Need advice on External HDD vs HDD Docking

[aba9785]

Assuming I’m a data hoarder and I would like to ask for opinions

I've been using external HDD, but I was wondering what the advantages/disadvantages were of switching to an enclosure or dock. Is one method clearly better than the others?

I don't think speed is a concern since HDDs can barely saturate SATA II speeds - so anything with USB 3.1 gen 1 or eSATA III will be sufficient, but what about integrity and other considerations?

What would be the cheapest storage in the long term?
Ps: I’m skipping NAS because I’m the only user, I don’t need it to run 24/7.

Contender 1.
2.5” External HDD 4TB is around ~$140
(Seagate Backup Plus, WD My Passport, Toshiba Canvio)


Contender 2.
3.5” Internal HDD 4TB
Seagate Barracuda ~$140
Toshiba 7200RPM ~$140
WD Blue ~$140
2 Bay Docking Station (Ugreen/Orico) ~$50


Please share your opinions/advices/experiences.

Thank you

 

[Yongkit]

Assuming I’m a data hoarder and I would like to ask for opinions

I've been using external HDD, but I was wondering what the advantages/disadvantages were of switching to an enclosure or dock. Is one method clearly better than the others?

I don't think speed is a concern since HDDs can barely saturate SATA II speeds - so anything with USB 3.1 gen 1 or eSATA III will be sufficient, but what about integrity and other considerations?

What would be the cheapest storage in the long term?
Ps: I’m skipping NAS because I’m the only user, I don’t need it to run 24/7.

Contender 1.
2.5” External HDD 4TB is around ~$140
(Seagate Backup Plus, WD My Passport, Toshiba Canvio)


Contender 2.
3.5” Internal HDD 4TB
Seagate Barracuda ~$140
Toshiba 7200RPM ~$140
WD Blue ~$140
2 Bay Docking Station (Ugreen/Orico) ~$50


Please share your opinions/advices/experiences.

Thank you

I believe if you can wait for Black Friday all prices you mentioned now would have been cheaper.

Only factor to consider was which brand is more reliable for after sales services and warranty for support case.

 

[aba9785]

I believe if you can wait for Black Friday all prices you mentioned now would have been cheaper.

Only factor to consider was which brand is more reliable for after sales services and warranty for support case.

That is good advice, will wait for the coming Black Friday

Any comments on whether I should continue sticking with External HDD? or switch to HDD docking + swap HDD method?

 

[Yongkit]

That is good advice, will wait for the coming Black Friday

Any comments on whether I should continue sticking with External HDD? or switch to HDD docking + swap HDD method?

Personally I prefer to placed the Internal HDD.

Below factors might interest to you although its just my insensible opinion:

1. Internal HDD in PC case save space and less cabling to take care (more tidy)
2. Less noise/vibration when Internal HDD in operation (less annoy)
3. Internal HDD have no external power source required (save electricity)
3. Dust and moisture will shorten life span of external docking HDD, therefore quality docking enclosure is recommended (additional cost)
4. Unless you have a dedicated area for the placement of external HDD docking, any 3rd party could threaten your enclosure/HDD existence (security).

 

[aba9785]

Personally I prefer to placed the Internal HDD.

Below factors might interest to you although its just my insensible opinion:

1. Internal HDD in PC case save space and less cabling to take care (more tidy)
2. Less noise/vibration when Internal HDD in operation (less annoy)
3. Internal HDD have no external power source required (save electricity)
3. Dust and moisture will shorten life span of external docking HDD, therefore quality docking enclosure is recommended (additional cost)
4. Unless you have a dedicated area for the placement of external HDD docking, any 3rd party could threaten your enclosure/HDD existence (security).

Got it. You are very correct.
Space/clean look is premium, I hate cables too.

Just curious, usually how long does the internal HDD last now?
Assuming normal usage (not 24/7 on torrent, CCTV, NAS)

 

[wongminmin]

external hdd
-portable, convenient to bring around.
-plug and play
-unpredictable lifespan.

