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best external hard drive for time machine

Replacing external hard drive - had a 2 TB drive formatted to 2 drives - one for Time Machine and the other for the clone. I was told by several drive manufacturers that I should be using two separate external drives - 1 for TM(1TB) and the other for the clone(500GB). Using FW800.


Looking at standard external drives versus the many mini drives. Considering the std vs mini in OWC versus the G-Drive Technology. Are the standard any more reliable or stable than the mini drives(bus powered) using an AC adapter?


I am exhausted from research and would appreciate any comments from users of any of the drives, standard, mini and I am aware both get very good ratings. Any ideas or suggestions??

Thanks!

OS X Mountain Lion, 2TB OWC External Drive for my IMac

Posted on Apr 9, 2013 9:27 AM

Reply
24 replies

Apr 9, 2013 10:01 AM in response to Zimmer1956

I would be a bit hesitant to use a "mini" drive for backup since those drives are usually 2.5" laptop-grade mechanisms which tend to have higher failure rates than 3.5" drives. I would also probably never choose to run a critial system like a backup via bus power; too much potential for problems. Go with the AC-powered drives.


As to brand, I've used both OWC and G-Tech drives with no problems, so I can recommend either without hesitation.


Regards.

Apr 9, 2013 10:29 AM in response to varjak paw

What you recommended about a/c powered drives makes a lot of sense. I was looking at the OWC mercury elite pro, the G-Drive and found a 1TB discontinued new Lacie d2 Quadra v3 available. Any comments on the Lacie versus these others? I would use it just for TM and get another drive for the clone. OWC advertises some of the newest chipsets. Any thoughts about the Lacie or are the OWC/G-Drive rated better?

Thanks

Apr 9, 2013 10:39 AM in response to Zimmer1956

I haven't used a LaCie in a while so I can't comment on their build quality, but they used to be highly rated. I just found at the time I needed drives that OWC and G-Tech were a better deal given the features and capacity I needed, so I had no reason to change. Perhaps someone else can comment on the current state of LaCie's offerings.


Regards.

Apr 10, 2013 8:54 AM in response to Zimmer1956

Bus powered drives have bitten me a few times so I tend to avoid them - still their portability convenience cannot be denied. And that's when I choose them. Since you are talking about a backup drive for a desktop, stick with 3.5" drives and (sigh) power bricks. I like OWC and Icy Dock drive enclosures in particular. I bought a LaCie drive on sale a couple years ago and it is still going strong...but I've had to replace the power brick twice. To their credit, the company has sent them out quickly but since that's the only power brick I've had die it doesn't necessarily speak well of their part sourcing.

Apr 8, 2014 5:40 PM in response to Zimmer1956

I have both the regular size and the mini (using that either with the power adapter or without if not handy) and I can highly recommend the Mercury Pro drives. Very quiet, and they use the Oxford chip.


Although they're mostly pre-formatted, I prefer doing this myself using Disk utility before using it. I also make sure I ditch any software included as it's not needed.

Apr 8, 2014 9:29 PM in response to Zimmer1956


Zimmer1956 wrote:


Anybody have any experience with LaCie d2 Quadra or the OWC standard size drive. Decided against the mini drives and narrowed things down to these. Anyone have experience with either drive? Just using one for Time Machine and the second for CCC.

Thanks,

Don


LaCie does NOT MAKE hard drives, NOR does OWC


there are only 4 HD makers on earth (Toshiba, Hitachi, WD, Seagate) LaCie contains SEAGATE drives. Seagate owns LaCie,

there is no such thing as a "LaCie hard drive", thats just the name on the box.



