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Which External Storage Option?

  • 27-03-2009 11:42am
    #1
    noelma
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 88 ✭✭


    PC is filling up with photos and movies, so I am considering external storage.
    I see a Western Digital external hard drive (750GB) for about €100 - but it is a HARD drive! Not flash memory. And needs a separate power supply.
    Just wondering if anyone has any suggestions?
    Ideally I would have liked a a very secure platform.


Comments

  • #2
    Solitaire
    Moderators, Technology & Internet Moderators Posts: 18,381 Mod ✭✭✭✭Solitaire


    I see a Western Digital external hard drive (750GB) for about €100 - but it is a HARD drive! Not flash memory.

    Unless you are very, very rich indeed then a "mere" HDD is still your only option for external bulk storage - external SSDs are still in their infancy and too small and too slow (limiting a SSD to USB speed?! LOL! Haven't ChainTech hard of "esata" yet?! :p) to be of much advantage to anyone. Traditional HDDs in external enclosures are still the way to go.
    And needs a separate power supply

    Normal for external HDDs based on 3.5" desktop drives - the power requirement is too much for USB or FireWire to handle.

    I think you're forgetting about 2.5"-based external drives - they use relatively little power (deriving from laptops and all) and don't usually require any adaptors as they derive all their power from 1-2 powered USB/FireWire sockets. The sacrifice is lower capacity compared to a 3.5"-based unit. A mainstream portable drive is 320GB compared to 750GB-1TB for desktop versions.

    Also, aside from how much stuff you intend to port over to the external (which determines capacity requirements) what kind of stuff will it be? If its just documents, music, and more basic apps/pictures/video then any old USB2.0-based drive will suffice. But if you want to store hi-def content and/or hi-res pics you want edit etc. you will need better transfer sppeds than USB can offer, and FireWire (or better yet eSATA) external drives come at a premium.


  • #3
    Genghiz Cohen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,182 ✭✭✭Genghiz Cohen


    Go here, give them money. Get HDD.


  • #4
    noelma
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 88 ✭✭noelma


    Thanks all!
    Decided to take tip and buy the WD Elements 1TB from Komplett.
    Good deal at less than €100!
    Lets hope its not a WD dud! :D


  • #5
    Genghiz Cohen
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 7,182 ✭✭✭Genghiz Cohen


    noelma wrote: »
    Lets hope its not a WD dud! :D
    Nah, WD are solid.


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