Windows 7: Build your own External Hard Drive

DocBrown · 19 Jun 2011

I have also tested some IDE to Sata converter boards, that I attached to the IDE MB connection. Then connected a 500gb Sata HD to it. Seemed to work just fine for my purposes.

essenbe · 19 Jun 2011

I'll let you know. Newegg is supposed to be delivering a Black X tomorrow.

James Colbert · 19 Jun 2011

I have a Black X. It works great. No difference between internal and an HD in the dock.

essenbe · 19 Jun 2011

Good to hear that. you know, you read the feedback on some of these sites and it makes you worry that it will work. I have 2 external enclosures but they area pain to swap drives, I've always thought that a dock would be great, so I finally took the plunge.

ignatzatsonic · 19 Jun 2011

Anyone looking for a good cheap 1 TB 7200 rpm drive to put in such an enclosure should look at Newegg quickly.

$49.99 for a Samsung Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache hard drive through tomorrow June 20.

Normally 64.99.

Discounted to 59.99, plus another 10.00 off through coupon code EMCKDJF27 that expires tomorrow.

Free shipping. No taxes to most US states.

I just ordered one as a primary internal data drive to accompany an Intel SSD OS drive I recently bought.

The Samsungs have a good record and in my experience run pretty quiet and at very low temp.

The other favorite, the WD 1 TB Caviar Black, is $85 today at Newegg, so you get quite a large saving by going with Samsung.

DocBrown · 19 Jun 2011

Yes, I have been impressed with the several Samsungs that I have purchased from NewEgg

essenbe · 19 Jun 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by ignatzatsonic

Anyone looking for a good cheap 1 TB 7200 rpm drive to put in such an enclosure should look at Newegg quickly.

$49.99 for a Samsung Spinpoint F3 HD103SJ 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache hard drive through tomorrow June 20.

Normally 64.99.

Discounted to 59.99, plus another 10.00 off through coupon code EMCKDJF27 that expires tomorrow.

Free shipping. No taxes to most US states.

I just ordered one as a primary internal data drive to accompany an Intel SSD OS drive I recently bought.

The Samsungs have a good record and in my experience run pretty quiet and at very low temp.

The other favorite, the WD 1 TB Caviar Black, is $85 today at Newegg, so you get quite a large saving by going with Samsung.

They are delivering 2 Samsungs along with the Black X tomorrow. I didn't really need them right now, but couldn't pass up that price. That will make 4 103sj's for me. I just can't pass up on hard drives-my fettish I guess.

ignatzatsonic · 19 Jun 2011

Does anyone know for sure if these 1 TB Samsung 103 SJ drives have just 2 platters? (500 GB each)

I'm guessing that is so, but I can't find any confirmation. Two platters should help reduce noise a bit.

essenbe · 19 Jun 2011

Quote: Originally Posted by ignatzatsonic

Does anyone know for sure if these 1 TB Samsung 103 SJ drives have just 2 platters? (500 GB each)

I'm guessing that is so, but I can't find any confirmation. Two platters should help reduce noise a bit.

The 103 sj has 2 platters, the 103uj has 3

Source

Toms Hardware article about them. Good read.

ignatzatsonic · 19 Jun 2011

Essenbe:

Thanks for the info and the pointer to the review. I'll read it. Tried to rep you but I gotta spread more around.

I'm wondering if the Seagate/Samsung HD merger is bad news? Seagate has been suffering the last few years and I hope it doesn't carry over to Samsung. I guess it wasn't a merger, but more a case of Seagate taking over the Samsung HD line, with Samsung to supply chips to Seagate for Seagate SSDs.