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BEST FOR THE COST, Toshiba "tiny giant" 15mm thick 2TB drive (have several of them, lots of storage in tiny package) $100

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Connect-Portable-HDTC720XK3C1/dp/B00CGUMS48 /ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1390020791&sr=8-3&keywords=toshiba+2tb


best options for the price, and high quality HD:

Quality 1TB drives are $50 per TB on 3.5" or $65 per TB on 2.5"


Perfect 1TB for $68

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-Hard-Drive/dp/B005J7YA3W/ref=sr_1_ 1?ie=UTF8&qid=1379452568&sr=8-1&keywords=1tb+toshiba


Nice 500gig for $50. ultraslim perfect for use with a notebook

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Portable-External-Drive/dp/B009F1CXI2/ref=s r_1_1?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1377642728&sr=1-1&keywords=toshiba+slim+500gb


*This one is the BEST portable external 2.5" HD available that money can buy:
HGST Touro Mobile 1TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive $88

http://www.amazon.com/HGST-Mobile-Portable-External-0S03559/dp/B009GE6JI8/ref=sr _1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1383238934&sr=8-1&keywords=HGST+Touro+Mobile+Pro+1TB+USB+3.0+7 2 00+RPM


Most storage experts agree on the Hitachi 2.5"


Hitachi is the winner in hard drive reliability survey:

Hitachi manufacturers the safest and most reliable hard drives, according to the Storelab study. Of the hundreds of Hitachi hard drives received, not a single one had failed due to manufacturing or design errors. Adding the highest average lifespans and the best relationship between failures and market share, Hitachi can be regarded as the winner.



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3.5" vs 2.5" hard drives


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And what about 3.5" drives?


All HD can and do crash and fail, its just statistical sampling in total (see graph above)


If you want the most reliable 3.5" HD, get a 2TB Toshiba, which is actually made by Hitachi (confused yet?) 😉


Hitachi sold their 3.5" division to Toshiba (forced to actually), so a Toshiba 3.5" is really a very well built reliable Hitachi 3.5"


On sale, 2TB Toshiba 3.5" (really Hitachi made) only $88

http://www.amazon.com/Toshiba-Canvio-Desktop-External-HDWC120XK3J1/dp/B008DW96NY /ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&qid=1393443687&sr=8-10&keywords=toshiba+2tb




There is actually a non-commercial HD more reliable than this, which is the WD "black" drives, the server grade drives, but theyre not consumer grade

theyre very expensive, and made for server farms.


here:

http://www.amazon.com/Western-Digital-Cache-Desktop-WD2003FZEX/dp/B00FJRS628/ref =sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1393443945&sr=8-2&keywords=wd+black





Bare hard drives and docks. The most reliable and cheapest method of hard drive data storage, archives, and redundancies

The best method for your data archives and redundancies, which is also the least expensive, the most reliable, and the most compact option is the purchase of naked hard drives and at least one USB 3.0 HD dock ($40 roughly).


While regarding Time Machine and your Macbook or desktop, your primary backup is best saved to a conventional USB (or Firewire / thunderbolt) hard drive inside an enclosure, the most important part of your data protection begins after your 1st / primary Time Machine / backup; and these are your secondary (most important) data storage devices, archives and their redundancies.


However bare hard drives and docks (below) also work perfectly as a Time Machine backup, this is for home use, since the docking station is certainly not very portable as a notebook Time Machine backup device should be; nor should bare HD be packed around with a notebook, rather remain at home or office.


Six terabytes of 2.5" HD pictured below in a very compact space.


Bare hard drives and docks have the lowest cost, the highest reliability, and take up the smallest storage space

User uploaded file


Drawbacks:

1. Care and knowledge in general handling of naked hard drives (how not to shock a bare HD, and how to hold them properly). Not a genuine drawback.

Advantages:

1. By far the least expensive method of mass HD storage on a personal basis. Highest quality naked HD can be purchased in bulk very cheap.

2. Eliminates the horrible failure point of SATA bridges and interfaces between external drives and the computer.

3. Per square foot you can store more terabytes of data this way than any other.

4. Fast, easy, no fuss and most simplex method of data storage on hard drives.

Apr 10, 2014 12:03 PM in response to Zimmer1956


Zimmer1956 wrote:

(in response to Roz24)

I was thinking the same but I did see recent Amazon reviews Not To Use On a Mac.

You are aren't you?

Thanks,

Don


from this:

Roz24

The HGST Turbo USB 3.0 Drive is as good as it gets when it comes to external drives. It ships with an ultra reliable Hitachi drive.






Wherever your read that nonsense, ignore it.

best external hard drive for time machine

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