External storage specials @ Game

Speedster said:
Game has the WD 3TB MyBook going for R999!
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So... Who's cracked one of these open to confirm that we can use it in a microserver? I'd love to get four, but I'm nervous about finding a native usb drive inside, and also about the number of failures in the newegg review section. Anyone had experience with this model?
 
Drunkard #1 said:
So... Who's cracked one of these open to confirm that we can use it in a microserver? I'd love to get four, but I'm nervous about finding a native usb drive inside, and also about the number of failures in the newegg review section. Anyone had experience with this model?
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It will be SATA, USB PCB drives are only found in certain 2.5" models/brands.
 
SouthBit said:
It will be SATA, USB PCB drives are only found in certain 2.5" models/brands.
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Allow me to understand: I should be able to take any "newish" external 3.5" drive, crack it open and stick the disk in my desktop pc using a SATA connector?

Helluva lot cheaper to buy disks this way than to buy "bare" 3.5" drives!
 
Yes, but technically you will lose the warranty, as the enclosure has been opened.
 
Brilliant. And should the drive fail, could I not return it to the manufacturer (WD, Seagate, etc.) for replacement?

Mind you, I guess you'd have to produce a receipt/tax invoice to show proof of purchase anyway...
 
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FrankyF said:
Brilliant. And should the drive fail, could I not return it to the manufacturer (WD, Seagate, etc.) for replacement?

Mind you, I guess you'd have to produce a receipt/tax invoice to show proof of purchase anyway...
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No, because the serial number of the drive reflects that it came from an external on their system, so you are screwed.

It's just a chance you have to take if you want to go this route.
 
Oh right. So the question then is whether it worth it to pay a couple hundred bucks less for a drive that might or might not fail somewhere in the next 5 years, as opposed to paying more for a drive and its warranty that might, or might not, fail in the next 5 years.

Is this a common practice? How many guys have done this? Taking drives from external enclosures and running them in desktops? How fail-safe is this practice?
 
5 years? These drives will have 1 or 2 years warranty at the most. The days of cheap consumer drives having a 5 year warranty are long gone.

The chances of it failing are pretty low, so more than worth it in my opinion. All depends on the individual.

FrankyF said:
Oh right. So the question then is whether it worth it to pay a couple hundred bucks less for a drive that might or might not fail somewhere in the next 5 years, as opposed to paying more for a drive and its warranty that might, or might not, fail in the next 5 years.

Is this a common practice? How many guys have done this? Taking drives from external enclosures and running them in desktops? How fail-safe is this practice?
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My mom picked up one of the R999 3TB specials for me. Was a bit of an ordeal and took an hour to get out the store. First they disagreed with her claim that the drive was on special, but changed their tune when she produced the ad I printed for her. After 30 minutes of people running around and making calls to verify the promotion, it took another 20 minutes to get the thing through the till. Then at the main door the security guy swiped the product against a huge magnet for whatever reason, and my mom demanded a replacement HDD, which she got. I wasn't even aware my mom knew about such things. I'll have to make it up to her some time.
 
Yeah Franky, a lot of guys around here have done this. Me? Not yet, but I am eying out the 4TB IC special that starts tomorrow, so that may change soon :p
 
Bryn26 said:
My mom picked up one of the R999 3TB specials for me. Was a bit of an ordeal and took an hour to get out the store. First they disagreed with her claim that the drive was on special, but changed their tune when she produced the ad I printed for her. After 30 minutes of people running around and making calls to verify the promotion, it took another 20 minutes to get the thing through the till. Then at the main door the security guy swiped the product against a huge magnet for whatever reason, and my mom demanded a replacement HDD, which she got. I wasn't even aware my mom knew about such things. I'll have to make it up to her some time.
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What a joke. Don't these sales drones get briefed on the specials in their stores, in their departments even??

Dang, wish I held on a week longer to get the 3TB instead of the 2TB. But seems like Game runs a promotion on these drives almost weekly now?
 
Just picked up a WD 3TB from Game Sandton. Surprisingly smooth purchase following my previous attempts and it sounds like they still have stock
 
Bryn26 said:
Then at the main door the security guy swiped the product against a huge magnet for whatever reason, and my mom demanded a replacement HDD, which she got. I wasn't even aware my mom knew about such things.
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Knew what things? Magnets does jack to HDDs...
 
ld13 said:
Knew what things? Magnets does jack to HDDs...
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The magnet was so strong it was difficult to extract the product's box. I would have demanded an exchange too. Not taking a 1% chance with a thousand rand item.
 
ld13 said:
Knew what things? Magnets does jack to HDDs...
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I used to think that, put a magnet on a drive at work about 14 years ago to demonstrate to all how wrong they were.
There was an audible click in the drive as it's head got pulled (via the magnet on the head).

At least everyone was laughing so hard nobody actually bitched at me for it :o :D
 
kayvee said:
Yeah Franky, a lot of guys around here have done this. Me? Not yet, but I am eying out the 4TB IC special that starts tomorrow, so that may change soon :p
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Had I only known this before I bought that WD Green 3TB. Sigh...

Experience doesn't come cheap, they say.
 
Game sandton have less than 10 of the 3tb units left.
 
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