Hard Drive Replacement for PC

[Lady Fitzgerald]

I got this dock recently to replace one I had that died; I use a dock like this only when the internal dock in my desktop machine is busy or if I need to access a 3.5" drive with my notebook. I had some initial problems but Amazon and Anker stepped right up to make things right. This is the review I wrote:

I bought this to replace an older dock that died. The first one of these I received was DOA. I returned it and reordered it. The second one works fine on USB 3.0 but would not work on e-SATA. In fact, when e-SATA was connected I couldn't even get into disk management. I'm keeping it because I can use it on all my machines by using the USB connection but I wish I could have gotten e-SATA speeds. Fortunately, I will not need to use it very often.

Edit: After I wrote this review, Anker contacted me, asking if I would like to receive another dock free and return the faulty one on their dime; I accepted their generous offer. Unfortunately, the third dock still wouldn't work on e-SATA. My guess is, since my e-SATA port is connected to a LSI 9211-8i HBA card and my previous dock worked just fine on my e-SATA port, the Anker dock simply isn't compatible with e-SATA ports other than those connected to native SATA ports.

After reporting back to Anker that the third dock still failed to work on e-SATA but I would keep it since I can still use it on all my machines via USB, Anker responded with an offer to give me a 50% refund to compensate for the 50% loss in connectivity, an offer I happily accepted. I added two stars to my previous two star rating for Anker's outstanding customer support.

I might add, most people give this dock a five star rating. I was the only one to experience a DOA and no e-SATA connectivity (I'm just "lucky", I guess).

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

...I had a scare last week--my 1.5 TB Green would not work in the dock. I thought the dock had died, but I put in another drive and it worked fine. So I guess I've got a dead Green---with absolutely no warning at all. It had worked fine in December and has been sitting in a closet since. When the dock is turned on, I hear 2 very faint beeps like the drive is trying to spin, but nothing happens.

Failures without warning happen, even to backup drives. That's why more than one backup drive is needed. Having more than one backup drive for each drive in my machine has saved my bacon data in the past.

 

[mjf]

MJF: What docking stations do you use and recommend? Got a make and model number?

I have a Thermaltake BlacX Duet 5 - ST0022. Also a Vantec NextStar HDD Duplicator.
I use the Thermaltake all the time mainly for system imaging and cloning now and again. I think they have a single slot version.
The Vantec is just a backup device and probably a frivolous purchase. Not as good IMO as the Thermaltake for what I do and I didn't really need the Duplicator function. (Clone a drive independently of a PC).

Your WD Green failure is a disappointment.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

MJF: What docking stations do you use and recommend? Got a make and model number?

I have a Thermaltake BlacX Duet 5 - ST0022. Also a Vantec NextStar HDD Duplicator.

Aye aye. I'll check them out.

 

[dazzlenet]

Thanks to everyone for all the info. I am going to research all the recommendations and make the purchases the first of the week. I know nothing about the different types of backups, but am going to purchase one or two for sure. I am sick of having crashes and losing everything! Then, I am sure I will need help installing Windows 7 on a new drive, as I have never done this before.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I am going to research all the recommendations and make the purchases the first of the week. I know nothing about the different types of backups, but am going to purchase one or two for sure.

Post again before you actually commit to the purchase and let us know what you are seriously considering.

 

[dazzlenet]

Delay in Purchase

Due to unexpected illness in the family, I have been delayed in purchasing the drives.

I have decided that the following is what I think will work best of rme:

Crucial MX100 128GB SATA 6Gb/s 2.5" Internal SSD $73.99 (Out of stock Crucial.com)

OR​

Crucial BX100 250GB SATA 6Gb/s 2.5" Internal SSD Reg. $105.99 ON SALE: $99.99

AND​

WD Black Either WD1003FZEX (1TB) or WD2003FZEX (2TB) Haven't checked prices yet.


OPINIONS PLEASE! Will definitely need help installing the Crucial drive & need to know what I need to order for installation - cables, etc.

THANKS FOR ALL THE AWESOME HELP!!

 

[AddRAM]

Opinion =

No way would I buy a crucial over a Samsung, not when the prices are so close.

