EXT HDD at what point is it overkill?

I have one already but I want to get another one since the one I have right now is being used by 6 other people as well.
So considering these points what is the smallest EXT HDD that I could be comfortable with.
The other people have been manageing quite well on the 120GB HDD on the Desktop for many years now.
This new HDD will be used to save word docs and other office app docs, not video and not music, though there will be a considerable amount if photos saved on it.

so, how big of an EXT HDD would be just above the bare minimum?
200? 250? 320? 500? 750?

Thanks in advace

Fry

 

I'd say anything in the 100GB to 200GB range should suffice. I mean, three years of text and image for me have barely filled 10GB and that's including some pretty hefty sized OpenCanvas/Photoshop images. I've got a 160GB device and it looks like it'll be a while before I fill it up...

 

word documents and applications definately dont take up too much space, an 80GB external harddrive would be a decent size. you can probably even purchase a very portable external harddrive, depending on how much you want to spend. then again, if you need the space in the future, 160GB or 320GB can be purchased for under $100 these days

 

I don't need it to be portable, it's going to sit on a desk when in use and in a drawer when it's not.
I was thinking either a 250 or 320 GB on the acount of the fact that really soon the amount of documents being created will quadruple.
so with that in mind would it be worth going to a local store or should I just save myself the time and order one from newegg or some other online store.

 

Only you know how much data you have - take that figure, work out how much you're adding per year (and double that figure to be safe), then you can tell what space you'll need over the lifetime of the disc. Don't forget that you'll need some way to keep a regular, up-to-date backup too.

HDDs are so cheap these days it's a bit of an academic question though, IMHO. I use three 500GB drives in rotation to back up my fileserver - they're barely any more expensive than 250GB versions of the same unit, and I'm unlikely to run out of space for a few years yet.

 

good idea.
Ok so I guess I'll start shopping then.

 

You can never have enough hard drive space, so get the largest one that your wallet allows?

Though if you are going to purchase the drive and enclosure separately, pay attention as some enclosures only support up to a certain size.

 

nah, Im gonna do it the lazy way and buy a premade EXT HDD.

 

I too would've chosen the 120GB to 200GB range for your needs, but based on most sales you usually find 320GB and 250GB models cheaper than those that are smaller.

I have 2 80GB WD externals, 500GB Lacie D2Q, a 320GB NAS and 80GB NAS an 8GB NAS, and recently a 750GB Seagate FreeAgentPro. But I archive photos & video alot and so just keep buying more & more externals (like using them as file-folders), I burn a copy of everything and put it to external as well. I agree I used to build my own like 2 of my NAS drives and one of the WDs, but pre-built is just easier, and depending on the sale price sometimes the difference is only minor. If you have nothing to prove and more money than time, pre-built are handy.

IMO if all you're doing is photos and word documents, likely the best value will be far more than you need.
Currently I would look at the 250-320GB range as your price sweetspot for sales, and whatever extra you have left over partition it and use it as an ongoing backup of your main drive.

 

Sounds good. Im still shopping atm but Ill post more when I've found some options that I like.

 

Lol, I have a 1TB external NAS, and that's already like 20%-ish full. And my notebook has 350GB capacity, and there's probably like 50 left.

So yeah, I think "overkill" depends on what you want it for - like to a lot, 1TB is like "ZOMG 1TB", but for me it's like sufficient space for maybe a year. Maybe.

 

Lol. I had 920GB of total capacity in my old desktop. It was about 85% full. This includes 3 200GB internal, 1 120GB internal, and a 200GB external. Lol.

 

I would personally go for the best value, that is, the most space for the least amount of money. You can never have too much hdd space. No one is going to say I've got too much space, I can't handle it! It does mean you keep a lot of useless stuff though.

 

I have a 250 gig EHD and it has about 140 gigs full of music... so... i need a big one. But remember Phillip, that the advertised amount of space is more than what is actually is.

 

i used to believe that, then i started storing dvd and hd rips of movies and tv shows...now i have a 3x500gb raid5 array and a 320gb travel external.

 

Lol. yea. I used to keep alot of large files around. My setup had a triple-boot setup and a seperate drive dedicated to storage of the vob files for later duplication.

 

So then you'll probably be fine with a 160-250.

I think 250-500GB is probably the sweet spot of the market right now. You can't save too much by going below and it gets expensive if you try to go to 1T or higher.

I just ordered the Seagate 250GB from Buy.com for $79.99 less $10 Google checkout = $69.99 shipped. Buy.com's reputation is taking a hit these days but this comes with a 5yr manuf. warranty and Seagate's reputation is stellar (look at the reviews).

I read on some forums that people had found 250GB for a little less, but I didn't want to wait around indefinitely to save $10 or have to deal with MI rebates.

500GB will probably be around $120 or a little more, but I didn't think I would need the extra capacity for a long, long time and prices always keep coming down. I could probably add another 250GB HDD in, I dunno - 3 yr's time, for really cheap

 

Well I do know that I am going on a shopping spree and I plan on getting a 1TB external.

This is what I am getting --> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822204068

$240 after rebate

 

you must have a ton of video and audio files to save.

 

I have 36GB of stuff on my desktop's 120GB hard drive, and 37GB of stuff on my 250GB MyBook (full system backup and some utilities). If I deleted my Steam games, I could get away with a 15GB install (10GB of that is pictures and music).

So in my next computer, i'll be looking for a fast drive. Capacity does not matter at all since they're all so big.