External Harddrive

[acemaverick1381]

I am getting ready to setup a nice little network at our house since it is about time that cable should be installed. I want to have an external harddrive to hold some of my files, and some network files. I'm looking for something a little over 100gb but not to expensive. Anybody have any suggestions to which one I should get?

[neb1211]

So basically you want the hard drive to be connected directly to your network instead of in a computer?

One option would be to buy a Linksys network storage link ( http://www.linksys.com/products/product.as...cid=43&prid=640 ) and then buy a regular external USB 2.0 hard drive.  The link would cost about 80 bucks and then an 120gb external hard drive would run around 150 dollars.

Another option would be to get a Network Attached hard drive.  This type of hard drive connects directly to the network and does not need any sort of link between it and the network.  NAS solutions at typically a little more expensive than they first option.  A 120GB Buffalo Linkstation will cost around 270 dollars.

As always if you have any more questions feel free to ask.

[acemaverick1381]

Whoa, I forgot about this thread.

Basically, I think I am going to get a 160gb external firewire hdd to satisfy my needs. They are about $140 on TigerDirect.

[neb1211]

Be warned about Tiger Direct.  They aren't all they are cracked up to be.  I have had several bad experiences with them and so have many other people...

[acemaverick1381]

Thats odd, because all the people that I know who get stuff off of TigerDirect always get what they ordered in perfect condition. I dunno, time will tell I guess.

[neb1211]

Then they are pretty lucky.  I have had a few problems with tiger direct myself.  Also you might want to look at their reseller rating.

http://www.resellerratings.com/seller1983.html

A 6.90 out of 10...

[JsutTechy]

Well to clarify to the rest of us, what kind of problems have you had personally Neb?

[neb1211]

Mostly I have gotten the wrong items or non working items on multiple.  Once I ordered a hard drive and recieved a damn cd-rom.  Then the worst part is that I had to pay for their mistakes by paying for the return shipping.

[aliencam]

yeah i like newegg much better than tigerdirect...


for an external HDD, don't even bother buying a regular HDD, spend $15-25 on an external hard drive enclosure ( i got a really nice one from Fry's for $20)  and then spend $75 on a shiny new 200 GB hdd from fry's or online or wherever...  i wad to watch like 2 weeks in the ads for the cheap hdd enclosure, usualy the $15-$25 ones on the internet are really cheap...  


 

[acemaverick1381]

Well, since this topic is really old, I guess I'll give you an update. I got a 160gb external firewire harddrive Fantom. Its very, very nice, and Tiger Direct was pretty fast about it as well. I have read the reviews though, and it seems that New Egg is better, but I'll have to wait until I buy something from them to compare.

I have seen the harddrive enclosures, but if I'm going to be using something external, I would rather it be firewire for speed, not USB, and those run about $50.

[aliencam]

i'm pretty sure i said mine is firewire right??? oh wait no that mustve been another forum topic or my sig or something... the one i got is firewire and USB, and has an internal fan & temp diode, its like silent too,  firewire 4pin and 6 pin,    and ii'm sure i got it for about $20...  lol as long as you're happy with what you've got


and although i've never used tigerdirect, i'd have to ssay newegg is great, i've gotten all the parts for 2 computers there, and a few other small orders, never had any shiping damage (sometimes on shipping box, but not on retail box), and they've never gotten an order wrong...  some people say never to sue tigerdirect and newegg because they get orders wrong every time, but i guess tigerdirect doesn't get everythign wrong, and i haven't had any problems with newegg...  so i dunno... lol


 

[tomalakborg]

Ok, well I think I'm also in the market for an external hdd. I want something I can take with me, either usb2.0 or firewire (speed is key!) and something around 200GB. What would be cheaper; an actual external hard drive, or a hard drive enclosure and then a standard hdd?

On an aside note, here's how I understand the external hard drive enclosures - you buy a nor EIDE hard drive, and put in into the enclosure, wherin the signal is transmitted to your computer using a firewire or highspeed usb interface.

I want to simply store my pr0n, music, disk images, and other media files on this mobile drive. That way I can take it from computer to computer, and not fill up my 120GB internal HDD.  

[neb1211]

"pre-made" external hard drives
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/ProductList...Submit=Property

Parts require to make your own external hard drive

Hard drive
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/ProductList...Submit=Property

Enclosure
http://www2.newegg.com/Product/ProductList...Submit=Property

It would be around the same time but if you made your own external hard drive you would have a longer warrantee on the hard drive itself.

[tomalakborg]

So, these things take an internal drive... how do they handle the power supply part of it? I know some big hard drives suck the juice from your psu - how is this handled over USB or firewire? -Bill

[neb1211]

The enclosures have a power supply of their own.  I have only seen a few external hard drives that were able to draw enough power from USB and those were all 2.5" enclosures.

[acemaverick1381]

And it should be noted that the ones that were able to draw current via USB were only 20gb at the max.

[neb1211]

And it should be noted that the ones that were able to draw current via USB were only 20gb at the max.

No they aren't.  I bought one for a customer that was 80gb and able to draw current off of usb.

[acemaverick1381]

But was the RPM on it fast enough to make it half decent?

[neb1211]

It is a 4200rpm hard drive which is what most laptops have in them.  Now they even have a 100gb model.

http://www.iomega.com/na/products/product_...D=1115270811072

[acemaverick1381]

Hm, not bad. I have never used Iomega harddrives though. Since they are brand name company they are probably pretty nice.

[neb1211]

Iomega probably doesn't make the hard drives.  All they probably do is take someone elses 2.5" hdd and stick it in the external enclosure.

[delerious]

The cheapest thing to do is make one yourself.
Buy a 160 or 200GB HDD or whatever you're wanting, and get an external enclosure. It's much cheaper.  

[tomalakborg]

Well my main problem is that between my linux partition (20), my windoze system partition (20) and my movies and music (50) my fool-around partition is down to 9gb free. So I can't decide whether to get a 200/300gb internal drive, or a 200gb external. I would use the external for movies/music, and the mobility would be nice. But that would leave my system with an extra 50gb. Thats decidedly better, but is it enough? To get a big internal drive would free up a TON of space for anything on my main system, but I wouldn't have the large mobile data vault. I think I'll still opt for the external, but I'm on the fence. What do you all think?

[neb1211]

It depends.  How important is it that your data is fully mobile?  You could always get an internal drive and then share that drive on the network.  Then you would be able to access your data from any computer on the network and would still have a ton of free space on your main rig.

[tomalakborg]

Agreed, my main rig is more important, and I can always share the drive. Plus, in internal drive can be pulled and turned into an external drive if really needed.