hi folks... i'm kinda in a dilemma here....

i'm thinking of getting myself an external HDD cause i'm seriously running out of space and i need to back up my stuff, especially important work related stuff. however, i'm torn between getting a 2.5" or a 3.5"... i currently have a 2.5" (can't remember what's the brand and i'm too lazy to open the casing) which has crashed on me twice and freaking the living daylights outta me cause all my backed up stuff was in there....

here's the comparison for now....

2.5":
- smaller, more portable
- USB is enough to power up the HDD


3.5":
- cheaper than 2.5" in terms of price for storage
- bigger, way bulkier than a 2.5"
- needs an external power source

HELP!

Go for 3.5 Hard Disk.Because you only want to backup your data.2.5 HD is more for portable purpose.

ya. 3.5 is better for backing up data. I planning to get one too.

2.5":
- smaller, more portable
- USB is enough to power up the HDD


3.5":
- cheaper than 2.5" in terms of price for storage
- bigger, way bulkier than a 2.5"
- needs an external power source

my choice will be the 2.5"....
my reason as colored....
my 3.5" fried due to short circuit...
so using maxtor 4 touch mini now...
and edy backed all my data up for prev months...

Are you using a PC or laptop ?

If you're using PC, just get the 3.5" since you're not going anywhere. Plus, you can take out the HDD and use it as internal if you want to.

If you're using a laptop and quite often go around here and there, library, cafe, starbucks, 2.5" is better. If you're using a laptop and does not move around that often, maybe once in a while like sem break or something, then 3.5" is nice.

IMHO, i would get 2.5", even js backup data, but 2.5" is a lot easy to handle somemore no need extenal power...

For bak a lot of file i'm using 3.5" - MyBook home,studio edition is great coz have auto off feature along with your pc

but if i on mobile i just use my thumbdrive

3.5" hdd is cheaper lor

but 1 external hdd is never enough. you'll need at least another as backup

anyway, the MOST important files should always be saved online.

i save my very important stuff in google docs and gmail drafts.

my apprehension when it comes to the 2.5" is because i own a 120GB now and it has crashed one me TWICE already... lost all the stuff inside. thank God for getbackforntfs!

my apprehension when it comes to the 3.5" is because my friend has already gone through 2 of those in a span of 5 years....

perhaps i should also be asking how long have you guys been using your HDDs? and which HDD would typically last longer...

i've work in a cybercafe for 4 years in subang from 1997-2002, managing 60 PCs or so
the most jalat harddisk, always rosak is Quantum and Maxtor


so, in my personal experience, these are my choices

1) Western Digital
2) Seagate
3) Quantum
4) Maxtor

i dunno if quantum exists anymore. but now i only buy WD with 3 year warranty.

IMHO, I would recommend getting the 3.5" external. Had many of these working for years..

The #1 problems with USB-powered 2.5" external is often USB not enough power. You may experience different problems when connecting to different machines... That's because not all USB ports are made equal (ie. usually USB power on every machine is different). Some may work wonderfully with your external HDD... while others you may get problems like...

- problems recognizing the drive (unknown USB storage device),
- problem mounting the drive (can see drive but can't access)
- sudden self-disconnections (external HDD suddenly disappear, and sometimes re-appear again)
- "delayed write failures" (errors when copying/moving files from/to external HDD)

Anyway, this is speaking from experience... I have one of those 2.5" "lemons" too, now collecting dust, too unreliable to use...

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Added on June 27, 2008, 1:34 pmLong time ago, I knew Maxtor had issues and highlighted them (for example the "N40P", firmware corruption, etc).

Quantum is no more, bought over by Maxtor... Then Maxtor is no more, bought over by Seagate already.

Seagate has 5 year warranty.

seriously? then how come maxtor is so darn popular?

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Added on June 27, 2008, 2:59 pm

WAH boss, you really hit the nail on the head leh!!! all those problems i kena before with my 2.5" HDD. but these problems all don't happen for a normal 3.5"?
because if they don't, then i'm definitely learning towards the 3.5" liao....

and by the way, where's the best place to buy HDD from (can get best prices i mean.. heheh..)?

One word... CHEAP..

Well, I've ran my external 3.5" HDDs on 24/7 before.... Of course, I was using Metal Gear Box casing...

Of course in Low Yat... furthermore that also depends on your bargaining power...

for my case, i used both. WD Passport 2.5" 320GB for my mobile usage. WD Home 3.5" 1TB for backup only.

May i ask what brand of 2.5" disk you are using?

Anyway, if you are using desktop, dun need portable, just buy another internal HDD if you have available SATA/IDE ports.

Then just use the drive for backup purpose, schedule a regular backup using any software and you can forget about it.

However, if you're using laptop, i'll still suggest a 2.5" for portability and dun need extra power.

For me, i swore by Seagate HDD...never have a problem with them in the last 10 years or so. Somemore they're offering 5 years warranty. Nothing to worry.

oh...yes, please stay away from Maxtor.

i always thought that most people would run their 3.5" 24/7 since it's attached to their pc and most people don't really shut down their pcs much right?



erm.... yeah, i was kinda wondering which shop in lowyat that could be recommended... heheh....

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Added on June 27, 2008, 4:40 pm

WAH.... 320GB 2.5" for mobile usage and 1TB 3.5"???
wow... i only have 120GB 2.5" and that's already enough to backup all my stuff... hahahaah...

