Recomend an external HDD that sleeps with the iMac.

[Stitch]

I am looking for an external HDD that will spin down and go to sleep when the iMac does. I currently have a USB powered one that does not do this, and keeps me awake.

I want to use it for Time machine, so it'll need to be a 3.5inch and therefore mains powered unit.

Can you get drives that do this, or does their power just stay on until you flip their respective power switches?

I have heard that buffalo drives will dim their lights when they sleep, does this mean they will sleep when the iMac does?

 

[edesignuk]

Western Digital MyBook drives do this. I have a 500GB MyBook, works nicely with my iMac and sleeps when the iMac sleeps.

 

[GoCubsGo]

Western Digital MyBook drives do this. I have a 500GB MyBook, works nicely with my iMac and sleeps when the iMac sleeps.

+1 on that. I have a MyBook pro that will sleep, although I actually do power it down and such. For purposes of automated scripts and such I would indeed allow it to sleep if need be.

 

[dborja]

I have a Maxtor Basics 320GB and an Iomega Silver Edition 500GB (available at the Apple online store) that both sleep with my iMac.

 

[Stitch]

Does it matter if they are usb or firewire?

 

[edesignuk]

No idea. For whatever it's worth, mine is USB.

 

[blodwyn]

Does it matter if they are usb or firewire?

Nope, it doesn't matter. The MyBooks all sleep, as do the Seagate FreeAgents.

 

[odinsride]

OWC Mercury Elite's will sleep

 

[Diatribe]

Am I the only one that finds the thread title naughty?

 

[admiraldennis]

Do you have "put the hard drive(s) to sleep whenever possible" enabled in the Energy Saver system preference?

 

[Ultem]

My LaCie Big Disk Extreme has a sleep function, when my macbook is switched off, the drive is also switched off (sleep mode).

 

[Stitch]

Am I the only one that finds the thread title naughty?

hehe I did when writing it

Anyone used Macxtor one touch 4? I can get a 500GB one for £70 from pixmania

 

[computerman-8]

I am looking for an external HDD that will spin down and go to sleep when the iMac does. I currently have a USB powered one that does not do this, and keeps me awake.

I want to use it for Time machine, so it'll need to be a 3.5inch and therefore mains powered unit.

Can you get drives that do this, or does their power just stay on until you flip their respective power switches?

I have heard that buffalo drives will dim their lights when they sleep, does this mean they will sleep when the iMac does?

I got the Vantec NexStar GX NST-370GX and it sleeps when I shutdown my MacBook Pro. It also has a Heat Sync and Automatic Fan control, plus 3 additional USB ports, and its the same size as AirPort Extreme. It's perfect for me.

 

[gr8phan]

Does anybody know if I can make a Newertech Guardian Maximus sleep with my mini G4? The drives spin down, but I'm not sure if it is actually 'asleep'.