External Hard Drive - 400+GB

[jldodge]

Between audio, podcasts, and pictures, I now have filled the 300GB disk I use for My Documents. I also have 3 open bays inside the computer.

Strongly considering a 500GB USB external drive (Maxtor or Seagate) for storing "content" -- portability; backup (eventually); ease of use; etc. Also don't want to add "extra heat" inside the case with a large hard drive.

Tradeoff seems to be access time and speed.

Is my concern about heat off base? Are there other brands I should consider? In my past research, many user comments talked about the external drives running hot and burning out sooner vs. internal drives. Is that still the case? Or is technology much better now? Should I fill up the internal bays before using external drives?

Would appreciate any help or advice. Thanks in advance ...

[glc]

Why don't you get an external housing by itself - and you can swap drives in and out of it? I've been hyping Apricorn housings for a while now - they are aluminum and have an internal fan.

http://www.apricorn.com/product_details.php?ID=332
http://www.apricorn.com/product_details.php?ID=420

Discounts available at some online vendors - do a Froogle search.

[jldodge]

Okay ... now you have me thinking ...

I built this computer so the notion of building an external drive is something I had not thought about. Is it as simple as buying an "internal" hard drive and inserting it into a "case" with fan and power supply? Where can I go to get some info on how to build an external drive? Also, does that mean I can buy a Seagate 15000 RPM drive and set it up as an external drive over a USB connection?

Thanks again for any input ...

[Matt_Smi]

Originally Posted by jldodge Okay ... now you have me thinking ... I built this computer so the notion of building an external drive is something I had not thought about. Is it as simple as buying an "internal" hard drive and inserting it into a "case" with fan and power supply? Where can I go to get some info on how to build an external drive? Also, does that mean I can buy a Seagate 15000 RPM drive and set it up as an external drive over a USB connection? Thanks again for any input ...

It is very simple; you just hook up the IDE connection and the Molex power connecter from the enclosure to your hard drive. You cannot however use a 15,000 RPM drive because they use the SCSI interface, and I am pretty sure they don’t make an external enclosure that supports SCSI, they are all IDE.

[jldodge]

Okay ... bear with me please.

I buy the case, insert the fastest/largest "internal" IDE hard drive I choose (i.e. a drive that could also be used in a 3.5" bay inside the computer), plug in the power source, and then plug the whole thing into a USB 2.0 port???

Is there a website that shows me how to do this?

Thanks again ... I'm liking this approach much better.

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by jldodge Okay ... bear with me please. I buy the case, insert the fastest/largest "internal" IDE hard drive I choose (i.e. a drive that could also be used in a 3.5" bay inside the computer), plug in the power source, and then plug the whole thing into a USB 2.0 port??? Is there a website that shows me how to do this? Thanks again ... I'm liking this approach much better.

Yup, that exactly how it works. With some cases you can use either usb 2.0 or firewire. I went with the Apricorn EZ Bus DTC that has both connections. Comes with the cables too, as I remember. You can leave it turned off until you want to use the drive. Then just press the power button on the case and XP will find and install the new drive/partitions. Transfer or download data, use the Safely Remove hardware icon to shut down the drives, power down and you're good to go.