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Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:51 am
by cs_cdkey4
Ok, so im lookin at buying an external USB HDD for under $200.00 AUD.

The one i'm lookin at is a Seagate 320GB, 7200.10 RPM, 16MB Cache in a vantec nextar 3 external enclosure.

It looks awesome but that's not the main reason im thinkin of buying it....

I know vantec got a good rep for keeping things cool, plus im getting 5 yrs warranty on the seagate HDD. The enclosure is fanless so its gonna be quiet.

My main needs are:

1) Around 320GB to 500GB capacity

2) USB 2 external enclosure that keeps the HDD cool n working.

3) Reliable transfer of Data. (I read somewhere western digital wasnt reliable n data got corrupted alot)

4) Looking at spending around $300.00 max but preferably around the $200-250 mark would be ideal.

Any recommendations and good brands would be great guys. I was thinkin of buying an internal HDD and getting the enclosure seperately but it worked out about the same price so I thought I might as well get it from the same person to save the hassle and time.

thanks for you input guys. much appreciated.

Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:38 pm
by emanon
buy your own eide internal drive of the size you want/can afford and then buy an external enclosure. much more economical from a $/GB perspective and any non-Geek can put it together and make it work. Another advantage is you know which manufacturer is supplying the HD, some of the off-label complete units may have inferior components.

Another thing to consider is noise level. some xternal HDs are noisy as hell.

Posted: Fri Jan 05, 2007 10:45 pm
by emanon

Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 12:06 am
by WAY
God damn emanon, where the fuck do you spring up from? lol

Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 2:02 am
by AYHJA
Emanon = Technical Ninja

I must agree though, now that I think about , getting a drive and an enclosure should be a 5 minute job, if its anything like 3.5" harddrives, you simply unscrew it, stick the drive in, and screw it back on...

Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 2:08 am
by WAY
Please, for the love of God, stop with the Technical Ninja thing.. lol

Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 7:12 am
by cs_cdkey4
sweet, thanks for the tips guys.

might just get it seperately afterall if i can save or get more gigs for my money....

since i joined this place im gonna need all i can get /wink.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink.gif" />

Posted: Sat Jan 06, 2007 2:59 pm
by emanon
QUOTE(AYHJA @ Jan 5 2007, 09:02 PM) Emanon = Technical Ninja

I must agree though, now that I think about , getting a drive and an enclosure should be a 5 minute job, if its anything like 3.5" harddrives, you simply unscrew it, stick the drive in, and screw it back on...

I have a couple externals that I made from old eide drives when I converted to SATA. It really is very easy, probably even easier than installing a HD into a PC....4 phillips screws for the drive, 2 for the enclosure, plug in the cables and you are done.


Just got back a couple days ago - spent the holidaze in Key West with my wife. anyone interested in seeing pix of my deepsea fishing expedition? heh

Fear 14 pages of new posts since my last visit, heh.

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 1:10 am
by WAY
Yes, I'm interested..
(even if there aren't any naughty pics.. lol)

Posted: Sun Jan 07, 2007 3:26 am
by fatboy42
QUOTE(emanon @ Jan 5 2007, 05:38 PM) buy your own eide internal drive of the size you want/can afford and then buy an external enclosure. much more economical from a $/GB perspective and any non-Geek can put it together and make it work. Another advantage is you know which manufacturer is supplying the HD, some of the off-label complete units may have inferior components.

Another thing to consider is noise level. some xternal HDs are noisy as hell.

Agreed, thats what I did. Picked up the enclosure on Ebay and a 160 gig drive from Office Depot.