Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 16 of 21

Thread: what 1tb external hdd...

  1. #1
    Yer Da Sells Avon! keef247's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Brownsville
    Posts
    1,437
    Thanks
    201
    Thanked
    27 times in 23 posts

    Question what 1tb external hdd...

    basically in the next month I'm going for a 1tb external as I now have a laptop and no rig and the idea of being able to sling the external in the backpack with it and take such a large amount of data with me would be ideal...
    so what i'm wondering is which?
    don't want to spend silly money like 140 or less? quite like the look of the freecom silver one with the little detachable black L shape stand... was on scan but theres a couple of models of this so i wouldnt have a preference...

    I'm really unsure on speeds etc as surely no matter how fast it is it's still limited by usb2.0 isn't it.or firewire... that's another thing I'm unsure of... firewire or usb... I like the factor of being able to plug it into any pc with a usb port.but at the same time firewire is faster but not that noticeable surely? i have a mini firewire on the lappy and 4 usb2.0's so usb isn't a problem either... but would the mini firewire work i have a feeling it won't...

    so yeah what 1tb external and do i want usb2.0 or firewire if really worth it... it will be storing everything and everything really. I think usb makes more sense compatability wise.

    uk links please and opinions on the freecom aswell would be nice. preferably from scan seeing as free delivery...

    thanks alot people
    Quote Originally Posted by Fraz regarding the Apple Mighty Mouse
    I just got so fed up with this thing for it's crappy erratically working scroll ball and poor right-click detection that I just threw it against a wall and it exploded.

    Good riddance. Wish I'd done it about a year ago.

  2. #2
    I'm ITX
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Location
    Liverpool
    Posts
    2,415
    Thanks
    82
    Thanked
    159 times in 148 posts

    Re: what 1tb external hdd...

    Seagate Free Agent Dekstop's are good!

    I've had a seagate external of the 320GB USB 1.1 variety for coming upto 2 years and its still going strong

    It's 4.98*

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    1,130
    Thanks
    6
    Thanked
    98 times in 91 posts

    Re: what 1tb external hdd...

    if you don't mind 5 minutes of simple DIY, you could consider getting the samsung spinpoint F1 1TB drive and then the icybox enclosure with USB and esata that's £20, so £110 in total from scan. that gives you one of the fastest drives, plus a decent solid caddy, and then if you spent another £16 on a esata pcmi card for the laptop you could get much faster speeds. or maybe there is a firewire caddy if you already have firewire on the laptop

    the slight concern about many of the 1TB external deals is you don't know what drive is inside, but that doesn't bother everyone

  4. #4
    Does he need a reason? Funkstar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Aberdeen
    Posts
    19,874
    Thanks
    630
    Thanked
    965 times in 816 posts
    • Funkstar's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte EG45M-DS2H
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core2Quad Q9550 (2.83GHz)
      • Memory:
      • 8GB OCZ PC2-6400C5 800MHz Quad Channel
      • Storage:
      • 650GB Western Digital Caviar Blue
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 512MB ATI Radeon HD4550
      • PSU:
      • Antec 350W 80+ Efficient PSU
      • Case:
      • Antec NSK1480 Slim Mini Desktop Case
      • Operating System:
      • Vista Ultimate 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2407 + 2408 monitors
      • Internet:
      • Zen 8mb

    Re: what 1tb external hdd...

    I'll second what Uni said. I'm a bug fan of putting external drives together myself. At least then you know what drive is in there and you know the case is going to be re-usable in the future.

    Have a look at this case:
    http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=616032

    I have two black and one silver. Excellent cases.

    You can have the following configurations:
    SATA -> eSATA
    SATA -> USB
    PATA -> USB

    Oh, and the power connector is much more robust than the one on IcyBox cases.

  5. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2008
    Posts
    1,130
    Thanks
    6
    Thanked
    98 times in 91 posts

    Re: what 1tb external hdd...

    http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=788371

    that's the one i just ordered as i heard it comes complete with the esata cable (which isn't mentioned in the specs), and it looks quite nite, solid and basic

    the one funkstar posted looks good and solid too, and only £3 more for the extra PATA capability isn't bad at all. as i already have a nice solid iomega case and another 5.24" external case i didn't really need the PATA connection. i'm actually selling off my old PATA drives to friends to cover the cost of replacing/upgrading to 1TB drives so everything is on one drive for convenience, and my machine isn't overloaded with more drives than it should. my external drive is going to be used as a complete backup of my internal drive, but a backup that can be taken with me and used with the laptop

    doing it by buying seperate components means you can connect your drive internally to copy/backup your data then stick in the caddy (it's particularly faster than copying over USB)

  6. #6
    Yer Da Sells Avon! keef247's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Brownsville
    Posts
    1,437
    Thanks
    201
    Thanked
    27 times in 23 posts

    Re: what 1tb external hdd...

    yeah i was thinking that but last time i'd checked it was cheaper to buy external but I'm definitely going to do this cheers guys.really loving the icy box... and the other one. have they both got fans in them yeah? could you recommend a pcmi card? i have a dell inspiron 1520 if that helps...
    i love the idea of having faster speeds on the lappy via pcmi and then the compatability of usb
    i take it having esata with an F1 sammy would be way faster than my 5400rpm 8mb cache lappy Western Digi drive... so it'd be better for installing games on etc right
    Quote Originally Posted by Fraz regarding the Apple Mighty Mouse
    I just got so fed up with this thing for it's crappy erratically working scroll ball and poor right-click detection that I just threw it against a wall and it exploded.

