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| Thread ID: 88927 | 2008-04-15 03:00:00 | External Hard Drive | willbry (1555) | Press F1 |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 658865 | 2008-04-15 03:00:00 | I'm about to buy an external HDD but before doing so can someone tell me in simple terms to a non technical guy, what is the difference between the options "2.5"" and 3.5"? I thought all HDD's were basically the same. Is one type more efficient, faster, more expensive, more long lasting etc.than the other. Also I want to use it while overseas so are those that don't need a 230V power source and can just be directly plugged into a USB port as efficient as the power sourced ones? | willbry (1555) | ||
| 658866 | 2008-04-15 03:04:00 | 2.5 are what laptops have (I think) 3.5 are used in desktops One's smaller than the other. So, if you tried to put a 3.5 in a 2.5 case, it wont fit |
Speedy Gonzales (78) | ||
| 658867 | 2008-04-15 03:36:00 | How much data do you need on the external disk? There are several options. You can use a USB Flash Drive for capacities in the range 4 GB - 16 GB (32 GB coming). There are now some 1.8" hard drives in the range 10 - 30 GB. Advantage is that they are smaller, but more expensive per GB. Most of the external USB drives use 2.5" or 3.5" hard disks. 2.5" disks are typically found in laptops, but max capacity in range of 160 - 250 GB. The advantage is that they are smaller (and less power consumption) compared to 3.5" - but you'll pay slightly more per GB for the convenience of small size. You can get 3.5" USB external hard drives up to 1 TB. Trade-off - ultimately portability means smaller capacity drives and higher price per GB. For home use where the drive isn't going to move much I'd go for a high capacity 3.5" drive, but if you are travelling decide what capacity you need and go for something smaller. Don't overlook a couple of 16 GB USB flash drives as an option. |
ledzep (1441) | ||
| 658868 | 2008-04-15 05:23:00 | 2.5" vs 3.5". Its their size. In inches. Laptop drives vs desktop drives. Laptop drives in enclosures have no external power source and instead use 2 USB connectors. Not as good in my opinion. Whatever you buy the importnat thing is the brand of hard drive inside the enclosure. Stick with Seagate. |
pctek (84) | ||
| 658869 | 2008-04-15 05:27:00 | Thanks for the info guys. I'm looking at around 160 gigs. It seems that from what you say, one type is no better than the other. It appears to be a capacity thing. Any drawbacks in getting one you can plug straight into a USB port ? | willbry (1555) | ||
| 658870 | 2008-04-15 05:31:00 | Thanks pctek . I posted my response before seeing yours. Have you any thoughts on Western digital or would you not go past Seagate? | willbry (1555) | ||
| 658871 | 2008-04-15 05:35:00 | I'll say it for pctek - stick with Seagate. :lol: :sleep You can't really get a drive to plug straight in via usb - they are pretty much always in an elclosure, and connected via a USB cable. Digitus and Welland are good brands of enclosures if you wanna make one up yourself, or get a Seagate Freeagent. |
wratterus (105) | ||
| 658872 | 2008-04-15 05:43:00 | The smaller 2.5" drives are designed for portable devices so will have better shock tolerance. The following are both 160GB drives. Seagate Momentus 2.5" Operating Shock 350G Non OP 900G Seagate Barracuda 3.5" Operating Shock 63G Non OP 350G A 1 metre drop to a hard floor is about 300G. |
PaulD (232) | ||
| 658873 | 2008-04-15 05:51:00 | They are also about twice the price. | wratterus (105) | ||
| 658874 | 2008-04-15 06:29:00 | The big advantage of 2.5" external drives is (besides them being about 1/4 to 1/3 the volume & weight) that you can generally run them just using the USB port, as they're lower power & designed to run at 5V only in laptops. 3.5" drives need 12V, so invariably have some sort of external power supply, further adding to the weight & clutter you have to cart about. | MushHead (10626) | ||
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