Hard Drive Questions--external vs. internal w/kit...

[stevietheb]

Hello All...

Now that I'm actually doing some FCP editing with my iBook, (as opposed to doing it all with nice (though quickly becoming outdated) system at work), I figure it's time to invest in a proper scratch disk.

I don't need crazy amounts of storage, I'm looking in the 160-250GB range. My upper limit (budget-wise) is $250. I've been looking at either buying a pure external (preferably with both FireWire AND USB 2.0) or buying an internal and one of those kits that allows you to use an internal drive as external. It seems to me that the kit option might be cheaper in the long run, since internals are cheaper, and I would be able to buy another internal drive at a later date--were this one to become crappy/obsolete.

Here's my major question. When I look at the specs on these drives, the typical data transfer rate for the internals seems to fall in the range of 100-150 MBps, whereas the rates for the externals typically fall into the 400 MBps range. I was wondering if this is true? If using an external drive does actually give you faster transfer rates. If so, why? Are the drives built differently?

Thanks!

 

[FuzzyBallz]

Here's the fact. The "pure" external HD is nothing more than an internal HD w/ a fancy case and bigger sticker price. The typical external HD uses 7200 rpm IDE HD w/ a max transfer rate of 66MB/sec if you're lucky. Slapping a Firewire 800 or USB 2.0 interface to a IDE HD won't increase the speed, but it does sound nice. NOTHING goes to 150MB/sec, not even internal SCSI RAID. I'd get a Hitachi/IBM internal HD and a USB 2.0 enclosure for the best performance/price ratio.

 

[musicpyrite]

I'd get a Hitachi/IBM internal HD and a USB 2.0 enclosure for the best performance/price ratio.

Where exactly would you get one of these external enclosures you speak of? I'm in need of a new HD too,
so...much...music...

 

[stoid]

I bought a LaCie 'designed by Porsche' 250GB drive for about $230 and it is small quiet and fast. At the time, I could not find any internal drive and enclosure that came close.

 

[JOD8FY]

Where exactly would you get one of these external enclosures you speak of? I'm in need of a new HD too,
so...much...music...

Go to www.newegg.com and do a search for them. I bought one from there and installed my 200GB 7200 RPM HD into a USB 2.0 enclosure with ease.

Best wishes,
JOD8FY

EDIT: Forgot to mention that you don't need to buy an enclosure online, they sell them at computer stores like CompUSA also. It's just that online, they're cheaper.