Cables+Adapter for external HDDs? Which HDDs are good today?

[Ant]

Hello.

Last year, I ordered and used "Vantec CB-ISATAU2 SATA/IDE to USB 2.0
Adapter Supports 2.5-Inch, 3.5-Inch, 5.25-Inch Hard Disk Drives" from
Amazon: http://amazon.com/gp/product/B000J01I1G/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details
... It worked well for HDDs I used to connect to computers with their USB
ports. However, USB is slow due to USB2 speed. Is there another one that
can handle USB3, Firewire, ESATA, etc. on the computers' external ports
to be faster?

Also, what good big brands and models of HDDs to buy these days for
external purposes without buying external HDDs and enclosures. I will
need over six TB of storage so I assume 2/3 TB per drive for Windows XP
and higher?

All of these purchases are preferred to be on cdw.com if possible. Thank
you in advance. :)
--
Happy Chinese New Year (Dragon)! ^-^
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| |o o| |
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[Jim Gibson]

In article <5f6dnZrELr9eD73S...@earthlink.com>, Ant

<ANT...@zimage.com> wrote:

> Hello.
>
> Last year, I ordered and used "Vantec CB-ISATAU2 SATA/IDE to USB 2.0
> Adapter Supports 2.5-Inch, 3.5-Inch, 5.25-Inch Hard Disk Drives" from
> Amazon: http://amazon.com/gp/product/B000J01I1G/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details
> ... It worked well for HDDs I used to connect to computers with their USB
> ports. However, USB is slow due to USB2 speed. Is there another one that
> can handle USB3, Firewire, ESATA, etc. on the computers' external ports
> to be faster?
>
> Also, what good big brands and models of HDDs to buy these days for
> external purposes without buying external HDDs and enclosures. I will
> need over six TB of storage so I assume 2/3 TB per drive for Windows XP
> and higher?
>
> All of these purchases are preferred to be on cdw.com if possible. Thank
> you in advance. :)

There is this one from Other World Computing:

<http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/U3NVSPATA/>

--
Jim Gibson

[Rod Speed]

Ant wrote:

> Last year, I ordered and used "Vantec CB-ISATAU2 SATA/IDE to USB 2.0
> Adapter Supports 2.5-Inch, 3.5-Inch, 5.25-Inch Hard Disk Drives" from Amazon:
> http://amazon.com/gp/product/B000J01I1G/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details
> ... It worked well for HDDs I used to connect to computers with their
> USB ports. However, USB is slow due to USB2 speed.

Yeah, USB2 is surprisingly slow when you are used to SATA speeds.

> Is there another one that can handle USB3, Firewire, ESATA, etc.
> on the computers' external ports to be faster?

Yep, plenty of them support esata as well as USB2 and and some do
support USB3 now. Both arent anything like as common on the computer tho.

> Also, what good big brands and models of HDDs to buy these days
> for external purposes without buying external HDDs and enclosures.

Dunno, dont bother with that route myself.

> I will need over six TB of storage so I assume
> 2/3 TB per drive for Windows XP and higher?

There are plenty of NAS systems around now that do that total capacity fine.

They arent cheap tho, they cost more than one of the 2TB drives, even
now that the 2TB drives have hiked due to the floods in Thailand.

[Arno]

In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage Ant <ANT...@zimage.com> wrote:
> Hello.

> Last year, I ordered and used "Vantec CB-ISATAU2 SATA/IDE to USB 2.0
> Adapter Supports 2.5-Inch, 3.5-Inch, 5.25-Inch Hard Disk Drives" from
> Amazon: http://amazon.com/gp/product/B000J01I1G/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details
> ... It worked well for HDDs I used to connect to computers with their USB
> ports. However, USB is slow due to USB2 speed. Is there another one that
> can handle USB3, Firewire, ESATA, etc. on the computers' external ports
> to be faster?

> Also, what good big brands and models of HDDs to buy these days for
> external purposes without buying external HDDs and enclosures. I will
> need over six TB of storage so I assume 2/3 TB per drive for Windows XP
> and higher?

