Thinking about an external HDD; USB or SATA?

[videobruce]

This is one of those 'I always wanted to do, but never got around to it projects'. I'm not sure which route would be best.

Situation;
Three PC's; two towers (both w/ two HDD's) and one Laptop (not used often),
Not alot of data, but instead of using DVD's to back up, this seems easier,
One device for all three would be nice, though the Laptop I could live without,
It would be used mainly for my main box (tower).

Questions;
1. If I went with a USB interface, can I assume the PS is external?
2. Can I then assume most are those damn 'bricks' as opposed to internal PS's within the HDD enclosure?
3. Are there any models w/ internal PS's, or at least a PS that is on a cable so it isn't hanging from the power strip?
4. Between the all in one (HDD, enclosure & PS) vs buying the encloseure, PS and the HDD separately, what's the better route?
5. If I went with a SATA drive, are there any enclosures that are taylored to this setup?
6. The cableing from the PC to the unit. Make shift or use a premade PCI slot plate w/ connectors (assuming they are available)?

Sorry for all the questions, as I was just thinking of my known options and configurations.

[videobruce]

This was suggested elsewhere;
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f271/hektik2006/DSCF1224.jpg
http://i49.photobucket.com/albums/f271/hektik2006/DSCF1233.jpg

[Hitbox]

What you could do, and it's just an idea, is move the big drives into one machine and make it a server. Then just store all of your large data centrally and use it as needed.

[videobruce]

I didn't want to get into any of that. I wanted a external drive that is away from a PC (and infection).

[curtis1552]

I didn't want to get into any of that. I wanted a external drive that is away from a PC (and infection).

Having an external drive won't save it from getting infected if you get a virus, it will just make it easier to move the drive around.

If you set up a server with an extra HDD in it for each computer to backup to would really be the best solution.
If you're that paranoid about getting infected you could set the server up with Linux and ClamAV. There aren't as many viruses for linux as windows, software from repositories are pre-checked for viruses, nothing gets installed without an OK from you, and it doesn't cost anything to get. (ClamAv is an antivirus)

You could also get a NAS drive to backup to. (Network Attached Storage) A link to Newegg
(http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2000240124&bop=And&Order=PRICE)
If you've got money to spend the Drobo (http://drobo.com/) is really neat. It can use any size HDDs (up to 4) and two of them can be attached to the network with an add-on (it normally uses USB 2 or firewire 800).
However it isn't cheap ~350 to start

Additionally how were you planning on backing up your data, most of the methods I've seen don't do a very good job, as you loose every change you made fom the time you get the virus until you catch it.

[Know Nuttin]

Questions;
1. If I went with a USB interface, can I assume the PS is external?
2. Can I then assume most are those damn 'bricks' as opposed to internal PS's within the HDD enclosure?
3. Are there any models w/ internal PS's, or at least a PS that is on a cable so it isn't hanging from the power strip?
4. Between the all in one (HDD, enclosure & PS) vs buying the encloseure, PS and the HDD separately, what's the better route?
5. If I went with a SATA drive, are there any enclosures that are taylored to this setup?
6. The cableing from the PC to the unit. Make shift or use a premade PCI slot plate w/ connectors (assuming they are available)?

Sorry for all the questions, as I was just thinking of my known options and configurations.

1. Normally yes but it doesn't matter if it was eSATA as well, you still need a power source and in most cases, it is a power "brick". USB does not have enough power for a 3.5" drive, and eSATA at this time doesn't carry power enough as well.
2. Yes.
3. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817145378 is one.
4. It all depends on what you feel comfortable with. There really isn't a "better" answer to that, it can be cheaper or more expensive to go either route.
5. Do you mean a drive that is designed to be put in an enclosure? Not really, though the WD Green series should be good as they won't run as hot as other drives (slower rotation for one).
6. I'm assuming you are asking in regards to eSATA? I guess that is a matter of aesthetics and function, I'll leave that up to you.

[TooTall]

as a guy that constantly needs to back-up and mirror my data, i'd suggest looking into one of those sata to usb cables and forget about the case. the external drive enclosures are a bit of a pain and take up a lot room. the best case i've used is the nex star 3 case with eSata. If you don't have an esata port on your towers, the cards are cheap these days. esata this is the fastest and safest way I've found.

[Mr.Guvernment]

get a 2.5 harddriver in a usb power enclosure if speed is not an issue, otherwise eSATA is the way to go if you want the full speed of the HD.

[iamcanadian7]

I picked one of these up about 6 months ago
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136227

Great little drive if all you need is some backup/large file portability. Very small, about the size of my wallet and probably a half inch think. Also come in various colours. Does not need external power and will run off just the supplied USB cable. Doesn't really get much easier. If your looking for fast data speeds though eSata would be where you'd want to look.

[grumpy_dog666]

will you ever actually maximise the eSATA transfer speeds, or will you be bottlenecked earlier down the line to the effect that USB2's 480Mbs will still transfer as fast as eSATA's 3Gbs.

I can either get a 1TB USB2.0 drive for $199AUD or a 750GB + Enclosure for the same price but runs eSATA. i'm mainly looking for transfer times

ALSO - can you recommend any brand enclosures or are they more or less the same. My sister was given a Vantec and looks pretty nice. What about Welland?

[ratbuddy]

An eSATA enclosure/drive is going to smoke the daylights out of any USB setup. Hands down, no question, yes you can tell the difference. Like 4 times faster, give or take.

[deathman20]

Yes I know im in the progress of looking into a eSATA enclosure for my external drive myself. I got a USB2.0 enclosure currently and it sucks. Transferring lots of small files kills its transfer rates horribly. Even large files rarely break the 25MB/s transfer rate.

eSATA is the way to go IMO. If anything getting an enclosure with both is an added plus if you need to move it around and hook it up to a PC that doesn't have eSATA.

[videobruce]

Having an external drive won't save it from getting infected if you get a virus, it will just make it easier to move the drive around.Not so if it isn't 'on line' all the time. I would only use it occasionally, say once a month since I have 4 internal backups between my two boxes (two drives per PC). Transfering files that were scanned first to the drive should solve that possibility.You could also get a NAS drive to backup toI had heard of the term, but never looked into it. How is that different than just a external USB (or SATA) drive? Is it that, but w/ network capibility also?

Speed isn't a real issue, neither is size. This is occasional only. I already have 4 HDD's between the the boxes that backups are stored. This was only an external hopefully more failsafe location with the ability of taking it elsewhere if the occasion comes up.
The 'heat' issue really isn't here since this won't be used 24/7. More as once a month.

[Mr.Guvernment]

USB 2 will give you abouty.. 20-25MB MAX speed - eSATA is SATA with a diff port, being 1.5 /3G respectivly..

so with an eSATA enclosure, your harddrive will be able to use it's full speed, in USB you will get maybe 1/3rd the full transfer speed to and from the HD


I had heard of the term, but never looked into it. How is that different than just a external USB (or SATA) drive? Is it that, but w/ network capibility also?


Correct it Network Attached Storage, it is a standalone device / harddrive you connect via your network and access that way.

[videobruce]

I think that would be overkill for me. I understand the xfer speeds are very slow.

[Mr.Guvernment]

NAS is nice as you don't need a computer to hook the drive upto, just the network, it is a standalone drive, but if you have a computer, get the eSATA.