Amoeba

So i just bought a notebook with 40gb, I will get an external hard drive to put on photos/music/movies and such, and back up other things.

Is there anything special to look for when buying an external hard drive besides at least an 8mb buffer and 7200rpm speed? Do I need to buy one with a metal enclosure?

nokio

get an iomega rev drive...infinite capacity with different disks and fast too

Beelzebub

I always build my own.

I just buy an external enclosure and a internal HD cheaper than one they put together for you by about half.

HD enclosure $27

200GB WD HD $119



All USB2.0 enclosures

Amoeba

On ebay I can get those 80gb 7200rpm and 8mb buffer maxtor and enclosure for like $100....the question is should I be looking for some special enclosure, it will be sitting on my desk in college

anothercls

Just get the matox in metal, in the event you need to carry it with you it won't break. I'd suggest firewire if it is available on your laptop.

Amoeba

Yea i got it on the lappy, im getting excited for it to arrive, 1 inch thick is gonna be great!

would this be fine

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...109770529&rd=1

anothercls

And if someone breaks in you can always hit them with it, I have mine in my laptop bag and there is a noticeable weight to it.

Beelzebub

No All the enclosures are good. Metal is nice, but it makes it heavier to move around if you are going to be takeing it with you. But if it is going to be stationary most of the time then get metal.

USB 2.0 or firewire.

I tend to use this case when I make them for my friends

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...145-743&depa=0

Metal, looks nice and only has USB 2.0 none of the other interfaces that make the price higher

Amoeba

yea ive seen plenty of those enclosures with the hard drives in there on ebay, i may go with that, but the enclosure dont really matter?

Doc.Booty

It might. I know external firewire drives were slow for a while because nobody had a good chipset for them. The Oxford 911 chipset is smokin - if you go firewire, get an enclosure with that.

Doc.Booty

TigerDirect has a 200 gig, 8 meg cache Western Digital drive for $90 after rebate. I just ordered it and a Bytecc Firewire 400/800 + USB 2.0 enclosure.

Amoeba

I just want to buy one thats already built and ready to go with a nice chipset

Beelzebub

Then the best ones are the Western Digital, externals.

It just depends on how much space you want.

This is a good 250gb drive with 8meg cache
Western Digital 250GB USB 2.0 / FireWire Dual-Option External Combo Hard Drive, Model WDXB2500JBRNN

Amoeba

Okay I came up with this $136, good deal? With this can I just plug it right into the comp with windows xp and it will install itself as a hard drive?

If this seems pricey, how hard is it to mount it in an external case, and are there any guides online?

I am going for cheap good performance drive, so firewire port wont be needed, Ill use the usb 2.0 on the notebook

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...sPageName=WDVW

indoMFP

Hey, how does this work?? i mean how do you connect it to the motherboard... do you use a USB connection or the harness provided to hook it up to the system board???

Sly Raskal

iTrader: (1)

get a firewire, the speed difference between usb 2.0 and firewire is a noticeable difference.

i've got two 250GB firewire drives at work and they work great.

Beelzebub

No it is an external case. You put the HD in the case (very simple. 2 connections, power and IDE cable) and then the case hooks up to the USB port on the outside of the machine..



That isn't a bad price for one already put together. But as I put above, for just a little work you could have a 200gb model for the same price.

Sarlacc

I just bought a custom built external 250gb with triple interface. 2.0, firewiew 400 and firewire 800.

fucking thing using firewire 800 on my powerbook is BLAZING fast!!!

Makes my La Cie d2 120gb look like a joke. (course the newer drive also has more onboard cache too)

Python2121

holy shit, i literally have a western digital 80 gig special edition drive sitting around doing nothing that im too lazy to install, it never occred to me to get an enclosure and then use it on my laptop and desktop next year in college, thank you acl.com

Amoeba

So FIREWIRE is definitely the way to go along with the USB? Is the firewire aspect plug and play as well, or is it harder to set up?

KCPreki11

I did the same as this and am running it off my notebook. Works awesome.'

Firewire is the fastest. Plug and play.

Doc.Booty

It's almost always much cheaper to build your own. And it's VERY simple to install the drive in an enclosure, if you can't do it in 5 minutes you suck at life.

zamo

Maxtor OneTouch Personal Storage - External Hard Drive - 300GB - USB 2.0 & Firewire.

$264.99 - $20 MIR - $15 first time buyer coupon = $235 shipped, no tax.

http://www.buy.com/retail/product.as...7&loc=101&sp=1

Amoeba

Alright I am going to install my own, what usb, firewire enclosures do you prefer?

Doc.Booty

A friend of mine has a Bytecc enclosure, and i really like it - i just ordered the same one yesterday.

Bytecc's page at newegg

Here is what i ordered. But they have just-USB and just-Firewire enclosures for about $30 - here's one.

Beelzebub

I like USB, more compatable with PC's. Not as many PC's have firewire.

Amoeba

Thats why im getting the combo, but my pc has firewire so I will use that, I am looking for an enclosure with a good chip set and speed....i dont know where to look, ive looked for some reviews but theres not many reviews made for these things

Doc.Booty

I haven't heard anything about USB chipsets, but the Bytecc enclosures i linked use the Oxford 911 firewire chipset. It's the one you want.

Amoeba

im assuming that bytecc case has the oxford 911 chipset, im looking but I dont see a fan.

Amoeba

Whats the difference between these two besides about $20 in price
Bytecc ME-720U2F http://www.pctoyland.com/prod_526.htm
Plumax PM-525F2-POS http://www.dealsonic.com/firenfor525d.html

Amoeba

sorry didnt notice the first one didnt have usb

Amoeba

First step is done, got a Hitachi Deskstar 200gb 7200rpm 8mb buffer for $90 after rebate, now its time for the casing.

Doc.Booty

Bytecc also has some larger models that include fans. It's the only manufacturer that i know is good, although i'm sure there's others that do just fine.

Sarlacc

good move with the hitachi drive, probably one of the best out there, i have the 250gb in my custom external. quiet as hell I forget its on.

Amoeba

Thanks guys for your help, I ended up getting a Hitachi Deskstar 200gb model 7200rpm 8mb cache 3 year warranty with a Plumax PM-525C2 case, which has the oxford chip and an internal fan as well as an internal power supply, look at the review at epinions. I got this all for $135 shipped. Seems like a good deal to me.

indoMFP

can you also use an enclosure for a dvd rewriter??? I want to buy a dvd drive and don't have any bays left in my computer so this was looking to be a good solution... what do you all think???

Beelzebub

Yes I have done that too, for That you just need a 5.25" drive enclosure. that only cost me $100. $80 for the 4x burner $20 for the enclosure