External Hard Drive

[Moh]

Well my laptop's hard drive has just about ran out of memory.
So I was thinking of getting an External Hard Drive.

But before I get one, I need to know if there any good?

Also, what's the difference from a Desktop one and laptop one appart from size and weight? I don't really move my laptop around, so if the only difference is the size or weight, then I may as well get a desktop one as I will have much more capacity.

[N!ck]

Yeah thaey are good and should suffice with what you need. "Laptrop" ones are smaller and lighter but are slower and have less capacity for the price.

[Moh]

Yeah thaey are good and should suffice with what you need. "Laptrop" ones are smaller and lighter but are slower and have less capacity for the price.
So I guess its best going for a cheaper desktop 1 :P

[Hitman]

Indeed, they are good. I have a 500GB iomega external HDD, it's not too big and very simple to use, was pretty cheap too. The speed is just as fast as my HDD in my laptop. :P

[Jam]

Or if you have a wireless router buy a Belkin USB Hub where you can plug in USB devices and your computer can use them as if they were plugged into it.

[Moh]

Indeed, they are good. I have a 500GB iomega external HDD, it's not too big and very simple to use, was pretty cheap too. The speed is just as fast as my HDD in my laptop. :P
Where did you get yours from?

Or if you have a wireless router buy a Belkin USB Hub where you can plug in USB devices and your computer can use them as if they were plugged into it.
I would rather spend the money on a better harddrive which will plug into my laptop than have a cheaper 1 and its wireless :P

[HotelUser]

There's generally two different sized external hard drives, 3.5inch and 2.5inch. If you're going to leave it in one spot, get a 3.5" as they typically require an external power supply (but are cheaper than 2.5"). If you're planning on moving the HD a lot then I suggest getting a 2.5", they're smaller and usually don't require external power, so they're powered just by the USB cord that attaches to the system.

Because the devices are connected via USB, the transfer speeds wont be the same as a normal PATA/SATA hard drive. If your computer is older, and has USB 1.1, then the transfer rate will be ranging from 1-12mb/s (12mb/s = 1.5 megabytes a second). If your system has USB 2, speeds could go upto 480mb/s (or 60megabytes a second).

If you want to improve the transfer rate, you'll want to optimize the drive for the best performance, as opposed to being optimized for safe removal. To do this (hard drive must be plugged in,) navigate to My Computer > Right mouse click on the hard drive and select properties > Select the "hardware" tab > Find your USB external hard drive and select "properties" > Click "policies" > select "optimize for performance" > hit OK and then OK again.

Also if you're putting programs on the hard drive, you cannot have the drive letter changing (such as going from F: to G:, which could happen) So you will need to assign a permanent drive letter, to do right mouse-click "My Computer" > select "manage" > go to "disk management"(under storage section) > right click on the drive and select "change drive letter/path" > Click "add" > Click "Assign the following drive letter".


Or if you have a wireless router buy a Belkin USB Hub where you can plug in USB devices and your computer can use them as if they were plugged into it.

I don't recommend using a hard drive like this, as it would substantially slow down the transfer rate.

[Moh]

There's generally two different sized external hard drives, 3.5inch and 2.5inch. If you're going to leave it in one spot, get a 3.5" as they typically require an external power supply (but are cheaper than 2.5"). If you're planning on moving the HD a lot then I suggest getting a 2.5", they're smaller and usually don't require external power, so they're powered just by the USB cord that attaches to the system.

Because the devices are connected via USB, the transfer speeds wont be the same as a normal PATA/SATA hard drive. If your computer is older, and has USB 1.1, then the transfer rate will be ranging from 1-12mb/s (12mb/s = 1.5 megabytes a second). If your system has USB 2, speeds could go upto 480mb/s (or 60megabytes a second).

If you want to improve the transfer rate, you'll want to optimize the drive for the best performance, as opposed to being optimized for safe removal. To do this (hard drive must be plugged in,) navigate to My Computer > Right mouse click on the hard drive and select properties > Select the "hardware" tab > Find your USB external hard drive and select "properties" > Click "policies" > select "optimize for performance" > hit OK and then OK again.

Also if you're putting programs on the hard drive, you cannot have the drive letter changing (such as going from F: to G:, which could happen) So you will need to assign a permanent drive letter, to do right mouse-click "My Computer" > select "manage" > go to "disk management"(under storage section) > right click on the drive and select "change drive letter/path" > Click "add" > Click "Assign the following drive letter".



I don't recommend using a hard drive like this, as it would substantially slow down the transfer rate.
So do both 3.5 and 2.5 inch run the same, except one has its own power supply?

