Hard Drives

[Jockstar]

A follow on to me recent problem with My Book hard drive. If you had a previous thread you would have seen it had shit itself. So i am looking to get another extra hard drive. Mu current Pc has a 700G but its not really enough and would like to try and keep things like music , pics, movies etc seperate. So the question is. Do i buy another external or do i go for an internal drive? Pros and cons please and thank you. BTW the one that shit its self was a Western Digital.(if that makes a difference) :jap:

[lopburi3]

If you need access speed internal is the way to go until USB3 arrives. But for storage external USB drives are fine for home use where there is no requirement for instant transfers. You can play the data fine from external drives. It would also make it easier to use with modern TV sets for direct viewing from the HD.

Cost wise the internal would most likely be cheaper as no case required. It will add some heat and perhaps restrict airflow so if marginal perhaps that could be an issue. But if you only have one HD and a normal power supply available likely that would be the best option.

[Crossy]

I would go with an external solution that incorporates a RAID-like array to protect your data from drive failure.

DROBO is a simple solution http://www.90degreesolution.com/ whilst not the cheapest way it's plug and go

If you're feeling more technical have a look at an UNRAID server http://lime-technology.com/ I have one with over 10TB available and protected

[Jockstar]

If you need access speed internal is the way to go until USB3 arrives. But for storage external USB drives are fine for home use where there is no requirement for instant transfers. You can play the data fine from external drives. It would also make it easier to use with modern TV sets for direct viewing from the HD.

Cost wise the internal would most likely be cheaper as no case required. It will add some heat and perhaps restrict airflow so if marginal perhaps that could be an issue. But if you only have one HD and a normal power supply available likely that would be the best option.

The Pc can take it as its an Intel Quad Core 2 Quad with 4Gb etc etc. I can also stream movies /media using my new Xbox. So the fact i have an external is not as big a deal. Though when i go to Thailand and have to be out in the country with family. The external gives me the options to watch movies instead of listening to the usual Thai chit chat(which i dont really understand anyway ) But hey. I don't get over there too often now.

[Jockstar]

I would go with an external solution that incorporates a RAID-like array to protect your data from drive failure.

DROBO is a simple solution http://www.90degreesolution.com/ whilst not the cheapest way it's plug and go

If you're feeling more technical have a look at an UNRAID server http://lime-technology.com/ I have one with over 10TB available and protected

Are you trying to confuse me?

[beano2274]

I am looking at an Internal drive (1TB) with a desktop holder, this is to use to move my movies from my computer onto the drive. I will be purchasing a HD One Player, so that I can download torrents straight onto the HD, which will be in the HD One Player, then use it to watch them on my TV. The Internal HD plus holder is 2800baht, External is about 3090baht.

[Crossy]

I would go with an external solution that incorporates a RAID-like array to protect your data from drive failure.

DROBO is a simple solution http://www.90degreesolution.com/ whilst not the cheapest way it's plug and go

If you're feeling more technical have a look at an UNRAID server http://lime-technology.com/ I have one with over 10TB available and protected

Are you trying to confuse me?

Sorry Jock

The DROBO scores coz if a drive fails you just put in a new one, you don't lose any data

Run out of space, just add a drive and it's instantly protected against failure.

[Jockstar]

I would go with an external solution that incorporates a RAID-like array to protect your data from drive failure.

DROBO is a simple solution http://www.90degreesolution.com/ whilst not the cheapest way it's plug and go

If you're feeling more technical have a look at an UNRAID server http://lime-technology.com/ I have one with over 10TB available and protected

Are you trying to confuse me?

Sorry Jock

The DROBO scores coz if a drive fails you just put in a new one, you don't lose any data

Run out of space, just add a drive and it's instantly protected against failure.

How much(cost) and how much can they store?

[BB1950]

You can currently get an external cases that supports USB 2, and eSATA to get optimum speed. So with a case such as this:

You could then have an external drive that plugs into either a USB port for use with computers and peripherals (TV's, DVD players, etc...) that have USB ports, or an eSATA port for speed, which is what I use.

If your computer does not have any eSTATA ports, there is a simple bracket to make the SATA ports from your motherboard external.

Here are two examples:

and

The only problem is quite a few motherboards don't support 'plug and play' or 'hot swap' for SATA drives. So you have to make sure the drive the is plugged in and on before booting the computer, in order to see the drive using eSATA. Otherwise it's a very cost effective and effective solution.

I also prefer to have backups made to an external drive for protection.

Edited December 29, 2010 by BB1950

[Jockstar]

I also prefer to have backups made to an external drive for protection.

Me too. But mine shit itself and i have now lost pics , music and movies.

[Crossy]

I would go with an external solution that incorporates a RAID-like array to protect your data from drive failure.

