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WTB portable HD, what should I get?

T

tdx

Limp Gawd
Joined
Jul 3, 2005
Messages
154
Hey everyone,

I'm interested in getting a portable hard drive to carry large files around (I'm a video editor). I've been doing some research and with all the options out there, i can't make up my mind, so i need some advice.

1. 2.5'' or 3.5"? I know the latter has more space, but i'm really worried about carrying a desktop hard drive around. Are 3.5" HD safe for carrying around or will I damage them?

2. USB 2.0 or Esata? Esata is supposedly faster than USB, but if I buy a 2.5" drive (probably 5400 rpm), won't the lower rotational speed make any Esata speed advantage null?

3. Finally, I heard some portable drives don't need their own power adapter, but rather get their juice out of USB. Which drives are that? What is the maximum space/rpm that I can get?

Thanks, TDX
 
2.5" drives can often times be powered by the bus. USB/ Firewire is more widely available than eSATA.
The speed limit of USB 2.0 is ~24-26MB/s for the transfers that HDDs use. Depending on the HDD, a 5400rpm drive may break that (likely).

Frequently, 2.5" drives are more "rugged" than their 3.5" cousins.
 
Ok so I guess i'll go for a 2.5" then. Now, ideally I would get a 2.5" self-powered (by USB) enclosure that has USB/Esata ports. Does it exist?
 
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