External drive suggestions

[polobunny]

I've got myself the Vantec NST-360SU-BK

Very nice drive, I like the whole appearance of it. Shiny O__O
Has eSATA and USB, isn't too expensive and has no fan. HOWEVER, the fact it has no fan means it run pretty hot. I currently have a Western Digital WD2500AAKS refurb. in it and it runs at 52 celsius while streaming my music which in my opinion is quite hot (using speedfan, take with a grain of salt).
It's my fault however, I wanted something fanless. Western Digital says the drive can reach 60 celsius and still be working properly.
All in all, it's great. You might not want to put very important files in a fanless enclosure, just in case.
I'll probably be figuring something out to make the drive come in contact with the enclosure so it cools faster after Christmas.

[NoctisReitop]

Not to hijack this thread, but can an external harddrive be disassembled to retrieve the harddrive? The external solution in question is not an external enclosure, but a full fledged external hdd.

[gvblake22]

Originally Posted by NoctisReitop

Not to hijack this thread, but can an external harddrive be disassembled to retrieve the harddrive? The external solution in question is not an external enclosure, but a full fledged external hdd.

If it is something like the Seagate FreeAgent thing, then you would probably void your warranty by taking it apart.

[onebxr]

Hard Drive Enclosure How To:

I use this to backup my main rig and it works flawlessly.
-1

[Tech Geek Deluxe]

Here is a very nice solution.

Ximeta NetDisk 120GB HDD w/8port Ethernet Switch $75 plus shipping

[fstroupe]

The Vizo Luxon Advanced and Vizo Uranus both have eSATA, and you can install either an IDE or SATA drive. They don't have the Luxon Advanced at the Egg, but the Uranus is $60.

I reviewed a regular Luxon, which has the same interface for IDE/SATA drives, but has regular SATA instead of eSATA, along with USB. It is well over a year old, when eSATA was just coming around. It works fine, I don't use it, mainly because I didn't have an extra drive when I reviewed it, and soon after that I reviewed a Lacie that did have a drive.

Originally Posted by NoctisReitop

Not to hijack this thread, but can an external harddrive be disassembled to retrieve the harddrive? The external solution in question is not an external enclosure, but a full fledged external hdd.

I would say yes, but as GVBlake22 said, you're gonna void your warranty. I had the same question until I got the Lacie and opened it up...realizing that though there are many "external hard drive" manufacturers, there are few "hard drive" manufacturers. An "external hard drive" merely is an enclosure that happens to have a hard drive installed at the factory. The Lacie has a Seagate IDE drive in it. It was easily removable.

[screwballl]

thanks for the suggestions, I placed the order last night

HD: Newegg.com - Western Digital Caviar SE WD5000AAJS 500GB 7200 RPM 8MB Cache SATA 3.0Gb/s Hard Drive - OEM
case: Newegg.com - Thermaltake EA3006 Aluminum 3.5" Silver eSATA External Enclosure - Retail (this site review helped me make that decision)

plus an extra, I am needing to replace these SB 5.1 speakers that the wife has fried both the left channels so I ordered some basic but decent rated speakers:
Newegg.com - Logitech X-530 70 watts RMS 5.1 Black Speaker System - OEM

[okron1k]

i am also looking for an external solution, be it a drive+enclosure or a "pre-built".

i think ultimately, it would be better to go the drive+enclosure route.. so you can always upgrade your drive, easily.

esata is a must in whichever drive you go with. usb 2.0 is just too slow.

i've tried out a WD mybook pro 1tb external and did not like it. loud for one, and slow as molasses going up hill on a cold day. thankfully i bought it from costco and had no problems returning it.

esata, usb2.0, and nas capability all in one drive would be ultimate :)

[Capper]

You might look into the Thermaltake Max 4, which we have reviewed, and which I am currently using to back up site information.

It includes USB 2.0, eSATA, and a dead silent fan

[screwballl]

one thing that sold me on this enclosure was the power cord



As this case has the eSATA data port AND the eSATA power port right there on the front, I will not need to use the included bracket.