Need a new External Drive

I was not trying to fight either. In my experience going with a custom built option is far better than going with a pre-packaged external hard drive. It provides better performance at a significantly cheaper price. I am sure once you purchase a hard drive and enclosure separately you will never go back to the pre-built external drives.

 

thats for sure

 

Yes, I guess I did misunderstand. Thanks for clarifying.

 

You are clearly correct on the physics but since I have used the plastic ones for years with no problem I would suggest that the NEED for alum over plastic is a tad overstated. Please do not get me wrong, I understand the physics part and in a one one one comparison would agree that aluminium is a better choice but not because if you go plastic you will cook the drive. What makes more sense to me is the speed and upgradability issues, not the heat issue. In fact about a month ago I went into a store to buy a 750 sata 2.5 and an enclosure but was told they would have to order the drive. I did not want to wait so I went next door to Costco and picked up a 750 gig WD external (not sata though) for $139 Canadian (the sata setup would of cost much more as well although the sata/aluminum setup mentioned above def is sweet and considerably less $ than the store quoted me).

 

Well, if you live in Canada, then it is okay to use a plastic enclosure, as I doubt even during the summer months the temperature goes high enough to cause your drive to overheat. If you move south towards equator, you need to be careful during the summer months, when you use your external drive for longer than 2+ hrs (constant disk usage for 2+ hrs). You can still use it but make sure your room is well air conditioned.

I guess in Canada, during summer month, all you need to do is to open your windows. You might even need to tuck your drive in a blanket for extra comfort

OH! if your WD external is USB then it does not matter if it is IDE or SATA, as the transfer rate is limited by the usb speed which is between 23-27 MB/s. Most IDE drives provide a minimum transfer rate of around 40 MB/s and a max rate over 80 MB/s.

 

There is a problem with opening windows up here during both the winter and summer,,,,,it makes it too easy for polar bears to get in, so even in the summer we have to keep our windows closed.

I cannot remember which enclosure I was looking at but it came with both a USB cable (double plugs on the non-drive side) and a SATA cable. I assumed, possibly incorrectly, that this would permit higher speeds even when using USB.

 

LMAO what part of Canada do u live in

 

I read somewhere that global warming drive these beasts to extinction so in the immediate future you can open the windows without to much worry ! lol

On a serious note,its too bad that these wonderfull creatures will vanish because of us.

 

agreed, but dam that guy must live up north cuz over here near Toronto u sure as hell wont be seeing no polar bears wen u open ur window, usually just trees and the occasional person if ur lucky

 

Just a FYI. I have a MyBook that is prob about 2 years old. (Has power switch and green round light) The outside case or the Book Cover is Plastic. But the thing the drive is attached to is Alum. It does dissipate the heat to the outside if you look at the pages of a book. The Alum part would be the Pages of a very thick book.

 

I personally use this one http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3516746&Sku=T925-1219 as I can swap different drives from 2.5 and 3.5 inch! Plus if you have a infected drive it's easier to clean that way!

TH

 

Looks nice. Seems next time i will get this one.

 

Does it need power supply? How?

 

IMO its just a waste of space, why make the drive double the size to accomplish the exact same?

 

thats true, guess i just think too practically idk guess its just tech savy people that feel a clean professional looking drive is more appealing

 

No it comes with everything you need just plug it in!

TH

 

I mean does it needs power for 2.5 inch drives or just takes power from USB enclosure, like a 2.5 inch external.

 

You have to plug it into Power Plug and USB like most other Hard Drive Enclosures and it's only good for SATA drives not ATA drives! Like I said it comes with everything you need! And I use both 2.5 and 3.5 drives!

Here are the specs: http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Product.aspx?S=1268&ID=1642#Tab1 and other models http://www.thermaltakeusa.com/Products.aspx?C=1346

TH

 

Thanks.

 

Toronto Ontario, Polar Bears are rampant here and the summer temp hovers around 10 degrees below ---- and if you buy that I have a nice bridge for sale and some prime beach front property in Florida available (alligators no extra charge).

 

Yes, and the many species we have been responsible for driving to extinction and near extinction as well. We are one sad excuse for a species,,,,,,so much potential yet so stupid in so many ways.

 

Where in TO are you, I am near young and Eglington. Small world EH!

 

im not in Toronto exactly, but im in the general area (like a 40 min drive or less) in Oakville

 

Docking stations are great. I use the following raidsonic products (come with e-sata and USB2 cables).
http://www.raidsonic.de/en/pages/products/external_cases.php?we_objectID=5601
http://www.raidsonic.de/en/pages/products/external_cases.php?we_objectID=5667

Panagiotis