Backups - USB to eSATA Adapter

[jamesejr7]

I was wondering if you guys think its necessary or better to have one of these... http://www.addonics.com/products/io/aau2esa.asp for high speed transfers when making a backup of documents/video/pictures, etc. on-site. I was looking into getting another external hard drive (500GB) and there are so many brands and I found one that supports eSATA so I'm curious if any of you use eSATA to make transfers and if it makes a big difference between USB 2.0

If you guys recommend any specific external drive please let me know, thanks!

James

[generalj]

eSATA does make a big difference but using the adapter you will still only be at USB speed.

So if you have an actual eSATA drive with an eSATA port on the computer then you get the benefit. If you have to use the adapter to usb then you only get the usb speed.

Its not a bad investment though if say your computer at home you put in a eSATA pci or pci express card you can use the full eSATA speed there then have the adapter for when you need to use it on a computer that does not have and eSATA adapater.

Also external drives that have both usb adn eSATA tend to be not as fast as one with just eSATA port because those drives with usb adn eSATA use a single board inside it doing both usb and eSATA so the performance is not as good as a dedicated eSATA drive.

[NYJimbo]

generalj is right, the fastest you will do is their USB port so its likely going with a usb 2.0 drive is probably the best.

I have several of these:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822204077

dirt cheap, easy to store and 500gb, damn.

[purple_minion]

I have been doing some research and once I get a little money I am going to buy one of these.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817182122
It has USB, Firewire 800 and eSATA so I am covered on all accounts. If the client has faster ports why not use them? I was teetering between that and one of these that have fans, but only usb and esata.
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817173043
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817173042
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817173040

All have good reviews and the black Rosewill is on sale for $25. Might have to jump on that. And for personal use I have a Thermaltake of this model, only usb but I will buy one of these.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16817392025

USB, Firewire 400, and esata. Easy to pull the drive and pop in a static bag. I just setup a quiet 120mm fan to blow at it just to be safe.

On a slightly different note, would finding a simple raid enclosure benifit doing onsite backup's, just to be safe kind of thing? Perhaps better for business's but curious on opinions. Then you could have a sudden drive failure and still be covered.

[mh348]

Why don't you get a Seagate FreeAgent Go. It's available in 500GB, 3.5", the 3.5" will require an external power source (which comes with the Drive). or you can go for the 2.5" which is usb powered.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Produc...82E16822148235

[jamesejr7]

Thank you guys for the great responses, ill check out some of those drives listed from newegg

[Crgky127]

If you have an internal you're not using, check out this
http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=77150

When a WD MyBook stopped working, I emailed them asking where to buy a replacement controller card (the drive itself was fine). They flipped me off, so I got the above enclosure and was pleasantly surprised. The cooling is better than most external drives. When I saw the eSata, I thought 'hmm I can't use it right now, but it may be useful for the future'. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they supply an expansion slot for eSata, so I use that when at my file server, and USB at customers PCs (haven't run into one with eSata yet), and it is definitely noticeably faster.

[jamesejr7]

Originally Posted by Crgky127

If you have an internal you're not using, check out this
http://www.antec.com/us/productDetails.php?ProdID=77150

When a WD MyBook stopped working, I emailed them asking where to buy a replacement controller card (the drive itself was fine). They flipped me off, so I got the above enclosure and was pleasantly surprised. The cooling is better than most external drives. When I saw the eSata, I thought 'hmm I can't use it right now, but it may be useful for the future'. I was pleasantly surprised to find that they supply an expansion slot for eSata, so I use that when at my file server, and USB at customers PCs (haven't run into one with eSata yet), and it is definitely noticeably faster.

Wow, thats pretty cool. Never heard of such a thing before.