Portable HDDs: Pre or Home Built?

Mooga · 05-16-2009, 11:28 PM

I'm thinking of picking of a small USB HDD to use while I'm away with my laptop this summer. Would you recommend a pre-built one or buying a HDD and an encloser? I would like to get one that's physically small. Maybe the 250GB+ range? Just enough to hold some videos and my music. Cheaper the better.

My portable HDD I rarely used just died (I down pull off it but can't upload to it) so I just need something simple.

I'll probably also pick up a decent sized USB stick while I'm at it.

I don't want to replace the internal drive on the laptop. It's not worth the costs.

Gwarsbane · 05-17-2009, 01:13 AM

In general it would be cheaper to put one together yourself.

I personally like the nGear external bays. They are metal, no fans and get warm, but as long as its not on all the time then no big deal. Course I've had one on for 5 to 6 hours or more at a time and still no problems.

This is the drive bay I have. Its 30 bucks CDN, I have seen it cheaper on sale.
http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...nologies%20Inc.

I had a couple of older grey ones for the 320gig ATA drives and I loved them because they all seem to work on every computer I have tried them on, including laptops.

I like the fanless ones better because at one point I had one that used a fan and the damn thing was noisy.

You can get a 250gig HD for 60 bucks CDN, But for 5 to 10 bucks more you can get a 500gig.

After shipping and taxes under 100 bucks easily.

Skanky Butterpuss · 05-17-2009, 03:34 AM

http://www.pcconnection.com/IPA/Shop...urceID=k183599

BAM!

i think im about to get one of these.

Innoc · 05-17-2009, 10:08 PM

Be VERY careful about which enclosure you choose if you decide to go the DIY route. Most of the 3.5" drives were not designed for tight spaces with little or no ventilation or the ability to transfer heat away from the drive as needed. Spend some time reading reviews on Newegg. The reviews are not foolproof and you do have some portion of morons that offer opinions but you should be able to get a sense of what works and what does not. Some of the Vantec Enclosures are worth a peek depending on drive size

SomeOldGuy · 05-18-2009, 10:40 AM

We have one of these ($119.99 US):

( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136318 )

for lugging around with our laptops... a 500GB Western Digital My Passport. Small, lightweight, and works great for backup and storage. Can literally fit in your pocket.

They also have a 250GB version ($79.99 US):
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136247

as well as a 320GB version: ($99.99 US)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136263

There are also WD "My Books" which are phyisically bigger but somewhat cheaper. I personally prefer the lighter smaller Passport ones above for laptop and travel use.

Mooga · 05-18-2009, 07:31 PM

I'm liking that 250 drive. I want one as physically small as posible. That with a 8GB thumb drive should stay in my $100 budget.

05-16-2009, 11:28 PM	#1
Mooga Colorless FTW D&A Member Beta Tester Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: A Small Box Affiliations: SRCDS.com Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	Portable HDDs: Pre or Home Built? I'm thinking of picking of a small USB HDD to use while I'm away with my laptop this summer. Would you recommend a pre-built one or buying a HDD and an encloser? I would like to get one that's physically small. Maybe the 250GB+ range? Just enough to hold some videos and my music. Cheaper the better. My portable HDD I rarely used just died (I down pull off it but can't upload to it) so I just need something simple. I'll probably also pick up a decent sized USB stick while I'm at it. I don't want to replace the internal drive on the laptop. It's not worth the costs. __________________ ~ Mooga ...w00t? SRCDS.com \| Twitter

05-17-2009, 03:34 AM	#3
Skanky Butterpuss Beware the Hammer D&A Member Fortress Forever Staff Join Date: Mar 2007 Class/Position: Sabotaging your shit. Affiliations: :}\|, mimic, /KBN/ Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	http://www.pcconnection.com/IPA/Shop...urceID=k183599 BAM! i think im about to get one of these. __________________ Support FF: Etzell: Skanky Etzell: The Wings are fucking fantastic Etzell: They really are Etzell: But even SAYING that makes me want to vomit

05-18-2009, 07:31 PM	#6
Mooga Colorless FTW D&A Member Beta Tester Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: A Small Box Affiliations: SRCDS.com Posts Rated Helpful 1 Times	I'm liking that 250 drive. I want one as physically small as posible. That with a 8GB thumb drive should stay in my $100 budget. __________________ ~ Mooga ...w00t? SRCDS.com \| Twitter

05-17-2009, 01:13 AM	#2
Gwarsbane Slayer of humans D&A Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Mostly on earth though in some alt dimensions Class/Position: I'm an Offensive Defensive person Gametype: Fortress Forever Affiliations: I'm a merc, only thing that talks is money Posts Rated Helpful 3 Times	In general it would be cheaper to put one together yourself. I personally like the nGear external bays. They are metal, no fans and get warm, but as long as its not on all the time then no big deal. Course I've had one on for 5 to 6 hours or more at a time and still no problems. This is the drive bay I have. Its 30 bucks CDN, I have seen it cheaper on sale. http://www.ncix.com/products/index.p...nologies%20Inc. I had a couple of older grey ones for the 320gig ATA drives and I loved them because they all seem to work on every computer I have tried them on, including laptops. I like the fanless ones better because at one point I had one that used a fan and the damn thing was noisy. You can get a 250gig HD for 60 bucks CDN, But for 5 to 10 bucks more you can get a 500gig. After shipping and taxes under 100 bucks easily.

05-17-2009, 10:08 PM	#4
Innoc Hitman 2 1 Actual Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: "Oscar Mike" Gametype: FPS or RTS (just say NO to MMO) Affiliations: Your Mom Posts Rated Helpful 8 Times	Be VERY careful about which enclosure you choose if you decide to go the DIY route. Most of the 3.5" drives were not designed for tight spaces with little or no ventilation or the ability to transfer heat away from the drive as needed. Spend some time reading reviews on Newegg. The reviews are not foolproof and you do have some portion of morons that offer opinions but you should be able to get a sense of what works and what does not. Some of the Vantec Enclosures are worth a peek depending on drive size

05-18-2009, 10:40 AM	#5
SomeOldGuy older than dirt Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: just east of the jug handle Posts Rated Helpful 9 Times	We have one of these ($119.99 US): ( http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136318 ) for lugging around with our laptops... a 500GB Western Digital My Passport. Small, lightweight, and works great for backup and storage. Can literally fit in your pocket. They also have a 250GB version ($79.99 US): http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136247 as well as a 320GB version: ($99.99 US) http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822136263 There are also WD "My Books" which are phyisically bigger but somewhat cheaper. I personally prefer the lighter smaller Passport ones above for laptop and travel use.

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)