> All of these purchases are preferred to be on cdw.com if possible. Thank
> you in advance. :)

I have no idea about your source, but the by far best bargain here
is the WD 3TB UDB3.0 external drives. You basically get the enclosure
for free and the disk price is very reasonable when compared to
smaller drives. I happen to have several of them, and as long
as you operate them lying down (add 4 rubber feet on the side),
they are perfectly fine.

Arno
--
Arno Wagner, Dr. sc. techn., Dipl. Inform., CISSP -- Email: ar...@wagner.name
GnuPG: ID: 1E25338F FP: 0C30 5782 9D93 F785 E79C 0296 797F 6B50 1E25 338F
----
Cuddly UI's are the manifestation of wishful thinking. -- Dylan Evans

[Gerald Abrahamson]

On Wed, 25 Jan 2012 17:39:47 -0600, ANT...@zimage.com (Ant)
wrote:

>Hello.
>
>Last year, I ordered and used "Vantec CB-ISATAU2 SATA/IDE to USB 2.0
>Adapter Supports 2.5-Inch, 3.5-Inch, 5.25-Inch Hard Disk Drives" from
>Amazon: http://amazon.com/gp/product/B000J01I1G/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details
>... It worked well for HDDs I used to connect to computers with their USB
>ports. However, USB is slow due to USB2 speed. Is there another one that
>can handle USB3, Firewire, ESATA, etc. on the computers' external ports
>to be faster?
>
>Also, what good big brands and models of HDDs to buy these days for
>external purposes without buying external HDDs and enclosures. I will
>need over six TB of storage so I assume 2/3 TB per drive for Windows XP
>and higher?
>
>All of these purchases are preferred to be on cdw.com if possible. Thank
>you in advance. :)

Seagate has a single 4TB drive sold only in their external
USB3 case (for now, anyway--part of their GoFlex series)--so
you would only need two of them to exceed your minimum
capacity needs. I suspect production is limited due to the
Thai flooding, but that should be resolved later in 2012.
The GoFlex boxes have optional connectors with different
ports--all connectable one drive. They also have 2TB and 3TB
capacities (3TB is $200, I think--CDW sells it also).

4TB GoFlex/USB3 (with USB3) card from CDW:

http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/FreeAgent-GoFlex-Desk-Kit-hard-drive-4-TB-SuperSpeed-USB-3.0/2501675.aspx

Here are the various cables you can buy from CDW to connect
the drive to the computer (USB2, USB3, Firewire 800, eSATA).
They can all be ordered from CDW:

http://www.seagate.com/www/en-us/products/accessories

What is nice about this series is the drive fits ANY of the
interface connectors--so you can move one external box to
any cable/computer. And, if a new interface comes along, it
is not hard for them to make a new interface connector that
will fit a standard SATA drive--so they will not go obsolete
until the SATA interface is discontinued and replaced.

[Ant]

> > Last year, I ordered and used "Vantec CB-ISATAU2 SATA/IDE to USB 2.0
> > Adapter Supports 2.5-Inch, 3.5-Inch, 5.25-Inch Hard Disk Drives" from
> > Amazon: http://amazon.com/gp/product/B000J01I1G/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details
> > ... It worked well for HDDs I used to connect to computers with their USB
> > ports. However, USB is slow due to USB2 speed. Is there another one that
> > can handle USB3, Firewire, ESATA, etc. on the computers' external ports
> > to be faster?
> >
> > Also, what good big brands and models of HDDs to buy these days for
> > external purposes without buying external HDDs and enclosures. I will
> > need over six TB of storage so I assume 2/3 TB per drive for Windows XP
> > and higher?
> >
> > All of these purchases are preferred to be on cdw.com if possible. Thank
> > you in advance. :)

> There is this one from Other World Computing:

> <http://eshop.macsales.com/item/NewerTech/U3NVSPATA/>

Thanks. :)

[Ant]

> > Last year, I ordered and used "Vantec CB-ISATAU2 SATA/IDE to USB 2.0
> > Adapter Supports 2.5-Inch, 3.5-Inch, 5.25-Inch Hard Disk Drives" from Amazon:
> > http://amazon.com/gp/product/B000J01I1G/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details
> > ... It worked well for HDDs I used to connect to computers with their
> > USB ports. However, USB is slow due to USB2 speed.

