I'm sure this has been asked 1000 times but I'm Looking for external drive

Ant2369 · Dec 10, 2012, 10:15 AM

Hello all. I'm looking for an external USB 3.0 drive for my new iMac. I've pretty much narrowed it down to the 2 below. From what I've read the Seagate is slightly faster. I'm looking for opinions on each. Looking for speed as ill be transferring pictures and encoded home movies plus some large MKV files from backups. I was hoping for something with a 7200rpm drive. I linked to best buy cause I have a $75 gift card so I'd love to,apply it to the purchase I was originally looking at a 1 or 2tb drive but the card lets me look at the 3tb now. I'm open to suggestions obv on other drives if they're faster and have only 1-2tb. Thanks

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Seagate+...&skuId=5597959

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/WD+-+My+...&skuId=1261281

bokdol · Dec 10, 2012, 10:33 AM

the only advice i can give you is dont buy seagate.

only by my personal experience, i have had the most hard drive failures through them.

Spink10 · Dec 10, 2012, 10:42 AM

Doesn't really matter - all hard drive can fail. They have similar reviews.

Designer Dale · Dec 10, 2012, 10:55 AM

I have a MyBook Studio FireWire version and it's a good paperweight. The drive failed to recognize TimeMachine about a year ago and I gave up on fixing it. I use a WD Cavier Black in a Thermalake dock for my backup. It runs at full sata 2 speed over esata on my MBP.

Dale

revdlc · Dec 10, 2012, 02:49 PM

I recently got that 3TB Seagate drive (on sale now at Costco for $119.99) and a 2TB WD drive I've used as a Time Machine for a couple of years. Both are working well, but I recommend the Seagate attached to their Thunderbolt adapter; Time machine backups are way faster. And while I know I could reformat the WD drive and delete it, there's a second partition with Utilities on it that mounts when that drive is plugged in. The Seagate drive and adapter are, I think, the least expensive route into the blazing high speed of Thunderbolt, and I'm also able to use the adapter with a couple of old internal drives with no cases... Spink10 is right--all drives fail, and I've had as good luck with Seagate as with any. Just keep multiple backups, including off site, and you'll be fine.

carestudio · Dec 14, 2012, 06:00 PM

I suggest you take a look at Caldigit AV Drive 3TB.
It has both USB3 and FireWire ports. Speed looks much better than others.

and they are running promotion for only 249 dollars
http://www.caldigit.com/store.asp

Dec 10, 2012, 10:15 AM	#1
Ant2369 macrumors newbie Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: Connecticut	I'm sure this has been asked 1000 times but I'm Looking for external drive Hello all. I'm looking for an external USB 3.0 drive for my new iMac. I've pretty much narrowed it down to the 2 below. From what I've read the Seagate is slightly faster. I'm looking for opinions on each. Looking for speed as ill be transferring pictures and encoded home movies plus some large MKV files from backups. I was hoping for something with a 7200rpm drive. I linked to best buy cause I have a $75 gift card so I'd love to,apply it to the purchase I was originally looking at a 1 or 2tb drive but the card lets me look at the 3tb now. I'm open to suggestions obv on other drives if they're faster and have only 1-2tb. Thanks http://www.bestbuy.com/site/Seagate+...&skuId=5597959 http://www.bestbuy.com/site/WD+-+My+...&skuId=1261281
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Dec 10, 2012, 10:33 AM	#2
bokdol macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: VA	the only advice i can give you is dont buy seagate. only by my personal experience, i have had the most hard drive failures through them. __________________ "NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO" - Darth Vader
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Dec 10, 2012, 10:55 AM	#4
Designer Dale macrumors Demi-God Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Folding space	I have a MyBook Studio FireWire version and it's a good paperweight. The drive failed to recognize TimeMachine about a year ago and I gave up on fixing it. I use a WD Cavier Black in a Thermalake dock for my backup. It runs at full sata 2 speed over esata on my MBP. Dale __________________ How to Post, Quote and Multi-Quote Photos - My Google Docs Folder 12/2011 I'm out of my mind, but feel free to leave a message.
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Dec 10, 2012, 10:42 AM	#3
Spink10 macrumors 68020 Join Date: Nov 2011	Doesn't really matter - all hard drive can fail. They have similar reviews.
	2

Dec 10, 2012, 02:49 PM	#5
revdlc macrumors newbie Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Washington State	I recently got that 3TB Seagate drive (on sale now at Costco for $119.99) and a 2TB WD drive I've used as a Time Machine for a couple of years. Both are working well, but I recommend the Seagate attached to their Thunderbolt adapter; Time machine backups are way faster. And while I know I could reformat the WD drive and delete it, there's a second partition with Utilities on it that mounts when that drive is plugged in. The Seagate drive and adapter are, I think, the least expensive route into the blazing high speed of Thunderbolt, and I'm also able to use the adapter with a couple of old internal drives with no cases... Spink10 is right--all drives fail, and I've had as good luck with Seagate as with any. Just keep multiple backups, including off site, and you'll be fine.
	0

Dec 14, 2012, 06:00 PM	#6
carestudio macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2008	I suggest you take a look at Caldigit AV Drive 3TB. It has both USB3 and FireWire ports. Speed looks much better than others. and they are running promotion for only 249 dollars http://www.caldigit.com/store.asp
	0