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Help me build an external FW drive

M

mac000

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Is there a way i can build a 500GB drive that looks/acts like the G-Tech G-Drive for about $250?

I would need a HITACHI internal harddrive and a FW800 enclosure. I'm not sure where to start so I'm asking for some advice. Thanks
 
MovieCutter said:
Hard Drive = $170

G5/G-Technology-style enclosure = $85

Why do you NEED a Hitachi? Seagate has a longer warranty and is generally quieter.
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i dont need a Hitachi, i just assumed G-Tech uses Hitachi in all their enclosures because they are better, hence their premium price

I was also trying to stay away from Seagate because I have this one external HD (Seagate) but it won't mount to my setup (MBP+external monitor). no matter what USB port i try (4 on monitor) 2 on MBP the drive won't mount. I just think its shot or something, I used it about a month ago on an intel imac and a macbook.
 
Good quality enclosures are not cheap. The chipset quality is important so, if you want to built a good quality external HD (using a reputable HD), you'll end up saving $20 to $30, it's just not worth it, believe me. Get one from OWC. The Mercury Elite Pro FW 400/800, 500GB, costs $269.99.
The unit is covered by a 2 year warranty + 3 year warranty for the HD (total of 5 years for the HD). They use Seagate HDs, wich are great, check it out:

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/800/
 
mac000 said:
i dont need a Hitachi, i just assumed G-Tech uses Hitachi in all their enclosures because they are better, hence their premium price
Click to expand...

The premium is for the nice-looking enclosure, not the hard drive.

mac000 said:
I was also trying to stay away from Seagate because I have this one external HD (Seagate) but it won't mount to my setup (MBP+external monitor). no matter what USB port i try (4 on monitor) 2 on MBP the drive won't mount. I just think its shot or something, I used it about a month ago on an intel imac and a macbook.
Click to expand...

More than likely it's the USB enclosure, not the hard drive. I once had a USB hard drive do that to me. I just took it apart, plugged the drive in another enclosure, got it to work, and then the really weird part is I put back in the old enclosure and it's worked there ever since... very odd...

If it is the hard drive, just go onto Seagate's site and RMA it. It costs you like $7 to send it back to Seagate and they send you a replacement.

As for which hard drive to use, do some research and put the quietest hard drive in it (probably seagate).
 
mac000 said:
I was also trying to stay away from Seagate because I have this one external HD (Seagate) but it won't mount to my setup (MBP+external monitor). no matter what USB port i try (4 on monitor) 2 on MBP the drive won't mount. I just think its shot or something, I used it about a month ago on an intel imac and a macbook.
Click to expand...

It's most definitely your enclosure. Seagate makes the best drives out there.
 
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