> Yeah, USB2 is surprisingly slow when you are used to SATA speeds.

Yeah especially when dealing with many TB of datas.

> > Is there another one that can handle USB3, Firewire, ESATA, etc.
> > on the computers' external ports to be faster?

> Yep, plenty of them support esata as well as USB2 and and some do
> support USB3 now. Both arent anything like as common on the computer tho.

Yeah, but it would be nice to have if they do!

> > Also, what good big brands and models of HDDs to buy these days
> > for external purposes without buying external HDDs and enclosures.

> Dunno, dont bother with that route myself.

> > I will need over six TB of storage so I assume
> > 2/3 TB per drive for Windows XP and higher?

> There are plenty of NAS systems around now that do that total capacity fine.

Are they portable and light to travel with?

[Ant]

> >Last year, I ordered and used "Vantec CB-ISATAU2 SATA/IDE to USB 2.0
> >Adapter Supports 2.5-Inch, 3.5-Inch, 5.25-Inch Hard Disk Drives" from
> >Amazon: http://amazon.com/gp/product/B000J01I1G/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details
> >... It worked well for HDDs I used to connect to computers with their USB
> >ports. However, USB is slow due to USB2 speed. Is there another one that
> >can handle USB3, Firewire, ESATA, etc. on the computers' external ports
> >to be faster?
> >
> >Also, what good big brands and models of HDDs to buy these days for
> >external purposes without buying external HDDs and enclosures. I will
> >need over six TB of storage so I assume 2/3 TB per drive for Windows XP
> >and higher?
> >
> >All of these purchases are preferred to be on cdw.com if possible. Thank
> >you in advance. :)

> Seagate has a single 4TB drive sold only in their external
> USB3 case (for now, anyway--part of their GoFlex series)--so
> you would only need two of them to exceed your minimum
> capacity needs. I suspect production is limited due to the
> Thai flooding, but that should be resolved later in 2012.
> The GoFlex boxes have optional connectors with different
> ports--all connectable one drive. They also have 2TB and 3TB
> capacities (3TB is $200, I think--CDW sells it also).

> 4TB GoFlex/USB3 (with USB3) card from CDW:

> http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/FreeAgent-GoFlex-Desk-Kit-hard-drive-4-TB-SuperSpeed-USB-3.0/2501675.aspx

Oh wow, they finally 4 TB. I remember they were stuck with 2 and 3 TB.

[Rod Speed]

Ant wrote:
>>> Last year, I ordered and used "Vantec CB-ISATAU2 SATA/IDE to USB 2.0
>>> Adapter Supports 2.5-Inch, 3.5-Inch, 5.25-Inch Hard Disk Drives"
>>> from Amazon:
>>> http://amazon.com/gp/product/B000J01I1G/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details
>>> ... It worked well for HDDs I used to connect to computers with
>>> their
>>> USB ports. However, USB is slow due to USB2 speed.
>
>> Yeah, USB2 is surprisingly slow when you are used to SATA speeds.
>
> Yeah especially when dealing with many TB of datas.
>
>
>>> Is there another one that can handle USB3, Firewire, ESATA, etc.
>>> on the computers' external ports to be faster?
>
>> Yep, plenty of them support esata as well as USB2 and and some do
>> support USB3 now. Both arent anything like as common on the computer
>> tho.
>
> Yeah, but it would be nice to have if they do!
>
>
>>> Also, what good big brands and models of HDDs to buy these days
>>> for external purposes without buying external HDDs and enclosures.
>
>> Dunno, dont bother with that route myself.
>
>>> I will need over six TB of storage so I assume
>>> 2/3 TB per drive for Windows XP and higher?
>
>> There are plenty of NAS systems around now that do that total
>> capacity fine.
>
> Are they portable and light to travel with?

No, significantly worse than normal external housings;.

