Best External HD?

[lightbulb8817]

My poor 80GB WD is filling up quickly (7GB left!!!).

I was wondering what would be the best external HD with the lowest cost?

I store tons of game images, movies, drivers, and software. If I move everything from my HD onto the external hard drive, I would have like 60GB of free space

The reason I want an external is so that I can move the HD from one computer to the next easily and quickly.

[vairox]

i would reccomend doing it yourself, those places that sell external drives kinda burn u on price. order an external usb 2.0 enclosure, then order the drive...that way u can get a slow, cheaper drive to put in the enclosure instead of a 7200rpm higher end drive that usually comes in those things, i did a test...i used an old 15 gig maxtor ata66 (maybe even 33) in my external enclosure and put files on it, did a file system test and it was like 10 meg a second, put my 80 gig in and did the same thing, like 11 meg a second...usb 2.0 doesnt seem to transfer data very fast even though it is claimed to be very fast. i would save some money and get a maxtor 5400rpm 2 meg cahce drive and put it in an enclosure. for data storage u dont need speed really, just capacity.

edit: the empy enclosures are around $30 online, more like $80 to $100 in a store. they come with everything to mount the drive inside, a usb cable (or firewire) and drivers etc

[lightbulb8817]

Originally posted by vairox
i would reccomend doing it yourself, those places that sell external drives kinda burn u on price. order an external usb 2.0 enclosure, then order the drive...that way u can get a slow, cheaper drive to put in the enclosure instead of a 7200rpm higher end drive that usually comes in those things, i did a test...i used an old 15 gig maxtor ata66 (maybe even 33) in my external enclosure and put files on it, did a file system test and it was like 10 meg a second, put my 80 gig in and did the same thing, like 11 meg a second...usb 2.0 doesnt seem to transfer data very fast even though it is claimed to be very fast. i would save some money and get a maxtor 5400rpm 2 meg cahce drive and put it in an enclosure. for data storage u dont need speed really, just capacity.

edit: the empy enclosures are around $30 online, more like $80 to $100 in a store. they come with everything to mount the drive inside, a usb cable (or firewire) and drivers etc

dude! Thanks alot for telling me about those things. I'll save a bundle!

I remember reading about it quite a while back, but I wasn't sure if they were available to the market... but now I know.

Does newegg carry those enclosures?

THANKS AGAIN!

[lightbulb8817]

I found the link!
http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProduc...n=&Order=votes

I would like to thank you again for telling me about these things. 120GB externals are like $180... now I can do it for less than $140!

[proxops-pete]

Yup... learned about this not too long ago... I've seen the firewire version for as low as $30! Colossus was the one who introduced me to such idea! Ain't that a killer?!! The cheap external drive solution, I mean...

[lightbulb8817]

I don't really like fire wire because not all computers have fire wire ports. My intention is to be able to use this external HD anywhere I go, to a friend's house, clients' house... or what ever.

Here's one that's for $31.99!!!

Up to 300GB

I store very large files (700MB CD's) so I think a 7200RPM hard drive might be better than 5000RPM for my uses

[vairox]

no problem lightbulb, glad to help save ya a couple bucks...they're real simple to setup, takes maybe 10 mins at the most...good luck with the new xternal. 5400 or 7200 would probably be the same using an external interface, but if u get a 7200 for about the same price its all good. rock on.

[coolqf]

The current firewire technology found iin computer is actually faster than USB 2.0 in real time use (not theoretical).