Author Topic: WTB - HDD 500GB+ (Read 8253 times)

TheApprentice · « **on:** April 20, 2008, 05:53:52 PM »

Hi everyone....

2 of my 5yr old internal IDE drives have started acting really wonky...indicating a soon death...
I have my data backed up onto a full external HDD and critically need another drive to secure my data...

So does anyone have or can source a new External HDD 500GB +
If even a terabyte...how much would it cost?

This is before I try to import this thing myself...I get slapped with HUGE freight charges through my Skybox company because retailers usually put items in big boxes..(volumetirc weight immc)

I'm looking at these 3 options in particular...
Iomega Desktop Hard Drive 500 GB Hi-Speed USB 2.0 External Hard Drive $110
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000HI9O5W/ref=s9subs_c3_at2-rfc_p?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=center-3&pf_rd_r=04807ZV1G96B5Y368GAP&pf_rd_t=101&pf_rd_p=278240801&pf_rd_i=507846

Seagate ST305004FDA1E1-RK FreeAgent Desktop 500 GB USB External Hard Drive $116
http://www.amazon.com/Seagate-ST305004FDA1E1-RK-FreeAgent-Desktop-External/dp/B000ND75C0/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1208728083&sr=1-6

LaCie 301103U F.A. Porsche 500 GB USB 2.0 External Hard Drive $125
http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-301103U-Porsche-External-Drive/dp/B000H6CBA4/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1208728083&sr=1-7

Any suggestions?
If to go internal/external etc....
Whatever feedback..

Also from you experienced ordering folk... Whats the situation if your order the drive and its dead on arrival? Warranty info, return info etc...
And how much would ordering any of the above items cost using your skybox company inclusive of shipping vat/duties (if any)

Carigamers · « **on:** April 20, 2008, 05:53:52 PM »

Spazosaurus · « **Reply #1 on:** April 20, 2008, 07:09:27 PM »

Getting the drive here is the least of your problems. Just a couple months ago, I bought a WD500 gig drive. Less tan 3 weeks later it died. When I investigated, I found out that the cost to send it and bring it back again is almost as much as the cost to simply buy a new one. Plus, WD doesn't send you a new replacement. Oh no, they send you refurbished replacements. Hells no.

If I were you, i'd see if I could source an internal unit down here and look for a good enclosure. Should the drive itself go bad, simply a trip to the supplier would sort you out. Large capacity hdd's are very peculiar beasts these days. Only way i'm ordering one online is if there is a VERRRYYYYYYYYYYYYYY good deal on it.

Of course, you could ignore my warning, but do so at your own risk.

TheApprentice · « **Reply #2 on:** April 20, 2008, 07:26:01 PM »

Warning taken mr. Awesome..

I won't mind getting it down here, but you get hit with those whopping prices..
and does local warranty really cover a drive failure? that is, if it fails they replace it for you free of charge?

Its just so much cheaper to get it from away..and with the currect state of things in Trinidad...money is really really tight... the cheaper the better..
But everywhere I go there are a 100 good reviews and 10 bad reviews on a hdd... The probability of failure is just too high to ignore...

Arcmanov · « **Reply #3 on:** April 20, 2008, 07:39:06 PM »

Its cheaper to import it of course, but then there's that whole failure thing.
Items like PSUs and HDDs I do not trust to importation any more. Got burned too many times.
Merchants import in bulk, so I guess they can stand the 'bounce' of a few of their HDD stock failing.

I say...stand the bounce for the HDD locally, and make sure the seller has at least 6 months to 1 year warranty.
That way, you won't then have a very expensive (and heavy) paperweight to ship back to the manufacturer.

Take our 'stupid' advice.

TheApprentice · « **Reply #4 on:** April 20, 2008, 08:05:41 PM »

sigh..ok then...better not take the risk and import...

Well where do you guys recommend I check for the best deal on a HDD locally from a store that would provide a nice warranty?

From Circuit Zone's Price List I downloaded from their site:
they have a WD 500 Gig SATA II 16M HDD for $995....

Is that good vs. importing?

Any other recommendations guys..

Carigamers · « **Reply #4 on:** April 20, 2008, 08:05:41 PM »

Saxito Pau · « **Reply #5 on:** April 20, 2008, 08:18:51 PM »

very good considering you have a local warranty of 1 year.

I wonder if they have 1TB?

Spazosaurus · « **Reply #6 on:** April 20, 2008, 08:24:59 PM »

Yeah that is very good stacked against importing. Yes it would save you about 2 to 3 hundred bucks, but I think its worth it for the peace of mind you get, ESPECIALLY for something like HDD's that have a high probability of failure.