Not clear if you actually need the whole 6TB in the one box or whether
a couple of 3TB boxes would do. There arent too many external boxes
that can do 6TB with all the 3 common interface protocols, USB2, USB3
and esata.

[Gerald Abrahamson]

On Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:16:27 -0600, ANT...@zimage.com (Ant)
wrote:

>> 4TB GoFlex/USB3 (with USB3) card from CDW:
>
>> http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/FreeAgent-GoFlex-Desk-Kit-hard-drive-4-TB-SuperSpeed-USB-3.0/2501675.aspx
>
>Oh wow, they finally 4 TB. I remember they were stuck with 2 and 3 TB.
>:)

They have been out for well over 6-9 months. However, they
have never (as yet) been offered as bare drives. They fell
to $199 (the 4TB GoFlex) for one week at MicroCenter before
the floods, then popped back to normal pricing. So, I would
say it is just a matter of time now before the drives start
hitting the market in volume. I would not be surprised if
drives under 1TB were eliminated as 1TB seems to be the new
low-cost entry point.

[Ant]

On 1/26/2012 1:04 PM PT, Rod Speed typed:

>>>> Last year, I ordered and used "Vantec CB-ISATAU2 SATA/IDE to USB 2.0
>>>> Adapter Supports 2.5-Inch, 3.5-Inch, 5.25-Inch Hard Disk Drives"
>>>> from Amazon:
>>>> http://amazon.com/gp/product/B000J01I1G/ref=oh_o00_s00_i00_details
>>>> ... It worked well for HDDs I used to connect to computers with
>>>> their
>>>> USB ports. However, USB is slow due to USB2 speed.
>>
>>> Yeah, USB2 is surprisingly slow when you are used to SATA speeds.
>>
>> Yeah especially when dealing with many TB of datas.
>>
>>
>>>> Is there another one that can handle USB3, Firewire, ESATA, etc.
>>>> on the computers' external ports to be faster?
>>
>>> Yep, plenty of them support esata as well as USB2 and and some do
>>> support USB3 now. Both arent anything like as common on the computer
>>> tho.
>>
>> Yeah, but it would be nice to have if they do!
>>
>>
>>>> Also, what good big brands and models of HDDs to buy these days
>>>> for external purposes without buying external HDDs and enclosures.
>>
>>> Dunno, dont bother with that route myself.
>>
>>>> I will need over six TB of storage so I assume
>>>> 2/3 TB per drive for Windows XP and higher?
>>
>>> There are plenty of NAS systems around now that do that total
>>> capacity fine.
>>
>> Are they portable and light to travel with?
>
> No, significantly worse than normal external housings;.

Darn.

> Not clear if you actually need the whole 6TB in the one box or whether
> a couple of 3TB boxes would do. There arent too many external boxes
> that can do 6TB with all the 3 common interface protocols, USB2, USB3
> and esata.

I don't need in one item. Multiple drives are fine hence I was thinking
of just buying regular internal HDDs, without enclosures, and one of
those multi-connector type adapters and cables (USB+SATA+PATA/IDE and
USB3+ESATA+Firewire).
--
"The foreign policy aim of ants can be summed up as follows: restless
aggression, territorial conquest, and genocidal annihilation of
neighboring colonies whenever possible. If ants had nuclear weapons,
they would probably end the world in a week." --Journey to the Ants,
page 59. Bert Holldobler & Edward O. Wilson
/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)

/ /\ /\ \ Ant's Quality Foraged Links: http://aqfl.net
| |o o| |

\ _ / If crediting, then use Ant nickname and AQFL URL/link.
( ) If e-mailing, then axe ANT from its address if needed.
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on this computer.

