External Hard drive enclosures

13 replies [Last post]
Michael Renn
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Joined: Aug 30 2000

Hi!
My system consists of a 120gig system drive and a pair of 120 gig drives arranged as a raid 0 array.
I have just upgraded the system drive, and would like to use my old 80gig drive to save a ghost of my system and perhaps a couple of storage areas. I was thinking of an external drive casing to house the 80gig, and wonder if any of you using such a system have any suggestions for a make and/or where to buy. Also can it be powered by the computer, or would a separate power supply be better.
Any suggestions appreciated....Mike

harlequin
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Joined: Aug 16 2000

i have two different external cases

1. a ads technology ieee1394 , black , standard 'kettle lead' power connection.
takes 5 1/4 or 3 1/2 drive.

bought from datavision , who advertise in the mag.

2. an ICY neon ieee1394/usb2 , alluminium , with blue neon lights , and a seperate laptop type power supply brick
only takes a 3 1/2 drive.

IcyBox 3.5 USB2+FW Bl 350UEBL www.scan.co.uk

usb 2 is fast enough for backing up drives/files etc.
firewire is better , but is better on a seperate firewire connection , all to itself.

Gary MacKenzie

sepulce@hotmail.com ( an account only used for forum messages )

Thinkserver TS140 , 750ti Graphics card  & LG 27" uws led backlight , Edius 8

Humax Foxsat HD Pvr / Humax Fox T2 dvbt

steve
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Joined: Apr 8 1999

I also have several external HDD enclosures. One of them is the Icy Box fitted with a Hitachi 250GB drive. Performance is excellent on both USB2 and firewire:

sustained read/writespeeds:
USB2 - c. 31MB/s processor hit - c. 19%
1394a - C. 29MB/s Processor hit - C. 2%

so for most tasks I use firewire. The USB feature is useful for moving stuff to other peoples' non-firewire PCs.
The Icy Box is very quiet (no fan)
Keeps the drive cool (vented all round)
easy to connect to any modern PC.

HTH

Steve

Michael Renn
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Joined: Aug 30 2000

Thanks Guys!
The Icy Box certainly looks appealling, I will view details on their web site. Where did you guys purchase your enclosures.
Thanks again...Mike

harlequin
harlequin's picture
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Joined: Aug 16 2000

scan as per link , for the icy box

Gary MacKenzie

sepulce@hotmail.com ( an account only used for forum messages )

Thinkserver TS140 , 750ti Graphics card  & LG 27" uws led backlight , Edius 8

Humax Foxsat HD Pvr / Humax Fox T2 dvbt

steve
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Joined: Apr 8 1999

RL Supplies near Watford, but they are more expensive than from Scan ISTR.

Steve

Stuart B-M
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Joined: Apr 6 2001

http://www.blankdiscshop.co.uk/acatalog/USB_Devices.html

Scroll down the page to above, usb2/1394 external enclosure..

I run x3, LG and NEC re-writers and 250gb hard drive.

Kind Regards.

Michael Renn
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Joined: Aug 30 2000

Hi and thanks to everyone for your help and sugestions. After some consideration I have desided to go for the Mator one touch. Dabs have a good offer at the present time of a 160gig one touch for just over the £100 mark.
Mike

mjenkins74
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Joined: Feb 4 2005

Hi there

Can anyone recommend an external hard drive for video capture and storage?

Thanks
Mark

shaunconnell
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Joined: Jul 17 2004

The LaCie and the Maxtor OneTouch/OneTouch II ranges spring to mind. Alternatively, by a bare drive and one of the enclosure units recommended in this thread.

The LaCie and Maxtor drives can be found at www.ebuyer.co.uk or www.dabs.co.uk.

Shaun

mjenkins74
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Joined: Feb 4 2005

Hi

Would you recommend it to use the firewire connection on these drives? I have heard that USB is not good for video

Mark

shaunconnell
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Joined: Jul 17 2004

Yes

A lot of drives now feature Firewire 400 & USB2 for greater connectivity. Use the Firewire connection for video.

Shaun

Chris Lovell
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Joined: Nov 29 2000

I've bought two LaCie Firewire drives from MyComputer Bits in Banbury as their prices were lower than Dabs and EBuyer. Both times the drives arrived next morning (quite impressive as one wasn't even ordered until 4pm in the afternoon.)

www.mycomputerbits.co.uk

Chris Lovell

beinghuman.com

Antix
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Joined: Mar 26 2002

For reader's info Special Reserve do a nice enclosure, just bought the HDD version.