Thanks, guys!

Are the failure rates for WD Passports/My Book really high?
As for eSATA, I don't have any computer at home with an eSATA connection, so I don't think that it'd be a must to have it...

If I go for a WD external HDD, should I go for a 7200RPM at all costs, instead of a 5400RPM?

About the 2.5", are they more (or less) reliable than 3.5"?

Thanks a lot again!

 

[DonDon]

The transfer rate on a usb drive is going to be bottle necked by the USB interface. So, I would go with one of the WD GP or similar drives. If you were going to use an ESATA interface, then drive speed would be more of an issue.

I personally recommend going with one of the 2.5 inch drives. Not having to hook up the power supply is a huge advantage in my book, and the drive capacities are adequate for your needs.

As far as reliability, it is really hard to judge in a forum like this as most people here have not seen a big enough sample of drives to be able to give you an informed opinion. Your best bet is to settle on a model that you are thinking about getting, and do a little searching on the internet for reviews or news stories about it.

Most drives are pretty reliable these days though.

Don