Hard Drive Bargain Watch

[8bitbytes]

On the subject of enclosures...

In case this sounds like a good idea to any of you, I will be using a USB 2.0 / eSATA enclosure that uses a quick release tray for the drives. I will mount each drive in its own tray - that way I don't need to plug and unplug cables and manhandle the drive excessively. It's basically an extra $20 for each drive, adding on a tray, but worth it to me.

The enclosure:

Newegg.com - ICY DOCK MB559US-1SMB Aluminum body w/ partial plastic 3.5" USB 2.0 & eSATA External Enclosure - Retail

Extra trays:

Newegg.com - ICY DOCK MB123SRCK-1B Extra hard drive tray - Retail

[Jason Whiddon]

I have to look at those. I had my exthdd in a Apricorn Ez Bus for my Scientific Atlanta 8300hd and was very happy with it. Good and quiet.



This is a good case from Apricorn:


Newegg.com - APRICORN EZ-BUS-DTC-KIT Aluminum 3.5" USB & 1394 External Enclosure - Retail

[EvilEuro]

What I'd like is a suggestion on a top quality 500 or 750, at a reasonable price. And ready to go, in the case, just plug it in.

I'm more interested in buying a drive that will last many years than one that is the cheapest I can find.

If you're concerened about quality of drive and support, then I say get a Seagate hard drive, either a bare drive that you'll put in your own enclosure or one of their ready-made external drives. All Seagate drives come with a FIVE (5) year warranty and they're easy to deal with if a drive does go bad.

Never had a problem with them and the warranty alone is worth it.

[8bitbytes]

Im assuming we'd need this one for USB correct?


Newegg.com - APRICORN EZ-BUS-DTC-KIT Aluminum 3.5" USB & 1394 External Enclosure - Retail

Yeah, that would do it. I just don't want to have to take the enclosure apart every time I need to swap a drive...

Hey, stop bumping up your post count!

[Jason Whiddon]

Yeah, that would do it. I just don't want to have to take the enclosure apart every time I need to swap a drive...

Hey, stop bumping up your post count!

Yeah, I am a watch and delete person so 1 750gig drive will be plenty for me.

I need to delete the other link so it does not confuse people. Wonder why E* opted for usb instead of esata, isnt esata superior?

Also, when you get a chance, I have a projector question for you in the pub.

If I dont keep posting Ill never catch Iceberg

[Jason Whiddon]

If you're concerened about quality of drive and support, then I say get a Seagate hard drive, either a bare drive that you'll put in your own enclosure or one of their ready-made external drives. All Seagate drives come with a FIVE (5) year warranty and they're easy to deal with if a drive does go bad.

Never had a problem with them and the warranty alone is worth it.

Same could be said for WD Caviars which we found best for video on the Scientific Atlanta Boxes. I dont want a drive that will fail every year just beacause it has a 5yr warranty. Also Im betting some drives will work better with the 622 than others.

Not to start an argument, I just think much is going to depend on the 622 and E*. As soon as this is active we need to start logging drives people are buying and which ones are working.

As far as repair rate, if you look you can find complaints on Seagate, WD and Maxtor.

I personally only buy WD or Seagate, usually WD.

[datwell]

Yeah, I am a watch and delete person so 1 750gig drive will be plenty for me.

I need to delete the other link so it does not confuse people. Wonder why E* opted for usb instead of esata, isnt esata superior?

Also, when you get a chance, I have a projector question for you in the pub.

If I dont keep posting Ill never catch Iceberg

USB 2.0 = 480 meg max, SATA III = 3.0 Gb max - USB is plenty fast enough plus USB is cheap, widely understood and widely available.

My guess anyway.

--Doug

[Jason Whiddon]

USB 2.0 = 480 meg max, SATA III = 300 meg max plus USB is cheap, widely understood and widely available.

My guess anyway.

--Doug

eSata (what the SA8300hd was) is 3.0Gbit/s

Usb 2.0 can burst to 480Mbits/s

Doug, I just noticed you changed your data to reflect the proper number for esata.

[ndyclrk]

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[sgip2000]

Since E* stated that "virtually any drive" will work, I'm assuming that any drive/enclosure that is Mass Storage compliant, will work on the USB port. If this is true, that would open a lot of options.

Too bad they don't support 1394 or ESATA. Much better choices for video.