SSD 850 EVO 2.5" SATA III 120GB | Samsung Solid State Drives

SSD 850 EVO 2.5" SATA III 250GB | Samsung Solid State Drives

All you need is 1 sata data cable, and 1 motherboard port for each drive. You use the sata power cable from the power supply to power the drive/drives.

You connect the ssd you intend to install windows on, on the #1 sata port (6Gbps) on the motherboard. (all ports are labeled) Sata 0, sata 1 etc.

Some boards start with a 0, some start with 1. (check the MB manual) (it`s online if you don`t own it)

Only have the ssd connected when you install windows.

When you`re ready, just let us know.

 

[dazzlenet]

Thanks for the suggestion. Samsung sounds great too. So, is there any reason I would need to 250gb over the 120gb just for Windows 7?

Darn, I need to decide on what to buy for backups, right? Best suggestion again, please? I just use computer for buying/selling online, emailing, photos, etc.

THANKS for the installation tips also. Definitely needed that.

I have Windows 8 on this laptop & it's so "Non-User-Friendly".... what was Microsoft thinking putting this out? I hate it. Is it geared more toward programmers?

Wondering if Windows 10 is gonna be more like Win 7.

 

[AddRAM]

No particular reason, I had a 128 OCZ for over a year until I got the Intel 180 GB, then the Samsung 250 GB.

You can use anything for backups, from a 500 to a 2 TB.

You can always add more drives in the future.

Rome wasn`t built in a day, it took at least 3

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

If all you are going to put on a SSD is Win 7, 120-128GB is plenty big unless you are a gamer with a lot of large games that you want to put on the SSD. Some people use the argument that the larger SSDs are faster than the smaller ones, which is true in the benchmarks, but, in real world usage, you will never know the difference. Another argument I've seen is larger SSDs will last longer than smaller ones with the same amount of usage on each. Again, that is true but today's SSDs, no matter the size, will last far longer than you will want to be using them before upgrading to newer technology so what would be the point of spending more for something you are unlikely to use? The only reason for getting a larger SSD is, as I already mentioned, is if you have many large games to put on it or if you need to use the SSD for data storage as well as system files. An example of the latter would be my little notebooks. They have room for only one drive in them. To gain the advantages of an SSD for increasing boot speed and program loading and still have room for data storage, I have to use a 500GB SSD in them. For my daily driver, even though it is a fairly powerful machine, a little 128GB SSD is plenty since I use HDDs for data storage. For just data storage, HDDs are far more cost effective and the better HDDs (7200 rpm) are plenty fast.

 

[AddRAM]

Well said and to the point LF

 

[ignatzatsonic]

In the last 12 hours, I had an unconventional SSD failure, which I guess goes to show you that anything can happen.

I received a new fanless PSU and immediately installed it to be sure it wasn't DOA. I had to detach all drives from the old PSU power cable and then re-attach them to the similar cable on the new PSU.

I thought all was going well when I noticed that the small plastic L-shaped data connector on my Intel SSD was flopping around like a tooth about to fall out. I removed the drive and the piece fell out into my hand. The copper contacts were also obviously damaged. Not sure exactly what happened. The cable that was attached to the port is the type with a locking mechanism and my guess would be that it contributed.

So, I had to restore a Macrium image to an old spinner that sits in an external dock. Back to the stone age--temporarily. The Macrium restore didn't go as planned either, but I'm up and running and have a new SSD on order.

I'm going to rebuild this fall and hadn't figured on getting a new SSD. So much for planning. What's worse, I didn't need to get the new PSU either, but had upgrade-itis gnawing at me due to waiting on the next generation of Intel processors. If I hadn't bought the new PSU, I imagine I wouldn't have had the SSD problem either. I still don't know what happened with that connector.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

In the last 12 hours, I had an unconventional SSD failure, which I guess goes to show you that anything can happen.

I received a new fanless PSU and immediately installed it to be sure it wasn't DOA. I had to detach all drives from the old PSU power cable and then re-attach them to the similar cable on the new PSU.

I thought all was going well when I noticed that the small plastic L-shaped data connector on my Intel SSD was flopping around like a tooth about to fall out. I removed the drive and the piece fell out into my hand. The copper contacts were also obviously damaged. Not sure exactly what happened. The cable that was attached to the port is the type with a locking mechanism and my guess would be that it contributed.

So, I had to restore a Macrium image to an old spinner that sits in an external dock. Back to the stone age--temporarily. The Macrium restore didn't go as planned either, but I'm up and running and have a new SSD on order.

I'm going to rebuild this fall and hadn't figured on getting a new SSD. So much for planning. What's worse, I didn't need to get the new PSU either, but had upgrade-itis gnawing at me due to waiting on the next generation of Intel processors. If I hadn't bought the new PSU, I imagine I wouldn't have had the SSD problem either. I still don't know what happened with that connector.

Well, that was rude! Sorry about that! Was that the Crucial in your specs that broke? I've heard of that happening occasionally on Samsungs.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

No, it was an Intel 320. I've ordered the Crucial and already updated my specs.

I've got half a mind to go to non-locking SATA cables--if they are still around?

I also deliberately disconnected my case fans, just to get a reading on how worthwhile they are. Turns out CPU and motherboard temps are up about 8 degrees to circa mid 40s--in an 80 F room.

Internal HD temps are up about 15, from the low 30s to the high 40s, although oddly (?), the internal spinners are no warmer than my boot spinner, now sitting in an external dock.

Noise bothers me more than temps, so I'm contemplating leaving them disconnected or maybe just using one--all in a quest for low noise. My PC rarely uses over 100 watts and can't use over 165 in a heavy-duty test.

 

[dazzlenet]

Which should I purchase?​

These (new SSD's) are on eBay:

Samsung 850 EVO 250GB 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD MZ-75E250B/AM $99.00

Samsung 850 EVO-Series MZ-75E250B/AM 2.5" 250GB SATA III 3-D Vertical Int. SSD $98.00

Samsung 850 EVO 120GB 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-75E120B/AM) $71.95

I didn't know these were vertical installation. I assume the listing is correct. Would it be wise to purchase one of each & use one for backups? Or, should the back up drive NOT be installed inside the computer? If not, then what is the most feasible to use, as in price & quality?

 

[dazzlenet]

One more question: Years ago when I was running a business, we used Tape Backups. Are these a thing of the past now?

 

[dazzlenet]

+

Which should I purchase?​

WD Black 1TB Hard Drive: 3.5-inch, SATA 6 Gb/s, 7200 RPM, 64MB CacheWD1003FZEX $74.99

Western Digital WD WD1003FZEX Black 1 TB SATA III 7200 RPM 64MB 5 Yrs Warranty $82.95

Western Digital (WD2003FZEX)2TB Hard Drive $110.00

 

[dazzlenet]

Back up options:​

WD My Passport Ultra Black 1TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive - WDBZFP0010BBK-NESN $64.99 So, I would need to purchase 2 of these for backups, right?

​

Exactly how does a docking station work? I've never even seen one.​

Anker® USB 3.0 & eSATA to SATA External Hard Drive Docking Station for 2.5 or 3.5in HDD, SSD [6TB Support] $35.00

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Which should I purchase?​

These (new SSD's) are on eBay:

Samsung 850 EVO 250GB 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD MZ-75E250B/AM $99.00

Samsung 850 EVO-Series MZ-75E250B/AM 2.5" 250GB SATA III 3-D Vertical Int. SSD $98.00

Samsung 850 EVO 120GB 2.5-Inch SATA III Internal SSD (MZ-75E120B/AM) $71.95



I didn't know these were vertical installation. I assume the listing is correct. Would it be wise to purchase one of each & use one for backups? Or, should the back up drive NOT be installed inside the computer? If not, then what is the most feasible to use, as in price & quality?

First, I wouldn't buy something like this from e-Bay. For starters, you may have warranty issues down the road. Also, some of e-Bays vendors are a bit dodgy.

The vertical in the description refers to the construction of the NAND, not how the SSD is installed. It can be installed in any position you want.

The size depends on what you need. If you are just going to install windows and some programs on it, 120-128GB would be plenty. If you are a serious gamer with numerous large games you wanted to install on it, you may need the larger size. When sizing a SSD, remember that, for best operation, you need to maintain at least 20-25% of empty space on the SSD.

Backup drives should NOT be installed inside the computer. Many of the things that can cause other drives inside the computer to fail—viruses and other malware, a failed PSU cooking the drives, etc.—can also affect an internal backup drive. Also, external backup drives should not connected to the computer except while updating a backup or recovering data from it.