DROBO is a simple solution http://www.90degreesolution.com/ whilst not the cheapest way it's plug and go

If you're feeling more technical have a look at an UNRAID server http://lime-technology.com/ I have one with over 10TB available and protected

Are you trying to confuse me?

Sorry Jock

The DROBO scores coz if a drive fails you just put in a new one, you don't lose any data

Run out of space, just add a drive and it's instantly protected against failure.

How much(cost) and how much can they store?

You'll have to ask the importer (probably means they're expensive), you can put up to 5 2TB drives in the baby unit

I'd start off with 2 1TB drives (you need 2 drives to ensure the data is safe).

[BB1950]

I also prefer to have backups made to an external drive for protection.

Me too. But mine shit itself and i have now lost pics , music and movies.

There's an old saying, "Don't put all your eggs in one basket".

Make backups to different drives. I have separate drives for Monthly, Weekly, and Daily backups. That way I always have one to fall back to. Using external drives, it's very easy to do. These days, hard drives are very inexpensive.

It's also advisable to have an 'off site' backup in case of fire, floods, theft, etc... I learned that a very long time ago when my only computer was stolen. The hardware is easily replaceable, but my important data was not!

One final note, make sure you encrypt your private, important, and personal data. You don't want others to gain access to it. An external hard drive is very easy to steal.

TrueCrypt is a very, good, secure, and easy way to encrypt hard drive volumes or create encrypted files which you can store folders and files in. You can even hide an encrypted file within a normal file. It's free to download and use.

[Crossy]

I also prefer to have backups made to an external drive for protection.

Me too. But mine shit itself and i have now lost pics , music and movies.

It's not a backup if it's the only copy

If you don't want Drobo, then get one 1TB drive to go in the PC for your piccies etc. and a 1TB external drive to keep the backup on.

[steve187]

USB 2.5" external hard drives are now available in tuk com.

[Digitalbanana]

They've been available for years. Recently USB3 2.5 drives are available as well.

If all the o/p wants is to carry his multimedia stuff around get the 2.5 USB (2 or faster 3) and plug and play with power included. I always back up all my external drives incase of loss. An external 2,5inch 320GB USB 3 drive cost 3500THB last time I bought them.

[lopburi3]

This is for a desktop so the higher price and lower capacity and slower speeds of 2.5" drives would be counter productive in my opinion.

[BB1950]

They've been available for years. Recently USB3 2.5 drives are available as well.

If all the o/p wants is to carry his multimedia stuff around get the 2.5 USB (2 or faster 3) and plug and play with power included. I always back up all my external drives incase of loss. An external 2,5inch 320GB USB 3 drive cost 3500THB last time I bought them.

Problem is that you don't get the USB 3 speed unless you have USB 3 ports at each end and use a USB 3 cable to connect. You only get USB 2 speed.

[steve187]

sorry should have said USB3

[Eureka]

They've been available for years. Recently USB3 2.5 drives are available as well.

If all the o/p wants is to carry his multimedia stuff around get the 2.5 USB (2 or faster 3) and plug and play with power included. I always back up all my external drives incase of loss. An external 2,5inch 320GB USB 3 drive cost 3500THB last time I bought them.

Check out the new Seagate 2.5" external drives. They swapable conectors so you can change a USB 2.0 to eSATA to Firewire to USB 3.0

Connectors may not be available everywhere but were on sale a month ago in Pantip BKK.

[Jockstar]

I would go with an external solution that incorporates a RAID-like array to protect your data from drive failure.

DROBO is a simple solution http://www.90degreesolution.com/ whilst not the cheapest way it's plug and go

If you're feeling more technical have a look at an UNRAID server http://lime-technology.com/ I have one with over 10TB available and protected

Had a look at they are quoting nearly $1000 so just wee bit out my price range.

So lets say I buy both internal and external. Whats the best brand to go for?

Seagate?

Samsung?

Lacie?

Western Digital(rather not)

[lopburi3]

Am not sure one brand is that much better than another. I have 3 x 1tb and 1x 1.5tb ACER units and not had any problems so far. I also have a Seagate Free Agent which is a PIA as have to remove to boot (known issue and never resolved). There are likely models that will fail more than others but by the time a pattern has been documented they are likely no longer being made. Expect normally better to have two cheap units than depend on one expensive unit. For home use most of us could survive a total loss but for commercial use more expensive backup/off-site systems would be cost effective. At home a CD or two of financial and tax plus photos (kept at work or on the web) in addition to a HD backup is likely all we require.

[Jockstar]

I like the look of this one!

[Jockstar]

I like the look of this one!

And this one for internal. Thoughts and opinions appreciated on both.