[Ant]

On 1/27/2012 7:23 AM PT, Gerald Abrahamson typed:

Ah, but are these new 4 TB sized drives reliable? Any issues?
--
"Ants never lend, ants never borrow." --unknown
/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)

/ /\ /\ \ Ant's Quality Foraged Links: http://aqfl.net
| |o o| |

[Arno]

In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage Ant <a...@zimage.comant> wrote:
> On 1/27/2012 7:23 AM PT, Gerald Abrahamson typed:

>>>> 4TB GoFlex/USB3 (with USB3) card from CDW:
>>>
>>>> http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/FreeAgent-GoFlex-Desk-Kit-hard-drive-4-TB-SuperSpeed-USB-3.0/2501675.aspx
>>>
>>> Oh wow, they finally 4 TB. I remember they were stuck with 2 and 3 TB.
>>> :)
>>
>> They have been out for well over 6-9 months. However, they
>> have never (as yet) been offered as bare drives. They fell
>> to $199 (the 4TB GoFlex) for one week at MicroCenter before
>> the floods, then popped back to normal pricing. So, I would
>> say it is just a matter of time now before the drives start
>> hitting the market in volume. I would not be surprised if
>> drives under 1TB were eliminated as 1TB seems to be the new
>> low-cost entry point.

> Ah, but are these new 4 TB sized drives reliable? Any issues?

Nobody knows at this time. Give it at least a year.

[Rod Speed]

Ant wrote
> Rod Speed wrote

I do that myself, except I use docking stations rather than those connector systems.

Rather more convenient mechanically in use.

You do have to be more careful with bare drives, you
wouldnt want to be someone who routinely drops stuff.

[Ant]

On 1/29/2012 9:35 AM PT, Arno typed:

>>>>> 4TB GoFlex/USB3 (with USB3) card from CDW:
>>>>
>>>>> http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/FreeAgent-GoFlex-Desk-Kit-hard-drive-4-TB-SuperSpeed-USB-3.0/2501675.aspx
>>>>
>>>> Oh wow, they finally 4 TB. I remember they were stuck with 2 and 3 TB.
>>>> :)
>>>
>>> They have been out for well over 6-9 months. However, they
>>> have never (as yet) been offered as bare drives. They fell
>>> to $199 (the 4TB GoFlex) for one week at MicroCenter before
>>> the floods, then popped back to normal pricing. So, I would
>>> say it is just a matter of time now before the drives start
>>> hitting the market in volume. I would not be surprised if
>>> drives under 1TB were eliminated as 1TB seems to be the new
>>> low-cost entry point.
>
>> Ah, but are these new 4 TB sized drives reliable? Any issues?
>
> Nobody knows at this time. Give it at least a year.

Thanks. I think I will avoid them for now. Can old computers even handle
4 TB sizes?
--
"It was not until the ant and Veig had passed each other that Niall
realized that he had been reading the ant's mind. It was a sensation
like actually being the ant, as if he had momentarily taken possession
of its body. And while he had been inside the ant's body, he had also
become aware of all the other ants in the nest. It was a bewildering
feeling, as if his mind had shattered into thousands of fragments, yet
each fragment remained a coherent part of the whole." --Colin Wilson,
Spider World: The Desert (1987), p. 57

/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
/ /\ /\ \ Ant's Quality Foraged Links: http://aqfl.net
| |o o| |
\ _ / If crediting, then use Ant nickname and AQFL URL/link.
( ) If e-mailing, then axe ANT from its address if needed.

A song is/was playing on this computer: RelaxationDJ - -!Untitled!- (ID:
468432)

[Ant]

On 1/29/2012 10:58 AM PT, Rod Speed typed:

Do those connectors have multiple cable types and plugs? Maybe I will
try one of those.

> Rather more convenient mechanically in use.
>
> You do have to be more careful with bare drives, you
> wouldnt want to be someone who routinely drops stuff.

True, but same with external HDDs. ;)

--
"It was not until the ant and Veig had passed each other that Niall
realized that he had been reading the ant's mind. It was a sensation
like actually being the ant, as if he had momentarily taken possession
of its body. And while he had been inside the ant's body, he had also
become aware of all the other ants in the nest. It was a bewildering
feeling, as if his mind had shattered into thousands of fragments, yet
each fragment remained a coherent part of the whole." --Colin Wilson,
Spider World: The Desert (1987), p. 57

/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
/ /\ /\ \ Ant's Quality Foraged Links: http://aqfl.net
| |o o| |
\ _ / If crediting, then use Ant nickname and AQFL URL/link.
( ) If e-mailing, then axe ANT from its address if needed.

