WD, Seagate Lack of USB drive specs

[thearkie]

What's with these companies when it comes to providing spec
information about their USB drives? Would you believe Seagate doesn't
tell you how their External USB drives are powered or what the drive
data rates are? WD does tell how they are powered, but again no drive
data rates. What's worse, neither company provides any simple way to
email them for product questions.

Aside from that rant, I am trying to determine which drives are
capable of providing power from ONE usb port and which require dual
cables or an AC adapter. I'd also certainly like to know what the
drive data transfer speeds are. All either company says is the USB
2.0 bus rate is 480 Mb. Isn't that enlightening. I guess that means
ANY of their drives must be faster than the USB bus, so no since
wondering if a 7200 rpm drive is worth paying more for than a slower
one.

 

[Rod Speed]

What's with these companies when it comes to providing spec information
about their USB drives? Would you believe Seagate doesn't tell you how
their External USB drives are powered or what the drive data rates are?
WD does tell how they are powered, but again no drive data rates.

The data rate is limited by what USB can do.

What's worse, neither company provides any
simple way to email them for product questions.

Aside from that rant, I am trying to determine which
drives are capable of providing power from ONE usb port

Thats tricky, because not all USB ports are the same power wise.

and which require dual cables or an AC adapter.

The short story is that none of the 3.5" drive can be powered from USB alone.

I'd also certainly like to know what the drive data transfer speeds are. All either
company says is the USB 2.0 bus rate is 480 Mb. Isn't that enlightening.

It is what limits the speed you see.

I guess that means ANY of their drives must be faster than the USB bus,

Yep, thats been the way forever.

so no since wondering if a 7200 rpm drive is worth paying more for than a slower one.

It is if its also got eSATA as well as USB and some do have that now.

 

[Arno Wagner]

What's with these companies when it comes to providing spec
information about their USB drives? Would you believe Seagate doesn't
tell you how their External USB drives are powered or what the drive
data rates are? WD does tell how they are powered, but again no drive
data rates. What's worse, neither company provides any simple way to
email them for product questions.

People are buying the products and most do not care or would
not understand the specs anyways. Best bet is finding
somebody on the INternet that has opened one and documented
what was inside.

Aside from that rant, I am trying to determine which drives are
capable of providing power from ONE usb port and which require dual
cables or an AC adapter.

This also very much depends on your USB port. Some laptops have
non-spec ports that can provide something like up to 1A for short
times (disk spin-up).

I'd also certainly like to know what the
drive data transfer speeds are.

What for? USB in practice is limited to something like 25MB/s,
slower for some bridge chips. The HDD is very likely faster.

All either company says is the USB
2.0 bus rate is 480 Mb. Isn't that enlightening.

Ah, but it is the largest number they can claim. Obvious
decision for marketing.

I guess that means
ANY of their drives must be faster than the USB bus, so no since
wondering if a 7200 rpm drive is worth paying more for than a slower
one.

That 7200 RPM drive has a better chance to overload your USB
port and is a complete waste of money when connected via USB.

Arno