External/internal hard drive questions

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plin321

I need to buy a couple of extra drives for backup storage and am
considering either an external drive or an internal drive which I would
mount in a housing to function as an external. I may occasionally need
to take the drives with me when traveling.

I'm wondering if the internal drive w/ housing would be just as
reliable as the dedicated external drive, or would the latter be better
designed and more reliable for mobile use. Or, perhaps there's no
difference. Another factor would be the software included with external
drives, which would make the backup process easier.

Also, are most drives from major manufacturers (seagate, WD, maxtor,
etc.) equally reliable, or are some better than others?

Thanks
 
I need to buy a couple of extra drives for backup storage and
am considering either an external drive or an internal drive which
I would mount in a housing to function as an external. I may
occasionally need to take the drives with me when traveling.
Click to expand...
I'm wondering if the internal drive w/ housing would be just
as reliable as the dedicated external drive, or would the
latter be better designed and more reliable for mobile use.
Click to expand...

Its a surprisingly complicated question
and varys with the type of drive used too.

Laptop drives do rather better in external drive housings,
basically because they are designed to tolerate the shocks
better and dont use as much power, so they dont get as hot.

3.5" drives can get stinking hot in badly designed external housings.

On the other hand, there is a significant failure rate with 3.5"
drives in external housings that you dont see with internal drives.

And all but the SATA internal removable drive housings
flout the standards, and they can get pretty hot too, just
because they dont get very good cooling unless they have
fans, and the fans are irritatingly noisy and prone to failure.

And these arent anything like as portable anyway.
Or, perhaps there's no difference.
Click to expand...

Yes, there are big differences.
Another factor would be the software included with external
drives, which would make the backup process easier.
Click to expand...

Maybe, really depends on what you choose to use for backup software.

I personally think that True Image 9 leaves those bundled software
packages for dead, tho it isnt as easy to use for a complete technoklutz.
Also, are most drives from major manufacturers (seagate, WD,
maxtor, etc.) equally reliable, or are some better than others?
Click to expand...

WD is currently going thru a bad patch reliability
wise, Maxtor has had that for quite a while now.

I personally prefer Samsungs myself, but they are
harder to find and dont get the same level of rebates.

Seagate's 5 year warranty is hard to beat, but you dont
get that with their externals, which must say something.
 
Rod said:
Its a surprisingly complicated question
and varys with the type of drive used too.

Laptop drives do rather better in external drive housings,
basically because they are designed to tolerate the shocks
better and dont use as much power, so they dont get as hot.

3.5" drives can get stinking hot in badly designed external housings.

On the other hand, there is a significant failure rate with 3.5"
drives in external housings that you dont see with internal drives.

And all but the SATA internal removable drive housings
flout the standards, and they can get pretty hot too, just
because they dont get very good cooling unless they have
fans, and the fans are irritatingly noisy and prone to failure.

And these arent anything like as portable anyway.


Yes, there are big differences.


Maybe, really depends on what you choose to use for backup software.

I personally think that True Image 9 leaves those bundled software
packages for dead, tho it isnt as easy to use for a complete technoklutz.


WD is currently going thru a bad patch reliability
wise, Maxtor has had that for quite a while now.

I personally prefer Samsungs myself, but they are
harder to find and dont get the same level of rebates.

Seagate's 5 year warranty is hard to beat, but you dont
get that with their externals, which must say something.
Click to expand...

In a nutshell. To everything, mind.


Odie
 
Hi,
First of all, have you considered flash memory for your
application? It is generally the most reliable form of storage media to
date because there are no moving parts to break down. Storage capacity
and price can be an issue but portability, convenience, and longevity
are major selling points.
As far as the internal versus external HD question, "Rod Speed"
had some good comments about power consumption and heat and the
differences between internal laptop and PC drives. Sometimes, the 3.5"
PC drives will require more power than the enclosure connection can
provide. You won't run into these types of problems with standard
external hard drives. Also, you should consider that most standard
external hard drives do have adequate software that is designed
specifically for the drive and third-party software may not come with
adequate support. Furthermore, any opinions about WD, Seagate, or other
manufacturers' products' reliability are just that, opinions. You
should really do your own research on that subject if this is the route
you choose to go.

Silicon Alley Computers
http://www.siliconalleycomputers.com
 
Silicon Alley Computers said:
..........any opinions about WD, Seagate, or other
manufacturers' products' reliability are just that, opinions.
You should really do your own research on that subject if
this is the route you choose to go.
Click to expand...


Great. Where would *you* "research" hard drive
reliability versus manufacturers' models?

*TimDaniels*
 
Silicon Alley Computers said:
Hi,
First of all, have you considered flash memory for your
application? It is generally the most reliable form of storage media
to date because there are no moving parts to break down. Storage
capacity and price can be an issue but portability, convenience, and
longevity are major selling points.
As far as the internal versus external HD question, "Rod Speed"
had some good comments about power consumption and heat and the
differences between internal laptop and PC drives. Sometimes, the 3.5"
PC drives will require more power than the enclosure connection can
provide. You won't run into these types of problems with standard
external hard drives. Also, you should consider that most standard
external hard drives do have adequate software that is designed
specifically for the drive and third-party software may not come with
adequate support. Furthermore, any opinions about WD, Seagate, or
other manufacturers' products' reliability are just that, opinions.
Nope.

You should really do your own research on
that subject if this is the route you choose to go.
Click to expand...

Not even possible for most to do that with drive reliability.
 
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