Recommend brand for external HDD?

donline · Apr 25, 2016

Hi folks, I'm looking to buy an external HDD for extra file storage plus backup.
Are there any specific brands you can recommend? The most popular seem to be Samsung, Toshiba, Seagate and WP...

So far I've been looking at the following products:

Samsung M3 Slimline 1 TB USB 3.0 Portable Hard Drive
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-Slimline-Portable-Hard-Drive/dp/B008PABFX8/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1461600494&sr=1-1&keywords=external+hard+drive

Toshiba HDTB310EK3AA 1 TB Canvio Basics USB 3.0 Portable External Hard Drive
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Toshiba-HDTB310EK3AA-Canvio-Portable-External/dp/B00KWHJY7Q/ref=sr_1_3?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1461600494&sr=1-3&keywords=external+hard+drive

Transcend 1TB 2.5 inch USB 3.0 Military-Grade Shock Resistance Portable Hard Drive
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Transcend-Military-Grade-Shock-Resistance-Portable/dp/B005MNGQ6C/ref=sr_1_5?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1461600494&sr=1-5&keywords=external+hard+drive

Thanks for your guidance, D

ArtPog · Apr 25, 2016

In my opinion, like most PC users, I believe you would be much better served by purchasing a USB external enclosure + a HDD and/or SSD of your choice for your backup/storage strategy rather than a commercial "one-piece" unit.

The advantages of doing so are significant. First of all, virtually any USBEHD enclosure you purchase will accommodate both 2 1/2" & 3 1/2" drives. That's a real advantage. Then you can purchase the HDD (or SSD) YOU want, not the HDD that's installed in the commercial product. Rest assured the drive you purchase will invariably prove superior to the commercial product. And you can select whatever disk capacity YOU want. Another advantage is that the HDD you install in the USBEHD can always be easily removed and installed in a PC should that need arise.

Still another significant advantage is the fact that by using a separate USBEHD enclosure + HDD you will have UNLIMITED capability to utilize any number of different HDDs/SSDs for whatever purpose(s) you deem necessary or desirable.

All in all there are really no downsides to purchasing a USBEHD + HDD (and/or SSD) in comparison to purchasing a commercial one-piece product. And you will have an enormous choice as to the USB enclosure that appeals to you. One type is the so-called "docking station", see for example http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=blacx&N=-1&isNodeId=1

There are plenty of other types of enclosures. Right now, as an example, we're using the Orico 6518US3 model. See...
http://www.amazon.com/ORICO-6518US3-Super-Docking-Station/dp/B00CBPB4PM
Newegg also carries this model (they recently had it on sale @$16.99). And there are many, many others to choose from.

And it's child's play to install and/or reinstall a HDD or SSD in & out of a USB external enclosure - whatever the type.

(I should mention that many users employ a SATA-to-USB adapter device for connecting a SATA HDD or SSD to a USB port. Here's a sampling of those type of devices...
http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?
Submit=ENE&DEPA=0&Order=BESTMATCH&Description=sata+to+usb+adapters&N=-1&isNodeId=1
Although I'm aware of many users who are satisfied with this type of device frankly, we're not. By & large our experience with these type of devices has been quite negative - we've found them to be defective or erratic in operation. We just don't use them any more. But I have to say we find that many users are perfectly satisfied with these devices.)

(I might mention that we have three of the Orico devices I mentioned above and all of them have performed flawlessly. Their dimensions are 7" long, 4 3/4" wide, and about 1 1/2" tall (at its highest point).
We have occasion to travel with them to other locations from time-to-time and with a HDD or SSD installed in the device we've never encountered a problem. Naturally one can carry the drive separately if desired since it's no problem simply sliding the disk in the unit for connections to the data & power connectors. The USB data cable is about 3' long so that should be adequate in most situations.

One thing else we like about this unit is that the power switch (button) is situated on top of the unit. So it's easy for the user to switch the unit either on or off. Many of the USB enclosures on the market mount the power switch on the back (rear) of the unit which I find quite inconvenient.
The power button is flush-mounted; I would have preferred a raised button. Also the power LED is not particularly bright; I would have preferred a brighter light. But those are relatively minor quibbles.

Many users prefer the so-called "docking stations". They're fine if one likes that style - (we have three of them hanging around that are rarely used). My chief problem with them is their bulk although I have noticed the newer models are getting more compact in size. It's really a matter of user preference. By & large they all do the job.

Eximo · Apr 25, 2016

Samsung = Seagate (And the link says that the drive is unsold 2012 stock, so I would avoid)
Toshiba = Toshiba 2014 model and makes reference to a warranty leaflet.
Transcend = ? (I can't find out anything about who actually makes the drive) (Also listed as the 2011 model)

I would probably take the one with the best warranty, so that looks like the Toshiba based on these links.

dudeman509 · Apr 25, 2016

I would spend my $ on a Toshiba or WD.

donline · Apr 25, 2016

Thanks so much for your detailed reply ArtPog!

I hadn't even thought about the option of a USB external enclosure and HDD/SDD.

So, here's the closest I could find to the one you mentioned (hope it looks fine):
https://www.amazon.co.uk/ORICO-3588US3-3-5-inch-External-Enclosure/dp/B00UYHPC20/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1461612043&sr=1-1&keywords=orico+external+hard+drive+enclosure

And what HDD would you recommend?
Does it matter if it's 2.5 or 3.5 inches? I only have laptops and won't be adding any HDDs into them.

The only thing I'm concerned about with the external enclosure is whether it's as stable as the commercial 'one-piece' units? Is it easier to damage the HDD with this? It seems like the commercial ones protect the HDD more?