[Rod Speed]

Ant wrote
> Arno wrote

>>>>>> 4TB GoFlex/USB3 (with USB3) card from CDW:

>>>>>> http://www.cdw.com/shop/products/FreeAgent-GoFlex-Desk-Kit-hard-drive-4-TB-SuperSpeed-USB-3.0/2501675.aspx

>>>>> Oh wow, they finally 4 TB. I remember they were stuck with 2 and 3 TB. :)

>>>> They have been out for well over 6-9 months. However, they
>>>> have never (as yet) been offered as bare drives. They fell
>>>> to $199 (the 4TB GoFlex) for one week at MicroCenter before
>>>> the floods, then popped back to normal pricing. So, I would
>>>> say it is just a matter of time now before the drives start
>>>> hitting the market in volume. I would not be surprised if
>>>> drives under 1TB were eliminated as 1TB seems to be the new
>>>> low-cost entry point.

>>> Ah, but are these new 4 TB sized drives reliable? Any issues?

>> Nobody knows at this time. Give it at least a year.

> Thanks. I think I will avoid them for now. Can old computers even handle 4 TB sizes?

Depends on how you use them, they are fine when you use a USB2 or USB3 connection to them.

Corse plenty of old computers cant do either of those, and USB1 is a tad slow for something that big.

Corse plenty of old computers cant handle 3TB drives either.

Those are just now sometime about the same $/GB as 2TB drives now due to the floods in Thailand.

[Rod Speed]

Ant wrote
> Rod Speed wrote

Presumably you meant docking stations.

Yes, some do. Not as common to see both estata and USB3 tho, presumably
because the speeds are similar and due to a lack of chipsets that do both.

> Maybe I will try one of those.

>> Rather more convenient mechanically in use.

>> You do have to be more careful with bare drives, you
>> wouldnt want to be someone who routinely drops stuff.

> True, but same with external HDDs. ;)

Those are a bit more tolerant of that if they are designed properly.

And you cant careless damage the logic card like you can with a bare drive.

[Ant]

On 1/29/2012 1:16 PM PT, Rod Speed typed:

>> Thanks. I think I will avoid them for now. Can old computers even handle 4 TB sizes?
>
> Depends on how you use them, they are fine when you use a USB2 or USB3 connection to them.
>
> Corse plenty of old computers cant do either of those, and USB1 is a tad slow for something that big.
>
> Corse plenty of old computers cant handle 3TB drives either.
>
> Those are just now sometime about the same $/GB as 2TB drives now due to the floods in Thailand.

Hence the diffferent cable and port options idea. I was referring to
problems/issues with BIOS handling 4 TB sizes. Do I still need to worry
about those?
--
"Whence we see spiders, flies, or ants entombed and preserved forever in
amber, a more than royal tomb." --Sir Francis Bacon in Historia Vitæ et
Mortis; Sylva Sylvarum, Cent. i. Exper. 100.

/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
/ /\ /\ \ Ant's Quality Foraged Links: http://aqfl.net
| |o o| |
\ _ / If crediting, then use Ant nickname and AQFL URL/link.
( ) If e-mailing, then axe ANT from its address if needed.

[Ant]

On 1/29/2012 1:20 PM PT, Rod Speed typed:

>>>> I don't need in one item. Multiple drives are fine hence I was
>>>> thinking of just buying regular internal HDDs, without enclosures,
>>>> and one of those multi-connector type adapters and cables
>>>> (USB+SATA+PATA/IDE and USB3+ESATA+Firewire).
>
>>> I do that myself, except I use docking stations rather than those connector systems.
>
>> Do those connectors have multiple cable types and plugs?
>
> Presumably you meant docking stations.

Yes.

> Yes, some do. Not as common to see both estata and USB3 tho, presumably
> because the speeds are similar and due to a lack of chipsets that do both.

