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    Maxtor 500 GB 7200RPM 3.5" external HDD???

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by Nocturnal310, Aug 29, 2008.

  1. Nocturnal310

    Nocturnal310 Notebook Virtuoso

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    hi guys,


    I need a good archiving HDD... to backup Lots of Family videos & my laptop

    the MAxtor 500 GB is selling at $100 at the IT exhibition in singapore..

    Should i go for it?

    One question..

    What is the advantage of 3,5" HDD over 2.5" other than portability? better performance?

    There is a 500 GB 2.5" HDD also.


    Let me know ASAP...the Sale ends tomorrow
     
    Nocturnal310, Aug 29, 2008
    #1
  2. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    What interface -- USB 2.0, FireWire 400/800 or eSATA ?? (external power supply ?)
     
    Andy, Aug 29, 2008
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  3. Nocturnal310

    Nocturnal310 Notebook Virtuoso

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    USB 2.0 with External Power supply.



    I need a long lasting HDD where i can Archive everything.
     
    Nocturnal310, Aug 29, 2008
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  4. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    Just USB 2.0 !! Then you don't really need to bother about the performance difference between the 2.5" and 3.5" drives, due to the USB 2.0 bandwidth bottleneck.
    Just for the record, there has been a myth that 2.5" drives perform better due to the smaller disk sizes and increased data density, but thats untrue. 2.5" drives do not reach the same absolute media velocity as 3.5" hard drives, although the relative rotation speed may be the same (5,400 or 7,200 RPM). This is the main reason why notebook drives max out at less than 70 MB/s. This difference is noticeable when you compare to a 3.5" drive's 80 to 115 MB/s maximum.

    If you're looking just for storage, forget about performance....with USB 2.0.

    And is that 100 USD ?? Similar ??
     
    Andy, Aug 29, 2008
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  5. Phil

    Phil Retired

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    I'm guessing the 500 GB 2.5" HDD will be quite expensive, so the 3.5" may be the better choice if you don't need the portability.

    As Andy said, there will be hardly any performance difference (only in acces time).
     
    Phil, Aug 29, 2008
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  6. K-TRON

    K-TRON Hi, I'm Jimmy Diesel ^_^

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    The 3.5" drives are more durable in terms of actual life. They can last much longer than a 2.5" drive. They are also generally a lot cheaper. Maxtor was acquired by Seagate a while back, and I dont know what the quality of Maxtor is anymore.
    My brother had a few drives from them, and they barely lasted a year, so you may want to use a different drive.
    Go for a WD or a Hitachi drive for reliability.
    You can build your own external for much less. A decent 320-500gb drive will run you from like $60-90, and than you can get an external enclosure for like $20.
    I would go for esata, if your systems have that, but otherwuse usb is fine, although its a bit slow.

    K-TRON
     
    K-TRON, Aug 29, 2008
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  7. Jamaicanyouth

    Jamaicanyouth Notebook Evangelist

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    Have a backup of a backup. Externals die too.
     
    Jamaicanyouth, Aug 29, 2008
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  8. Nocturnal310

    Nocturnal310 Notebook Virtuoso

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    Lol..thats why i am asking.

    my 100 GB IDE just died...and with it all my data...i ll use an adapter to recover it somehow but i need a new one.


    it has lots of errors.


    So u guys are saying if its usb 2.0 then it doesnt matter if its 2.5" or 3.5"

    i need an HDD which lasts for years....
     
    Nocturnal310, Aug 29, 2008
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  9. Andy

    Andy Notebook Prophet

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    You can look into a WD MyBook or similar....or make your own as K-Tron suggested, which I feel is better and falls out to be cheaper. (You can make use of a 500GB 5400RPM 3.5" HDD, as the higher rotation speed won't help much in peformance, if using it in an USB enclosure.)
     
    Andy, Aug 29, 2008
    #9
  10. AKAJohnDoe

    AKAJohnDoe Mime with Tourette's

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    I read a review of these here just the other day.
     
    AKAJohnDoe, Aug 29, 2008
    #10