For a little cheaper price you can check Super Tech. Last time they had some 500 gigs. I got quite a few drives replaced from them over the years.

rb · « **Reply #7 on:** April 20, 2008, 08:47:29 PM »

stay far far away from the iomega one, i've seen at least 3 die within a few days of getting it.

TheApprentice · « **Reply #8 on:** April 20, 2008, 09:03:49 PM »

I'm on Super Tech's website
http://www.supertechtt.com/

Is it just me or is their price list an empty excel file?

Nephilim · « **Reply #9 on:** April 20, 2008, 09:07:40 PM »

been that way a while, call em up you'll get to find out if they have in stock one time.

Spazosaurus · « **Reply #10 on:** April 20, 2008, 09:39:52 PM »

Last list I had from ST they had a 500gig Samsung for $925. Its anybody's guess if they still have it. Give em a call and see. But yeah, if you getting a year warranty, take it from CZ instead.

TheApprentice · « **Reply #11 on:** April 20, 2008, 10:01:45 PM »

lol....aight...

I hate calling for prices... everything should be readily online!!

Yet another site with a dead price list link:
http://www.diamond-sys.com/
lol

At least Tech Nine on top of things with their April Price List and circuit zone of course...
http://www.technine.biz/pricelist.htm

They are: Seagate 500GB 16MB - SATA II $1,150.00

hmm...Well will definitely find out the warranty information they all offer..
I'll post back here my findings...

Redfish · « **Reply #12 on:** April 24, 2008, 09:37:58 AM »

As the advice to go local really makes sense in terms of warranty and return options you can also check out this website as they have quite a bit of pc stuff with free shipping on most.

Haven't bought from them before but I intend to try them when I get some funds...just my 2 cents

www.buy.com

chinarakinda · « **Reply #13 on:** April 24, 2008, 12:26:27 PM »

Unfortunately you will encounter difficulties with BUY.COM as they do not accept credit cards with non-us addresses.

Unless you are going to use a Verified Paypal account your order is not going to be processed.

TheApprentice · « **Reply #14 on:** April 24, 2008, 04:01:33 PM »

Well I called all round the place..
for 500gb...

Supertech have none...

PRW have external 500gb but expensive... and don't have 500 internal...

Diamond Systems have none...

TechNine has..but not at the south branch.... and they expensive...

So Circuit Zone... = Best Price $995 + 1yr local warranty...

Think I've made my choice...

I wanted external but its like 300 more on average for the same disk size...so i'll just go with internal...

So One Last question:

For you Hardware enthusiasts...

Which one should I go with???

WD 500 Gig SATA II 16M HDD $995.00
OR
Seagate 500 Gig SATA II 16M RAID HDD $1,150.00

Whats the difference in price about?
Is it one is compatible with RAID and one not?
Or just different brand pricing...?
And which do you recommend of the two?

Thanks

Redfish · « **Reply #15 on:** April 24, 2008, 04:26:08 PM »

Oook then thanks for the heads up chinara.

I could only think of the RPM as being the difference in the price, as I see they both have 16mb cache.

Other tech junkies plz correct me if I am wrong..

Philosophical45 · « **Reply #16 on:** April 24, 2008, 04:44:59 PM »

amm..lol.. raid i believe is dependant on the motherboard, not the hard drive as far as i see it. i would say that the difference is in the brand rather than the specs, which seem to be the same, but that is just my n00b 2cents...

Spazosaurus · « **Reply #17 on:** April 24, 2008, 05:03:53 PM »

They both have 16mb cache, raid is dependent on the board, both are 7200rpm drives, price difference is due to the brand. I say go with the cheaper WD ONLY because of that warranty. IF you're lucky the drive will die before the year warranty is up.

TheApprentice · « **Reply #18 on:** April 24, 2008, 06:48:50 PM »

I'f i'm lucky??? LOL

Well Circuit Zone gives the 1 yr warranty on all drives...

So Western Digital it is...

Spazosaurus · « **Reply #19 on:** April 24, 2008, 08:06:39 PM »

That drive's got a 50 50 chance of surviving the year...though there's only a 10% chance of that.

How would you feel if after 367 days the drive dies? IF you're lucky it will die within the warranty period.

BTW. Bawwww@ 2500 posts.

Carigamers · « **Reply #19 on:** April 24, 2008, 08:06:39 PM »

Author Topic: WTB - HDD 500GB+ (Read 8253 times)

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