Pre-built external hard drive vs built external

[mintydroid]

Need some advice on portable storage. I have 2 options at the moment.

First one is buying a WD Red 1tb 2.5" and placing it in a usb enclosure. Advantage is I'll be able to remove the drive and use it in my server.

Second option is to purchase a WD Elements 2tb for the same price. I don't think the internals are sata.

What should I do?

 

[ScottulusMaximus]

For same price rather get the flexibility an enclosure and seperate hdd offers.

 

[DA-LION-619]

Normally pre-built externals have a short warranty

 

[D4N]

Pre-builts usually have low performance (energy saving) drives that go to sleep and have USB connectors directly on the drive PCB as opposed to SATA connectors

 

[Keeper]

and have USB connectors directly on the drive PCB as opposed to SATA connectors

I don't think that's true... not for the majority anyway.

Also energy saving =/= low performance... drives are pretty much drives these days. You're fooling yourself thinking otherwise. USB will be your bottleneck not RPMs
And you can also set the sleep timer on seagate externals, or turn it completely off.

 

[SouthBit]

WD 2.5" portable drives will have native USB PCBs, so no SATA connection. Most other 2.5" portable drives will be normal SATA drives with a USB 3 adapter. You will find the odd Toshiba or something else which is native USB, but mostly it's only WD. Transcend StoreJets are definitely SATA inside if you want to be sure of one.

 

[mintydroid]

It's a tough choice.

 

[TEXTILE GUY]

Go the enclosure route IMHO over pre build.

It gives more flexibility - and if the drive fails, at least you have a headstart on replacement.

I have gone this route lately too.

 

[mintydroid]

Go the enclosure route IMHO over pre build.

It gives more flexibility - and if the drive fails, at least you have a headstart on replacement.

I have gone this route lately too.

I guess I have to calm my greed and go that route.

 

[genetic]

For same price rather get the flexibility an enclosure and seperate hdd offers.

This.

 

[mintydroid]

I was looking at externals with Sata boards and found this. It's quiet impressive with a 2tb Red drive inside.

http://www.smallnetbuilder.com/nas/nas-reviews/32244-wd-my-cloud-reviewed?start=1

 

[kianm]

WD 2.5" portable drives will have native USB PCBs, so no SATA connection. Most other 2.5" portable drives will be normal SATA drives with a USB 3 adapter. You will find the odd Toshiba or something else which is native USB, but mostly it's only WD. Transcend StoreJets are definitely SATA inside if you want to be sure of one.

And I hate how WD does it now. Bought a pre-built one hoping to upgrade my ps4 and was in for a surprise. Anyway I found another use for it and got another Toshiba lose one for the console