Advice on external HDD please?

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blue-eye-boy

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I need a external hdd. I have read some threads here, and decided to go Western digital, or samsung. I want 2 tb, prefer usb3.0, SATA drive.

Now I found this, what do you guys think, is it a good buy? Then I just add a 2 tb now, and as time goes by, I add another drive later. Its the first time I see something like this, thats why I ask first.

Any other info/specials welcome.

Thanks
 
If you want a dual USB 3.0 enclosure then the Agestar may be your only option. The Agestar enclosures normally use the JMicron JMS539 USB 3.0 controller which has had some firmware problems in the past. The general recommendation seems to be to rather buy an Asmedia ASM1051 USB 3.0 based enclosure such as the Sedna SE-EH-38-U but I am not sure if this is currently available. Another choice might be the Mapower MAP-WS31U3 but you would need to confirm with the manufacturer which chip is currently being used as they use both types.
http://www.pinnacleafrica.co.za/Product/item.aspx?ID=33693
http://www.pinnacleafrica.co.za/Product/bycategory.aspx?ID=3567&brandID=240
Long thread about problematic USB 3.0 enclosures
http://forums.whirlpool.net.au/archive/1558885
 
Okay, maybe I must leave it then, I dont have the time now to waste on problems that could be avoided. So just a plain normal SATA external drive then.
 
Maybe look at one with E-sata option if you still want some decent transfer speed
 
What about using a dock for standard internal hard drives. Then get some of these to store the drives safely when they not in use. Internal drives are normally alot cheaper than external drives in enclosures too. I use a setup like this and it works really well for backups etc.
 
Looks good, just the problem is then I cant take it to friends or work to copy or backup stuff.
 
jacqvt said:
Okay, maybe I must leave it then, I dont have the time now to waste on problems that could be avoided. So just a plain normal SATA external drive then.
Click to expand...

Didn't mean to scare you off the initial plan. I don't think that you will have problems if you go with an Asmedia controller. If you don't mind paying >R300 you should be able to find something decent. With the current flood inflated hard drive prices it may be cheaper to buy a preassembled USB 3.0 drive from Makro, Game etc. I've seen some 2TB drives for ~R1299 but you might be able to do a bit better if you wait for a special.
 
Makro (www.makro.co.za) also has that Verbatim for R1299. They also have the USB 2.0 version for R999 with some free CD-Rs. If at all possible try to wait until the prices start to fall again though as the manufacturers have apparently restarted production. Register with Esquire if you haven't already done so as they might have some Freecom specials before Christmas.

Verbatim 2TB USB 2.0 drive ...
http://www.makro.co.za/p/47989/verbatim-2-terrabyte-external-hard-drive-plus-50-pack-cds/
Here are some more expensive enclosures ...
http://rebeltech.co.za/index.php?main_page=index&cPath=70_101_102&sort=3a&page=3
Newegg reviews of two different Vantec enclosures (JMS539 and ASM1051) - Click on reviews
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817392039
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produ...rue&Keywords=(keywords)&Page=1#scrollFullInfo
Another review of the more expensive (~R375!!!) Vantec enclosure using the Asmedia controller
http://www.ocmodshop.com/vantec-nexstar3-nst-380s3-superspeed-usb-3-0-enclosure/
 
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can anyone advise me on how to convert 2 ntfs 500gb 2,5" usb2 hard drive to ntfs? cant seem to find a converter that doesnt need to be paid for
 
i thought you could have done this via windows but looking on my own w7 it doesn't offer that option
Sure somebody can help you out with a prog that'll do it.
Seagate has a prog to use if the HDD's happen to be seagate drives
 
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