Ah. Any ideas on who makes them (models too)? Hmm, lack of chipsets, I
guess I will need to buy multiple docking stations/adapters and cables. :(

>> Maybe I will try one of those.
>
>>> Rather more convenient mechanically in use.
>
>>> You do have to be more careful with bare drives, you
>>> wouldnt want to be someone who routinely drops stuff.
>
>> True, but same with external HDDs. ;)
>
> Those are a bit more tolerant of that if they are designed properly.
>
> And you cant careless damage the logic card like you can with a bare drive.

Are you referring to the circuit board under the HDD?
--
"I don't know how good ants are at swimmin', but I'd be willing to bet
that a good fire'd get their attention." --MacGyver in Trumbo's World
episode

/\___/\ Ant(Dude) @ http://antfarm.ma.cx (Personal Web Site)
/ /\ /\ \ Ant's Quality Foraged Links: http://aqfl.net
| |o o| |
\ _ / If crediting, then use Ant nickname and AQFL URL/link.
( ) If e-mailing, then axe ANT from its address if needed.

[Rod Speed]

Ant wrote
> Rod Speed wrote

>>> Thanks. I think I will avoid them for now. Can old computers even
>>> handle 4 TB sizes?

>> Depends on how you use them, they are fine when you use a USB2 or
>> USB3 connection to them.

>> Corse plenty of old computers cant do either of those, and USB1 is a
>> tad slow for something that big.

>> Corse plenty of old computers cant handle 3TB drives either.

>> Those are just now sometime about the same $/GB as 2TB drives now
>> due to the floods in Thailand.

> Hence the diffferent cable and port options idea. I was referring to
> problems/issues with BIOS handling 4 TB sizes. Do I still need to
> worry about those?

Not with external drives with a USB connection to them.

You do need to be careful with what you use to provide the USB connection
to the computer, plenty of those cant handle 3TB and 4TB drives.

[Rod Speed]

Ant wrote
> Rod Speed wrote

>>>>> I don't need in one item. Multiple drives are fine hence I was
>>>>> thinking of just buying regular internal HDDs, without enclosures,
>>>>> and one of those multi-connector type adapters and cables
>>>>> (USB+SATA+PATA/IDE and USB3+ESATA+Firewire).

>>>> I do that myself, except I use docking stations rather than those connector systems.

>>> Do those connectors have multiple cable types and plugs?

>> Presumably you meant docking stations.

> Yes.

>> Yes, some do. Not as common to see both estata and USB3 tho,
>> presumably because the speeds are similar and due to a lack of
>> chipsets that do both.

> Ah. Any ideas on who makes them (models too)?

I use the generic chinese devices and get them via ebay.

> Hmm, lack of chipsets, I guess I will need to buy multiple docking stations/adapters and cables. :(

Presumably thats a joke given the smirk.

>>> Maybe I will try one of those.

>>>> Rather more convenient mechanically in use.

>>>> You do have to be more careful with bare drives, you
>>>> wouldnt want to be someone who routinely drops stuff.

>>> True, but same with external HDDs. ;)

>> Those are a bit more tolerant of that if they are designed properly.

>> And you cant careless damage the logic card like you can with a bare drive.

> Are you referring to the circuit board under the HDD?

Yep.

[Ant]

On 1/29/2012 3:38 PM PT, Rod Speed typed:

> Ant wrote
>> Rod Speed wrote
>
>>>>>> I don't need in one item. Multiple drives are fine hence I was
>>>>>> thinking of just buying regular internal HDDs, without enclosures,
>>>>>> and one of those multi-connector type adapters and cables
>>>>>> (USB+SATA+PATA/IDE and USB3+ESATA+Firewire).
>
>>>>> I do that myself, except I use docking stations rather than those connector systems.
>
>>>> Do those connectors have multiple cable types and plugs?
>
>>> Presumably you meant docking stations.
>
>> Yes.
>
>>> Yes, some do. Not as common to see both estata and USB3 tho,
>>> presumably because the speeds are similar and due to a lack of
>>> chipsets that do both.
>
>> Ah. Any ideas on who makes them (models too)?
>
> I use the generic chinese devices and get them via ebay.

Ah, cheap ones. :)

>> Hmm, lack of chipsets, I guess I will need to buy multiple docking stations/adapters and cables. :(
>
> Presumably thats a joke given the smirk.

