External USB HardDrive 80+ GB

You might wanna check out the officemax website and see if they're offering the same deals online so you can avoid having to go to the B&M store and the shopping hassles.

Yeah, the hard drives do get hot so look for an enclosure w/ a fan on it. I didn't get an enclosure w/ a fan so I ran one of the power supply leads through one of the holes in my case and put a 120mm fan right on top and it works just as well but that's only one suggestion if you wanna do it ghetto-style. As long as you have a cooling system of some sort, it should be able to last. I keep my enclosure running for, sometimes, 2 days straight and it still runs smooth.

As for the Western Digitals, I believe they're ATA133, 8MB buffer, and 7200rpm.

Maxtor isn't bad, but they're relatively the same (WD and Maxtor) but the old Western Digitals sucked. I think they were called Caviars but it was more like rotten fish. But WD has made their newer stuff more stable. If any difference, it would be sound and heat distribution. WD tend to get hot quick and they 'whirr' louder. But they're both relative similar in terms of performance.

After Black Friday, I should be close to 2TB (terabyte)
 
So, anybody got a good cheapass solution for an enclosure for my soon to be Western Digital Hard Drive? I would need an enclosure with a fan.
Price range, anyone?

Also, is there a way to turn off the hard drive or something? I have no clue, I usually leave my comp on for weeks at a time, but is it something like a power switch on the external hard drive?

Also, just to make sure, Western Digital 200 GB is an internal drive and it's perfectly fine to put it in an enclosure OUTSIDE the computer?
 
[quote name='shadow9689']So, anybody got a good cheapass solution for an enclosure for my soon to be Western Digital Hard Drive? I would need an enclosure with a fan.
Price range, anyone?[/quote]

dunno... I got a generic USB enclosure and it works decently for me but I hear Firewire is a cool option as well or you can do it like my friend (he got an enclosure w/ both USB and Firewire plugs so he can switch off but most computers have USB... I don't think Firewire is a common option)

[quote name='shadow9689']Also, is there a way to turn off the hard drive or something? I have no clue, I usually leave my comp on for weeks at a time, but is it something like a power switch on the external hard drive?[/quote]

Yes, there sure isa power switch on the enclosure (mine does on the back next to the USB connection)

[quote name='shadow9689']Also, just to make sure, Western Digital 200 GB is an internal drive and it's perfectly fine to put it in an enclosure OUTSIDE the computer?[/quote]

yup
 
Thanks jaykrue, got all my questions down and I probably will get a hard drive.
BTW, which enclosure do you use? And how much does it cost, hope not too much...
 
[quote name='shadow9689']Thanks jaykrue, got all my questions down and I probably will get a hard drive.
BTW, which enclosure do you use? And how much does it cost, hope not too much...[/quote]

Enclosures are fairly cheap (which makes me question why anyone would bother getting an external drive since cumulatively the internal hard drive and enclosure is cheaper than an external) running from $25-60.

here's mine:

http://www.newegg.com/app/ViewProductDesc.asp?description=17-146-008&depa=0

It's not bad and the reviews are fairly spot on but I have one additional issue - it gets hot and I mean HOT. That's why I recommend getting one w/ a fan especially if you're gonna leave your computer on for weeks at a time. I don't think the enclosure is rated to be on all the time but I think that if you have it sufficiently cooled AND put it in a place where it doesn't move, jostle or get bumped then I see no reason not to keep it on.
 
Is newegg.com a good place to buy enclosures?
Or can I pick up one at Office Max while buying my hard drive?

Again, thanks for your advice :)
 
Newegg's pretty reliable but I dunno if any non-computer place sells enclosures. They have a fairly lenient return policy as long as everything you buy from their site is well documented
 
Fry's and Most Internet Stores have cheap enclosures (check www.pricewatch.com)

I got one for like $20 at Fry's
Metal Gear Box - No Fan, USB 2.0

Since the drive is mainly for backup I don't see the need for a fan since it is not used as much.
 
I'll probably buy it off Newegg.
What's the best bang for my buck with a fan coming in the enclosure?
I'm gonna use the 200 gigs to store music and games :p
 
[quote name='shadow9689']I'll probably buy it off Newegg.
What's the best bang for my buck with a fan coming in the enclosure?
I'm gonna use the 200 gigs to store music and games :p[/quote]

That's something I can't help with since I'm looking for the same thing since I'm giving my old enclosure to my cousin right now but I'm not sure what to get
 
would it be cheaper to get the Iomega 160GB USB 2.0 External HD (2085-2837) from OfficeMax for $89.99 instead of buying the $50 internal WD with a separate enclosure?!?
 
?!
I didn't see that before?
Black Friday deal at OfficeMax, rather than the 200 Internal, there's an Iomega 160 GB External for $90?
...Dunno, less space, could be cheaper.
Depends on what kind of enclosure you buy for the internal.
Of course, it's less work and you won't have to pay for shipping charges (assuming you are ordering the enclosure online and not from a B&M store)
$50 Hard Drive 200GB + $40 Enclosure?
Depends, the good enclosures are around $40...
 
So, anybody know which would be cheaper?
I'm probably going to pick up the Iomega drive, less hassle for me to order online and wait for a shipment of my enclosure.
 
i'd rather not mess with the enclosure and all of that stuff for an internal drive......i think the iomega is the best bet if you don't need the 200 gigs of space
 
I was thinking that too, 40 gigs is not much of a difference to me, I don't think I will be messing around that high of a number...unless I uncover some sort of secret stash of 200 gb of...stuff?
:p
 
there really isn't any major issues that I can think of concerning enclosures that wouldn't apply just the same to external hard drives. All you're paying for when you get one of those Iomega external drives is the name. I haven't had any problems w/ my enclosure (other than heat but that's due to no cooling options on the enclosure). Since they're hard drives, it's their nature to be delicate electronics. If you drop a hard drive, it's more than likely to be broken but the same can be said for an external hard drive.
 
Pretty much, I just couldn't be bothered to order the enclosure online or open up the computer and put in the hard drive.
And of course, with pretty much any electronic device, if you drop it, it'll probably break.
 
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