    Good riddance. Wish I'd done it about a year ago.

  7. #7
    Does he need a reason? Funkstar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Aberdeen
    Posts
    19,874
    Thanks
    630
    Thanked
    965 times in 816 posts
    • Funkstar's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte EG45M-DS2H
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core2Quad Q9550 (2.83GHz)
      • Memory:
      • 8GB OCZ PC2-6400C5 800MHz Quad Channel
      • Storage:
      • 650GB Western Digital Caviar Blue
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 512MB ATI Radeon HD4550
      • PSU:
      • Antec 350W 80+ Efficient PSU
      • Case:
      • Antec NSK1480 Slim Mini Desktop Case
      • Operating System:
      • Vista Ultimate 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2407 + 2408 monitors
      • Internet:
      • Zen 8mb

    Re: what 1tb external hdd...

    The AKASA case doesn't have a fan and I don't believe the Icybox ones do either.

    The Inspiron 1520 doesn't have a PCMCIA slot, it has an ExpressCard slot.

    This eSATA ExpressCard is probably as good as any.

    http://www.scan.co.uk/Product.aspx?WebProductId=676547

    Another advantage of buying a seperate drive and case is the warranty. With all in one external drives you normally just get 1 year, and that is with the vendor of the unit (Freecom for example) regardless of the drive inside the box. Doing it yourself gives you whatever the waranty on the drive would normally be (1 - 5 years depending on the manufacturer).

  8. #8
    Yer Da Sells Avon! keef247's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Brownsville
    Posts
    1,437
    Thanks
    201
    Thanked
    27 times in 23 posts

    Re: what 1tb external hdd...

    oh it needs to be vista 64bit compatable pcmcia card... as for no fan... it will be on 24/7 with the laptop so it needs to be capable of that too....
    edit any slimmer cards than your link as that looks huge and bulky.i know I'm being picky but if i can get a nice flush one for abit more i don't mind.
    Last edited by keef247; 02-08-2008 at 03:33 PM.
    Quote Originally Posted by Fraz regarding the Apple Mighty Mouse
    I just got so fed up with this thing for it's crappy erratically working scroll ball and poor right-click detection that I just threw it against a wall and it exploded.

    Good riddance. Wish I'd done it about a year ago.

  9. #9
    Does he need a reason? Funkstar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Aberdeen
    Posts
    19,874
    Thanks
    630
    Thanked
    965 times in 816 posts
    • Funkstar's system
      • Motherboard:
      • Gigabyte EG45M-DS2H
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core2Quad Q9550 (2.83GHz)
      • Memory:
      • 8GB OCZ PC2-6400C5 800MHz Quad Channel
      • Storage:
      • 650GB Western Digital Caviar Blue
      • Graphics card(s):
      • 512MB ATI Radeon HD4550
      • PSU:
      • Antec 350W 80+ Efficient PSU
      • Case:
      • Antec NSK1480 Slim Mini Desktop Case
      • Operating System:
      • Vista Ultimate 64bit
      • Monitor(s):
      • Dell 2407 + 2408 monitors
      • Internet:
      • Zen 8mb

    Re: what 1tb external hdd...

    No, it needs to be a Vista 64bit compatible ExpressCard

    From the Scan page, Special Features tab: "• Supports 64bit / 32bit Windows Vista."

    As for a drive being on all the time: I have left a 500GB Samsung in my AKASA running for over a week in a stretch without a problem. I use it as a temporary drive to rip and download to from my ols laptop.

  10. #10
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Chester (ex-pat!)
    Posts
    543
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    56 times in 53 posts
    • TheReaFireblade's system
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core2Duo T9300 @ 2.50GHz
      • Memory:
      • 4GB Patriot Signature PC-5400 @ 667MHz
      • Storage:
      • 400GB (2x 200GB) in RAID 0
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Dual 512MB Nvidia 8800GTX in SLi + PCI Ageia PhysX Card
      • PSU:
      • 230W
      • Case:
      • Dell INspiron XPS M1730 Smoke Grey Magnesium Alloy Chassis
      • Monitor(s):
      • 17" UltraSharp WUXGA Widescreen TFT (1920 x 1200) + 24" FP241WZ
      • Internet:
      • (Up to) 24Mb ADSL (Be Unlimited)

    Wink Re: what 1tb external hdd...