I wasn't joking.

>>>> Maybe I will try one of those.
>
>>>>> Rather more convenient mechanically in use.
>
>>>>> You do have to be more careful with bare drives, you
>>>>> wouldnt want to be someone who routinely drops stuff.
>
>>>> True, but same with external HDDs. ;)
>
>>> Those are a bit more tolerant of that if they are designed properly.
>
>>> And you cant careless damage the logic card like you can with a bare drive.
>
>> Are you referring to the circuit board under the HDD?
>
> Yep.

OK.
--
"A centipede is an ant made to Canadian/government specs." --unknown

[Ant]

On 1/29/2012 3:35 PM PT, Rod Speed typed:

Are you talking about the power? I noticed these cable and adapters have
power AC bricks. That should be enough?
--
"It is not enough to be busy, so are the ants. The question is: what are
we busy about?" --Henry David Thoreau

[Rod Speed]

Ant wrote
> Rod Speed wrote
>> Ant wrote
>>> Rod Speed wrote

>>>>>>> I don't need in one item. Multiple drives are fine hence I was
>>>>>>> thinking of just buying regular internal HDDs, without
>>>>>>> enclosures, and one of those multi-connector type adapters and
>>>>>>> cables (USB+SATA+PATA/IDE and USB3+ESATA+Firewire).

>>>>>> I do that myself, except I use docking stations rather than
>>>>>> those connector systems.

>>>>> Do those connectors have multiple cable types and plugs?

>>>> Presumably you meant docking stations.

>>> Yes.

>>>> Yes, some do. Not as common to see both estata and USB3 tho,
>>>> presumably because the speeds are similar and due to a lack of
>>>> chipsets that do both.

>>> Ah. Any ideas on who makes them (models too)?

>> I use the generic chinese devices and get them via ebay.

> Ah, cheap ones. :)

Yep.

>>> Hmm, lack of chipsets, I guess I will need to buy multiple docking stations/adapters and cables. :(

>> Presumably thats a joke given the smirk.

> I wasn't joking.

OK, I just meant that the reason you dont see a huge number
with both USB3 and esata capability is presumably because
most of the chipsets used to do USB3 dont do esata as well.

There are very few if any that only do esata, they always do USB2
if they will do esata, so you dont need multiple docking stations
yourself unless you cant find one that does USB3 and esata.

[Rod Speed]

Ant wrote
> Rod Speed wrote

>>>>> Thanks. I think I will avoid them for now. Can old computers even handle 4 TB sizes?

>>>> Depends on how you use them, they are fine when you use a USB2 or
>>>> USB3 connection to them.

>>>> Corse plenty of old computers cant do either of those, and USB1 is
>>>> a tad slow for something that big.

>>>> Corse plenty of old computers cant handle 3TB drives either.

>>>> Those are just now sometime about the same $/GB as 2TB drives now
>>>> due to the floods in Thailand.

>>> Hence the diffferent cable and port options idea. I was referring to
>>> problems/issues with BIOS handling 4 TB sizes. Do I still need to
>>> worry about those?

>> Not with external drives with a USB connection to them.

>> You do need to be careful with what you use to provide the USB connection to the computer, plenty of those cant
>> handle 3TB and 4TB drives.

> Are you talking about the power?

Nope, they just dont work with 3TB and 4TB drives, mostly because those
drives normally have 4096 byte sectors and cant pretend to have normal sectors.

> I noticed these cable and adapters have power AC bricks.

Yeah, so do the docking stations.

> That should be enough?

Fraid not.

[Ant]

On 1/29/2012 7:27 PM PT, Rod Speed typed:

>>> You do need to be careful with what you use to provide the USB connection to the computer, plenty of those cant
>>> handle 3TB and 4TB drives.
>
>> Are you talking about the power?
>
> Nope, they just dont work with 3TB and 4TB drives, mostly because those
> drives normally have 4096 byte sectors and cant pretend to have normal sectors.

Ah, I better stick with 2 TB size then.
--
"Remember when walking down the road of life, always stop and squish the
ants." --Albian in Creatures game