[N!ck]

So do both 3.5 and 2.5 inch run the same, except one has its own power supply?

3.5 inch are faster but need a seperate power supply i.e. it needs plugging into the mains as well as your computer.

[HotelUser]

3.5 inch are faster but need a seperate power supply i.e. it needs plugging into the mains as well as your computer.


In some 2.5"s, the difference in speed wouldn't be noticeable due to the speed of USB. Comstar has a 600mb/s transfer 2.5" at the moment (obviously limited by USB). Surely you've heard of the WD passport 2.5", with a maximum transfer 480mb/s?

[Stephen!]

The USB speed is theoretical. It all depends on how many USB devices you have plugged in, the speed of the drive e.c.t. The most i've ever seen transfering from an external drive is about 40MB/s (320Mb/s) however it did not last for long and went down to like 20MB/s

[N!ck]

In some 2.5"s, the difference in speed wouldn't be noticeable due to the speed of USB. Comstar has a 600mb/s transfer 2.5" at the moment (obviously limited by USB). Surely you've heard of the WD passport 2.5", with a maximum transfer 480mb/s?

The said transfer speeds are just the speed of the connected interface/external speed. The max sustained read/write speed on a 3.5' HDD is around 60MB/s but you're more likely to get around 40Mb/s at the most. Also, USB speeds are very burstable and unstable.

[HotelUser]

The said transfer speeds are just the speed of the connected interface. The max sustained read/write speed on a 3.5' HDD is around 60MB/s but you're more likely to get around 40Mb/s at the most. Also, USB speeds are very burstable and unstable.

Indeed, as I said the transfer rate would be limited by the USB speed You'd probably be luck to get 40mb/s. Then theres the issue of having USB 1.1, where you're going to be waiting five minutes to transfer over a single song. Yeah, you're right. The given transfer speeds were the interface's speed.

[N!ck]

Indeed, as I said the transfer rate would be limited by the USB speed You'd probably be luck to get 40mb/s. Then theres the issue of having USB 1.1, where you're going to be waiting five minutes to transfer over a single song. Yeah, you're right. The given transfer speeds were the interface's speed.

Exactly, so the speed of making transfers significantly larger than the size of the cache will be no different as long as the interface is faster than the sustained speed of the drive.

[Hitman]

Where did you get yours from?Bought it in a shop in Spain. :P You can probably get them in Argos or PC World or something.

Similar to the one I got (difference is this has markings on the front): Clicky (http://www.misco.co.uk/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=286689&sourceid=2012)

[Hiro]

I've got a 3.5" Maxtor 500gb External.
Cost me about 70 quid from PC world (on offer).
Hasn't let me down and the transfer rate is very fast.

[Stephen!]

Transfer rate doesn't really matter if your just backing up to it every so often and not like streaming content from it.

[HotelUser]

Exactly, so the speed of making transfers significantly larger than the size of the cache will be no different as long as the interface is faster than the sustained speed of the drive.

If the USB speed is higher than the transfer speed of hard drive, then the maximum transfer rate would be determined by the specifications of the hard drive, and the speed of USB would be irrelavent.

It's not as if the user is installing an operating system on a external hard drive :P.

[N!ck]

If the USB speed is higher than the transfer speed of hard drive, then the maximum transfer rate would be determined by the specifications of the hard drive, and the speed of USB would be irrelavent.

It's not as if the user is installing an operating system on a external hard drive :P.

Yes i know, i'm just replying to your posts ;).

[HotelUser]

Yes i know, i'm just replying to your posts ;).

And I am just replying to yours :D.

[Moh]

I only need a simple one just so I can have a few more programs and files.
I'll be getting a new laptop soon anyways.

Which one of these should I buy?
http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/671/878/-/3595591/Maxtor-OneTouch-4-Mini-160GB-USB-2-0-2-5-External-Hard-Drive/Product.html?searchtype=genre#

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/671/878/-/4978099/LaCie-120GB-Mobile-Disk-USB-2-0-External-Hard-Drive/Product.html?searchtype=genre

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/671/878/-/3337605/Seagate-FreeAgent-Go-120GB-USB2-0-2-5-External-Hard-Drive/Product.html?searchtype=genre

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/671/878/-/5380154/Freecom-160GB-Mobile-Drive-Classic-USB-2-0/Product.html?searchtype=genre

http://www.play.com/PC/PCs/-/671/878/-/5675119/SUMOdisk-320GB-3-5-External-USB-2-0-Hard-Drive/Product.html?searchtype=genre

Theres no need for getting an expensive one considering ill be getting a better laptop soon :P