    I personally prefer to buy the best internal 3.5" drive available, and stick it in an external enclosure - since it allows you to swap-out the hard drive quickly and easily if/when required.
    Plus of course... standard (7200rpm/32MB cache) desktop drives are a lot quicker than external drives (5400rpm/8MB cache).
    And if you choose an external enclosure with an eSATA connection, the speed difference between them (internal vs external) would be even more noticeable

    However... if you prefer using standard external drives Keef, Scan are selling the 1TB Seagate FreeAgent Desktop for just £96.39 (delivered of course)
    Beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder


  11. #11
    Yer Da Sells Avon! keef247's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Brownsville
    Posts
    1,437
    Thanks
    201
    Thanked
    27 times in 23 posts

    Re: what 1tb external hdd...

    so your saying the only one i can get is the huge one? is that vista64 compatible and is there a dual slot one should i want another port.
    is the free agent better than F1 then?
    Quote Originally Posted by Fraz regarding the Apple Mighty Mouse
    I just got so fed up with this thing for it's crappy erratically working scroll ball and poor right-click detection that I just threw it against a wall and it exploded.

    Good riddance. Wish I'd done it about a year ago.

  12. #12
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Location
    Chester (ex-pat!)
    Posts
    543
    Thanks
    1
    Thanked
    56 times in 53 posts
    • TheReaFireblade's system
      • CPU:
      • Intel Core2Duo T9300 @ 2.50GHz
      • Memory:
      • 4GB Patriot Signature PC-5400 @ 667MHz
      • Storage:
      • 400GB (2x 200GB) in RAID 0
      • Graphics card(s):
      • Dual 512MB Nvidia 8800GTX in SLi + PCI Ageia PhysX Card
      • PSU:
      • 230W
      • Case:
      • Dell INspiron XPS M1730 Smoke Grey Magnesium Alloy Chassis
      • Monitor(s):
      • 17" UltraSharp WUXGA Widescreen TFT (1920 x 1200) + 24" FP241WZ
      • Internet:
      • (Up to) 24Mb ADSL (Be Unlimited)

    Wink Re: what 1tb external hdd...

    Quote Originally Posted by keef247 View Post

    is the free agent better than F1 then?
    No no. As I said above... I prefer to use an internal 3.5" drive, in an external enclosure myself

    Go for the option you've mention on B-T
    Beauty is in the eye of the beer-holder


  13. #13
    Jay
    Jay is offline
    Gentlemen.. we're history Jay's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Location
    Jita
    Posts
    8,365
    Thanks
    304
    Thanked
    568 times in 409 posts

    Re: what 1tb external hdd...

    I use the WD my book 1TB and 250GB. Both have been fantastic.
    □ΞVΞ□

  14. #14
    Yer Da Sells Avon! keef247's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Brownsville
    Posts
    1,437
    Thanks
    201
    Thanked
    27 times in 23 posts

    Re: what 1tb external hdd...

    i think i'm going for the make your own option as people have said no matter i do with the drive i buy it still has the 3/5 year warrenty whereas if i opened a prebuilt... naughty naughty voiddddd
    and i can freely swap it and plug it into a pc direct in sata which is a nice addition.
    so is esata as fast as sata 2 on a pc?
    sounds like its faster than my 5400rpm 8mb cache lappy sata haha obviously.so it'd be a good idea to install games for better performance on it yer?
    Quote Originally Posted by Fraz regarding the Apple Mighty Mouse
    I just got so fed up with this thing for it's crappy erratically working scroll ball and poor right-click detection that I just threw it against a wall and it exploded.

    Good riddance. Wish I'd done it about a year ago.

  15. #15
    The late but legendary peterb - Onward and Upward peterb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Looking down & checking on swearing
    Posts
    19,378
    Thanks
    2,892
    Thanked
    3,403 times in 2,693 posts

    Re: what 1tb external hdd...

    $Esata and sata only refers to te connectors - the transfer speed is the same - although it is unlikely that you will get sata2 speeds anyway - there are other limiting factors that will control the sustained speeds for disk transfers.
    (\__/)
    (='.'=)
    (")_(")

    Been helped or just 'Like' a post? Use the Thanks button!
    My broadband speed - 750 Meganibbles/minute

  16. #16
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    Newcastle, England
    Posts
    684
    Thanks
    42
    Thanked
    8 times in 8 posts

    Re: what 1tb external hdd...

    I would personally buy the caddy and hard drive seperatly that way if the caddy dies it's easier to take it out and put the drive into another caddy or connect to a PC. If you buy all in one and open it you void the warranty and are forced to send the whole thing back and kiss goodbye to your data.

    Also go for one with esata and USB at least that way you have the option to use either connection but esata is a lot faster.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Similar Threads

  1. DVD player that can read external HDD via USB
    By Taz in forum Consumer Electronics
    Replies: 20
    Last Post: 13-02-2012, 10:29 PM
  2. External HDD enclosure causing nasty static noise
    By Jez in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 30-10-2007, 12:16 AM
  3. Booting from external hdd
    By sithlord3k in forum Help! Quick Relief From Tech Headaches
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 03-02-2006, 10:17 AM
  4. Urgent: External HDD Problem
    By Xaneden in forum Help! Quick Relief From Tech Headaches
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 23-12-2005, 11:58 PM
  5. Maxtor One Touch External HDD
    By maver1ck in forum PC Hardware and Components
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 27-09-2003, 04:05 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •