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Gear / Technical Help => Post-Processing, Computer / Streaming / Internet Devices & Related Activity => Topic started by: OldNeumanntapr on April 29, 2014, 11:04:10 PM
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I'm looking for a new external HD. I want a 3TB drive, and I've been happy with my 1TB Lacie drive that I use for backups so I was thinking I'd stay with Lacie.
I have a 2013 Apple iMac and I want the external HD just for FLAC storage.
These are the two that I am looking at:
$160, only USB 3 input.
http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-Porsche-Design-Desktop-9000302/dp/B008SA6A1C
$219 USB 3 and Firewire 800 input, among others.
http://www.amazon.com/LaCie-FireWire800-External-301549U-Aluminum/dp/B0050SI9W8
I was told that I could get a $30 Apple cable that would convert the Thunderbolt jack on the iMac to Firewire 800 to use with the $219 Lacie HD.
I guess my question is this:
Is the faster speed of the Thunderbolt >Firewire 800 option worth spending an extra $110?
(The iMac only has USB 2 but I guess the Porsche drive comes with a USB 3 >USB 2 adapter cable.)
Thanks,
ONT-
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their is no "USB 3 >USB 2 adapter cable". It's simply a usb 3.0 cable and one end is the same as usb 2.0 (and backward compatible). No idea about the thunderbolt > firewire thing but those both seem VERY expensive for a 3tb drive. I bought a 4tb Hitachi usb 3.0 for $150.
Remember there are now only TWO hard drive manufacturers in the world. Seagate and Western Digital. Lacie simply makes the enclosure and puts a drive in it. Even if it's a "Hitachi" it's a wd, if it's a "Samsung" it's a seagate etc, etc.
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USB 3.0 is MUCH faster than firewire 800. A quick google search also seems to indicate that USB 3.0 ports are standard on 2013 iMacs, so I would recommend you simply use USB 3.0.
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I guess I DO have USB 3.
http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5522
I seem to remember someone telling me that the new iMacs only had USB 2. I must have misunderstood.
Thanks for the clarification. I guess I'll just get the cheaper external HD. It will take up less room too.
ONT-
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It will take up less room too.
ONT-
Really? Seems like all my externals are about the same physical size, no matter how much they hold.
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I soured on them a few years back after having two separate LaCIE drives fail, although I'm still using a small LaCIE Porche drive as an Airport drop box.
Switched over to G-Technology and OWC for external drives which have been great so far.
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Remember there are now only TWO hard drive manufacturers in the world. Seagate and Western Digital. Lacie simply makes the enclosure and puts a drive in it. Even if it's a "Hitachi" it's a wd, if it's a "Samsung" it's a seagate etc, etc.
^ This.
Make sure the drive itself inside it is manufactured in Thailand. There are factories in several places but the good ones come from Thailand. Both manufacturers use production from all over (now) but the cheap ones come from China and when Seagate started using some of those (they used to be only Thai sourced) the complaints spiked.
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I use WD 2TB passport externals (2.5" HDD, USB3, bus-powered so no external powering required).
Currently $110 via Amazon- http://www.amazon.com/Passport-Portable-External-Storage-WDBY8L0020BBK-NESN/dp/B005HMKKH4 (http://www.amazon.com/Passport-Portable-External-Storage-WDBY8L0020BBK-NESN/dp/B005HMKKH4)