HDD dock
-long lasting
-faster writing and reading speed.
-able to disperse heat
-uses external power
-Able to backup before dying.
-Troublesome to carry around.
-Having hard time finding the files....


NAS
-convenient to find the titles
-access-able anywhere anytime
-high costs setup
-costs of maintenance


i transfer tb by tb, external hdd doesn't lasts long for me....After sometimes, the transfer speed become slower.

 

[wongminmin]

Got it. You are very correct.
Space/clean look is premium, I hate cables too.

Just curious, usually how long does the internal HDD last now?
Assuming normal usage (not 24/7 on torrent, CCTV, NAS)

see luck, brand, model, batch.....

unlucky users ~ less than 1 year
heavy users ~ 12~16 months
average users ~ 21~24 months
light users - beyond 2 years

 

[Koenig168]

I use both external HDD and SATA dock. Currently, seven HDDs and three external HDDs used for archiving or backup.

No difference to me as both methods work fine. I just go with whichever is cheapest. Just received my latest external HDD today, the WD 12TB Elements and now running Extended Test.

Quite impressive sequential read/write speeds.

 

[aba9785]

external hdd
-portable, convenient to bring around.
-plug and play
-unpredictable lifespan.

HDD dock
-long lasting
-faster writing and reading speed.
-able to disperse heat
-uses external power
-Able to backup before dying.
-Troublesome to carry around.
-Having hard time finding the files....


NAS
-convenient to find the titles
-access-able anywhere anytime
-high costs setup
-costs of maintenance


i transfer tb by tb, external hdd doesn't lasts long for me....After sometimes, the transfer speed become slower.

Thanks for listing the pros and cons.
Agree with you.
My 2TB external hdd just die for no reason, not able to recover/repair it.
Lucky the data inside is not important

So which is the one you are using now?

 

[aba9785]

see luck, brand, model, batch.....

unlucky users ~ less than 1 year
heavy users ~ 12~16 months
average users ~ 21~24 months
light users - beyond 2 years

I see. Sometime really depend on luck.
Do you have any preferences on them?
eg: Certain brand? Certain shop? Or wait for sales?

 

[aba9785]

I use both external HDD and SATA dock. Currently, seven HDDs and three external HDDs used for archiving or backup.

No difference to me as both methods work fine. I just go with whichever is cheapest. Just received my latest external HDD today, the WD 12TB Elements and now running Extended Test.

Quite impressive sequential read/write speeds.

Wow. so you usually buy 3.5" HDD in bulk?
Or mix different brand/storage size?
Or buy 1 to test/review, if it's good, then buy more to keep?


What would be the best way to keep/store/take care of the external HDD/HDD drives?
Buy plastic container from Daiso, put all the drive in there and throw few bags of silica?
Or put them back in original container (anti static bag for HDD, hard plastic case for ext HDD)?

 

[watzup_ken]

Dock will be useful if you have a lot of drives which allows you to switch around. Other benefit is that you can get your own drive, and it works for both 2.5 and 3.5 inch drives.

If you only have a single drive, then those portable external hard drive will still serve their purpose.

 

[aba9785]

Dock will be useful if you have a lot of drives which allows you to switch around. Other benefit is that you can get your own drive, and it works for both 2.5 and 3.5 inch drives.

If you only have a single drive, then those portable external hard drive will still serve their purpose.

Been using a few Portable External hard drive for many years now, then one of my 2TB External HDD die earlier this year.

Life span around 14 months. Not able to recover thus now pondering if I should try dock method.
That's why opening a thread and asking advice from you all.

 

[watzup_ken]

Been using a few Portable External hard drive for many years now, then one of my 2TB External HDD die earlier this year.

Life span around 14 months. Not able to recover thus now pondering if I should try dock method.
That's why opening a thread and asking advice from you all.