Thanks!

donline · Apr 25, 2016

Thanks Eximo and dudeman509, Toshiba and WD look like nice options so far...
Any particular models you can recommend?

Eximo · Apr 25, 2016

Nothing in particular. Basically whatever is latest from the manufacturer. WD Passport come in a nicely sized enclosure. Though the larger ones seem more substantial. If they are backup and storage drives I would lean towards 3.5" drives rather then the more common 2.5" portables.

I tend towards loose drives myself. Did pick up a Rosewill enclosure for the 1TB 2.5" drive my laptop came with. I think most of my spinning platter drives are in fact the untrustworthy Seagate brand. I have one of the 1.5TB drives that failed so spectacularly in the backblaze report, no problems yet. Trying to recall if my 3tB media drives are Seagate or WD Green/Reds, I know I was looking at all three.

Actually picked up a 5TB seagate (cheapest 5TB drive available at the time) drive the other day at work. Used it to make a one time backup of an entire companies software library for Windows 7/XP 32bit. I suspect it won't actually ever need to be accessed. Though some ~~idiot~~ frugal person who managed to keep one of the old systems around without telling anyone will have his own hard drive failure in a year or two and need some old 16bit application re-installed.

ArtPog · Apr 25, 2016

donline :

That Orico model is apparently not the same Orico model available here in the States. At least it's not the Orico model we have; but it's very close in design and I would guess in its performance. The Amazon description seems somewhat misleading - gives the impression the device is designed for 3.5" HDDs but it appears it's compatible with 2.5" disks as well. Note that top cover? We rarely ever use them except when we have to travel with the device; it just gets in our way.

I honestly don't think there's a dime's worth of difference between the commercial units as compared with a user-assembled USB enclosure + HDD in terms of better construction, durability, & the like.

I really can't give you any specific recommendations as to the HDD. We use virtually every brand that's marketed and truth to tell I'm hard-pressed to tell the difference between any of them in any significant way. in terms of performance, and durability. Disk capacity is, of course, a different story. Only YOU know what you need in terms of disk-space capacity.

Eximo · Apr 25, 2016

huh, though s was strikethrough, guess it is underline...

dudeman509 · Apr 25, 2016

Really luck of the draw when getting a drive that lasts a couple years it seems. I have a 3 TB Seagate external that a lot of people have apparently had lots of trouble with that has served me well for 3-4 years now, and is spun up daily. I had a WD external that was supposed to be quite reliable crash, and a 160 GB WD external from 2007 that is still going.

My most reliable hard drives have been Hitachi laptop disks (not a single one died), and my most reliable desktop drives have been Toshibas. But anyone's experience may be different.

donline · Apr 26, 2016

Thanks folks!

So, if I go with the USB external enclosure and HDD option, is it best for me to go with a 2.5" or 3.5" HDD?
Does it make any difference? (I don't plan to install the HD into any of my laptops).

dudeman509 · Apr 26, 2016

donline :

3.5" drives are still the king in size and speed for price.

2.5" is, of course, lots more portable - and some may not need an external adapter.

ArtPog · Apr 26, 2016

donline :

There's an enormous number of available USB enclosures/docking stations that have the capability of accommodating BOTH 2.5" & 3.5" disks. Why limit yourself to one or the other? There's virtually little difference in cost, certainly no effect on performance, and now you have the flexibility of utilizing either size disk. So why limit yourself to one or the other?

donline · Apr 28, 2016

Thanks ArtPog, yes I plan to buy a USB enclose that accommodates both 2.5" and 3.5" disks, I was just wondering what size disk (2.5" or 3.5") to start off with for making my computer backups. I only plan to buy one external HDD to begin with (1TB in size), and so I was curious which is best/most stable between 2.5" or 3.5" HDD?

donline · Apr 28, 2016

dudeman509 :

Any difference in stability between 2.5" and 3.5"? Thanks

ArtPog · Apr 28, 2016

There's really no difference in "stability" between the two sizes of disks. That item should not be a factor in your choice. If you're working with a laptop/notebook then naturally I would expect you would opt for 2.5" disks. If a desktop PC, then likely a 3.5" disk. By & by you'll probably get both sizes.

donline · Apr 28, 2016

ArtPog :

Thanks ArtPog. What difference would it make if I'm working on a laptop but bought a 3.5" external HDD instead of 2.5"? I don't plan to install the HD into the laptop, so it would purely serve as external backup. I guess it doesn't matter then whether it's 2.5" or 3.5" as there's no technical difference/advantage or?

ArtPog · Apr 28, 2016

donline :

For all practical purposes - no difference. Except for this possibility...
Say at one point or another you plan to utilize the USBEHD as the destination drive serving as the recipient of the cloned contents of your laptop's OS disk. It's something you SHOULD consider in terms of creating/maintaining comprehensive backups of your ENTIRE system on a reasonably frequent basis.
Now the day arrives when you power-on your laptop and lo & behold - a black screen or the system has (for one reason or another) become so corrupt that it no longer properly functions - perhaps even because the laptop's drive has gone to hard drive heaven (hell?). (It happens thousands of times a day - just peruse Tom's forums for the "Woe is me - my system is kaput! What am I to do?" postings. I'm sure you know what I mean.

Now could you see the advantage of having a cloned 2.5" disk available at your fingertips? It would be a simple matter to install the disk in the laptop and you're off & running. Think about it.

ArtPog · Apr 28, 2016

And BTW, isn't that still another major advantage of having a separate USB enclosure + HDD of your choice? Now you can utilize different disks for different purposes using the same USB enclosure.

donline · Apr 28, 2016

ArtPog :

Yup, makes sense, thanks for your messages ArtPog. Appreciate your guidance

Recommend brand for external HDD?

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