esata/usb 500gb external drive

Hi, I finnaly ordered my 5796 and I need to get a 500gb external HDD to have enough space for all my stuff...

So I was wondering, is there any external HDD that is self powered ? i mean if there's no AC plug nearby, it will function on laptop batt.

eSata vs USB 2.0, which one is better for the bucks, i dont need extreme speed but would like to use the eSata port on the laptop if possible

Anyway could you help me find the cheapest 500gb external HDD or any tips about external storage devices as im noob with them.

 

generally speaking more speed requires more power... but i don't have a clue about External SATA drives using eSata connectors.....

i know my little 80gig Sata I drive installed in a $10 usb enclousre is not fast by any means... but it is tiny and powered by the 1 cable that is also used to transfer data (not a Y cable that sucks power from two usb ports)

i liked it so much i went to order more of those cheap enclosures and they are sold out...

check here for the INFO you asked about

 

The mobile hard drives (2.5" and 1.8") can somehow work with one or two USB ports only. But go with bigger hard drives (there are no 500GB 2.5"/1.8" mobile hard drives) and it will have more power consumption and will have a higher risk of frying your motherboard and I am pretty sure that it wouldn't work at all, so you have no choice but to go with an enclusure/external drive that has an adapter.

 

Correction: There are several. However, all except the Samsung HM500LI are 1/2" (12.7mm) thick and would need a bigger than normal enclosure. However, the Samsung has above-average power consumption.

Here's one ready-made 2.5" 500GB. And another. However, if you want eSATA (which I recommend) then you may need to buy the enclosure and the HDD separately (and most enclosures can only accommodate 9.5mm thick HDDs). 2.5" external eSATA HDDs still use one USB port for power plus eSATA for data.

John

 

ok but there no need of AC power ? the best for me would be to have the choise between powering the external driver by an usb port or and ac adapter.. is it possible ?

I dont have any limit in size, I mean a 3.5'' would be ok... all I need is 500gb external with (if possible) powersuply by the notebool if there's no AC plug avaible near.

 

You cannot power an external 3.5" HDD from USB. It needs too much power (and some is at 12V). So cross off that option.

Some, maybe all, of the 2.5" USB / eSATA enclosures come with a small coaxial power socket and a USB cable that fits to this. This provides the power when connected as eSATA and can provide additional power when connected to USB. You can then get a mains power USB adaptor (sold for charging iPods, etc) if you don't want to use a USB port.

I've got two 2.5" eSATA enclosures. This and that.

However, neither will hold the 1/2" thick HDDs so you either have to look for the Samsung HDD or use only the interface unit and make your own enclosure.

John