It is hard to say if portable hard drive fails faster as compared to a docking station. I feel most portable drive use poor quality drives. However, if you are using a hard disk dock, it also depends on your choice of hard disk. I don't feel the cheaper hard drives now are meant to last considering the 2 years warranty. Just my opinion.

 

[aba9785]

It is hard to say if portable hard drive fails faster as compared to a docking station. I feel most portable drive use poor quality drives. However, if you are using a hard disk dock, it also depends on your choice of hard disk. I don't feel the cheaper hard drives now are meant to last considering the 2 years warranty. Just my opinion.

Yup. Agree with you.
Kinda feel that they are using a more inferior drive for External HDD now.

If not how can a 4TB WD My Passport (external HDD which is using 2.5" drive) is same price as 4TB WD Blue (3.5" Internal HDD)

 

[wwenze]

I use both external HDD and SATA dock. Currently, seven HDDs and three external HDDs used for archiving or backup.

No difference to me as both methods work fine. I just go with whichever is cheapest. Just received my latest external HDD today, the WD 12TB Elements and now running Extended Test.

Quite impressive sequential read/write speeds.

Runs quite hot during heavy testing, when I had it lying down it reached 58 degrees when I noticed.

Standing up it does 53-54

 

[aba9785]

Runs quite hot during heavy testing, when I had it lying down it reached 58 degrees when I noticed.

Standing up it does 53-54

I got some questions.

- Is it better to concentrate everything together in 12 TB drive? (all the eggs in 1 basket) or spread it around? (Maybe 3 x 4TB drive)

- Previously (long time ago), my friend told me that try to avoid those odd number storage.
eg: avoid 3TB, get 2TB or 4TB instead.
Is it still true in 2020?

 

[wwenze]

I got some questions.

- Is it better to concentrate everything together in 12 TB drive? (all the eggs in 1 basket) or spread it around? (Maybe 3 x 4TB drive)

- Previously (long time ago), my friend told me that try to avoid those odd number storage.
eg: avoid 3TB, get 2TB or 4TB instead.
Is it still true in 2020?

What kind of logic is that?

3000GB is also even number, means what?

 

[aba9785]

I use both external HDD and SATA dock. Currently, seven HDDs and three external HDDs used for archiving or backup.

No difference to me as both methods work fine. I just go with whichever is cheapest. Just received my latest external HDD today, the WD 12TB Elements and now running Extended Test.

Quite impressive sequential read/write speeds.

I guess I wasn't paying attention earlier.
Went to check the price for WD 12TB Elements and now you got my full attention..
~$370 for 12TB is really cheap.
But this is Single 12TB drive, correct? or there's a few drive in it?

 

[aba9785]

What kind of logic is that?

3000GB is also even number, means what?

Need to quote from other sources
Source https://lifehacker.com/why-you-should-buy-4-tb-hard-drives-and-skip-the-3-tb-o-1680887763

The backup company evaluated their 41,213 disk drives (most of them consumer ones) for annual failure rates, and recommend 4 TB drives for their value and reliability:

We like every one of the 4 TB drives we bought this year. For the price, you get a lot of storage, and the drive failure rates have been really low. The Seagate Desktop HDD.15 has had the best price, and we have a LOT of them. Over 12 thousand of them. The failure rate is a nice low 2.6% per year. Low price and reliability is good for business.

The HGST drives, while priced a little higher, have an even lower failure rate, at 1.4%. It's not enough of a difference to be a big factor in our purchasing, but when there's a good price, we grab some. We have over 12 thousand of these drives.

3 TB drives, across all the brands, though, aren't as great:

The HGST Deskstar 5K3000 3 TB drives have proven to be very reliable, but expensive relative to other models (including similar 4 TB drives by HGST). The Western Digital Red 3 TB drives annual failure rate of 7.6% is a bit high but acceptable. The Seagate Barracuda 7200.14 3 TB drives are another story. We'll cover how we handled their failure rates in a future blog post.