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Added on June 27, 2008, 4:42 pm

i'm using WD. quite surprising that it has crashed on me twice even though it's supposedly a good brand.




that's the problem... i already have another internal HDD already... so no more available IDE ports... and my pc some more darn ancient already, so i was thinking if get external HDD then at least easier when i get a new pc....

If u travel alot, 2.5" is you best bet. But if you just wanna store things or backup and dont travel alot, 3.5" will do

maxtor, avoid them at all cost..

just buy both ....

buy 80gb 2.5" for portability

and buy the biggest capacity available for storage 3.5"...

use 3.5" for storage running 24/7 and 2.5" for portability... 2.5" is not recommend for 24/7 use....

go for seagate ...

I'm using Maxtor Personal Storage 200GB since 2005 and serves me very well and sold early this year. No problem faced from the 1st day of using it. The only problem is that it is bulky, that's all.

Actually it is my friends, he bought it and I bought a 2.5" 80GB. Then I experienced very slow copying files (maybe it is because of USB 1.1 last time). Later we swap our externals because I wanted a huge capacity and he wanted portability. Both of us n00b last time

Nevertheless, I agree with lex's statement. 2.5" might be experiencing not enough power, problems in recognizing the device, etc. The lack of power thing might cause HDD failure as well.

well you should ask yourself how would you handle your drive? do you need the portability of a 2.5" drive? or if you are to just back-up yr stuff and leave it there, maybe the occasional meetup where you share it with your friends, you're better off with the 3.5"

If lack of power for 2.5", get double USB head lor...sure enuff power de

i still like 2.5" hd it's portability is vital for those with laptop to back up the works...

Mine is a "double USB head", also known as a "Y" plug.. Yet despite that, I still had power not enough problems...

... more headache in the works... just found out that the pikom pc fair will be on during aug 1 - 3 in KLCC.....would it be more worth it to wait till the pc fair to get the HDDs? usually they give better deals and all right?

IMHO i think 2.5" is better without the power plugging and daily usage.
Also 2.5" is has better shock resistant, so can carry around and wont zap by lighting.

If just for backup purpose 3.5" is sufficient.

I'm always traveling, so for me I Will stick to 2.5", easy to carry any where.

I dont think 2.5" is more fragile than 3.5"........it just....

When people buy 2"5 portable drive........its more portable........the more portable the more people carried it around them........the more it vibration occurs........and because of that........it easily broken......contra tue 3.5" drive.........its rare people carried around with them........so its safe from vibration.........as you all know..........today's HDD still've got moving parts....!!

I got a external 3.5" hard disk before -- I buy a external hard disk casing (about RM65) and assemble with my extra 80GB IDE Hard Disk. Damn heavy, people look crazy with me when I take it out from my notebook bag.

I'm now change to 2.5" hard disk loh, the external casing for 2.5" just RM15 only (the most simple design), although the 2.5" hard disk is bit expensive, but the casing is cheaper around RM50 from 3.5". I feel good with this.

ooo hmmm... so 3.5" more faster transfer rate date?

im goin for 2.5....
very portable...

you guys won't believe the few weeks that i'm having.... first my printer KO, then followed by my old external HDD, and then last week, my CPU KO (not the one i'm selling... hahahh)....

i think i'll be buying a notebook as a replacement... so i think i'll be getting a 2.5" in that case... still deciding whether notebook or desktop....

2.5" casing. It's more portable and do not need power adapter

2.5" is for portability and 3.5" for bulk storage.... depends on usage......

the large capacilty of 2.5'' hdd oso available now... i use it for bulk storage and portability

go for 3.5". huge storage, less price.
and faster transfer rate.

1Terabyte >> RM-+600

I Prefer 2.5 Because Easy To Carry And Don't Need Power
And Case Is Damn Cheap

I m using 2.5 cos its much much much much way better and portable

3.5 for budget,2.5 for portability.

3.5? its not really portable... large, heavy and got external power somemore

if u want to use 2.5 USB hdd on older pc beware, most USB port will degrade after some ages, resulting in unable to power the HDD, flash drive is still ok, but not HDD.

even with the double headed "y" usb cable, you can solve the problem.

btw, speaking of usb 1.1, it is super duper slow. wait until neck also long not yet complete moving the files

Actually, 2.5" HDDs should be more durable since most of them have some sort of anti-shock or vibration dampening system in them. That's to keep your data safe when you say like drop your notebook on the floor where else 3.5" doesn't have such features since its not gonna move anywhere in your desktop.

hi oldtimers! i have a question here...
i formated my 2.5 ext hdd using fat32... the problem is, when i try to
transfer file into it, its popup the hdd is already full.. other file format
like .rar can go through.. but file format like .dat, .iso cant go through..

Aren't you supposed to format to NTSC?

I use 2.5" and it's great. No need for external power source. If it wasn't the need for external power source, I'd gotten a 3.5" one a long, long time ago.

always format hdd in NTFS format not because of performance but support limitation. fat32 has a 4GB file size limits. always used NTFS to storing files >4GB

thanks very much! i thought there is a way to demolish the limitation...

thank for your opinion.i didnt know that before.

Bro, wrong pronunciation....It's NTFS not NTSC......

No offense....

for me both are good ? both have their pros and cons so choose wisely

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Added on September 25, 2008, 1:54 pm


bro u are talking about Tv now or HDD ? if TV will be NTSC and for hdd will FAT32 or NTFS

I own both, if i have to chose either one, the 2.5" one wins hands down for me because of portability and nowadays it has decent storage size ~ 320gb. It is so easy to bring around and trade media ( pics, songs, movies etc) with friends and family.