Hardware Recommended HDD Brands/Manufactures

[Hyro-Sama]

So I'm looking to purchase some enclosures and make my own externals. Hoping you guys can recommend some brands you've used in the past and had good results with. I've already lost two WB 2TB externals so I'm adverse to them at the moment. Seagate is pretty unreliable too so I'm weary of them also. Thanks in advance.

 

[Originality]

That only leaves Samsung and Hitachi.

The choice of HDD for externals mostly depends on what you're intending to use it for. If it's basic data backup/storage, then Eco green models from any brand would be fine. If it's a portable data drive for use on the go, then finding one of the models with improved vibration/impact resistance is vital. If it's to use 24/7, either in an NAS or as attached storage (e.g. For routers or PVRs), then drives rated for lower operating temperatures and high spindle endurance (e.g. WD Red series) are the better choice.

There's no easy catch-all choice for drives these days.

 

[FAST6191]

In addition to what Originality said my rules of hard drives right now (assuming backups are not a thing I care about, in which case it makes life easier as just restoring data is an option).

If SSD then best to go with one that makes the chips. Various reasons but mainly they are the ones that know the chips inside and out so yeah. Granted there are some very attractive deals elsewhere.

If spinning rust. Find something that is basically the same as one in the server world (and though server drives can be special many are just what warranty they come with) and look to see how long the non server stuff is warrantied for. Go with the better one.

In all cases if you can put a fan over them then it is an idea.

 

[Hyro-Sama]

Yeah, I'm primarily looking for a simple storage solution for backups and media. Just more reliable than what's currently being sold on store shelves. May look into server drives in the future though. Been something I've been contemplating for awhile.

Are the brands for enclosures themselves pretty equal/samey? Most I look at have fair prices and even some come with built-in fans.

 

[Originality]

Enclosures have many variations, too many to keep track of, and a good proportion of them being cheap models from china.

A quick google turned up the following being recommended:

Rosewill RX-358, for having a 80mm cooling fan built in.
Akasa Lokstor X31, for how easy it is to swap the drive (practically a hotswap enclosure).
Enermax Brick 3.5in, for being cheap, solid, and good data performance.

Those are for 3.5" drives, which I'm assuming is what you want for a backup solution. If you want more portability, there are 2.5" drives and enclosures too, which have the advantage of being a fraction of the size and only requiring USB BUS power (no power brick), but my experience is that they also die quicker.

 

[Hyro-Sama]

Thanks, Originality and FAST. I'll look into those.

 

[Minox]

That only leaves Samsung and Hitachi.

Nope, Samsung's HDD division was purchased by Seagate some time ago.

 

[Originality]

Nope, Samsung's HDD division was purchased by Seagate some time ago.

Whilst that's true, there are still some Samsung drives still floating in the market.

 

[Youkai]

Well I am not a Professional yet but I know there are not that much manufacturers as most of them are under one roof think there are maybe 3 big ones remaining ? (or a little bit more dunno)
Currently I am trainee to become System Administrator and my Master seem to prefer WD ... no idea why op had already 2 devices that didn't hold out long ... but we are actually buying many of those for the Town Hall and no bad experience yet !

P.S. If you are actually able to spend some more money and have a SATA3 port I would recommend a SSD as someone mentioned, they are a little bit more expensive but very fast and usually they don't break if not used much ...
no normal hdd can match the speed of a SSD especially if you have to save many "small" files ... even the slow ones usually are 3 times as fast as a normal HDD

 

[Foxi4]

Western Digital or bust. Benchmarks also show that Hitachi has a surprisingly low failure rate - they've clearly improved over the years.

http://lifehacker.com/the-most-and-least-reliable-hard-drive-brands-1505797966

 

[Minox]

Western Digital or bust. Benchmarks also show that Hitachi has a surprisingly low failure rate - they've clearly improved over the years.

http://lifehacker.com/the-most-and-least-reliable-hard-drive-brands-1505797966

It's quite sad really. You can't call them Hitachi Deathstars anymore :(

 

[Hyro-Sama]

Going Hitachi then. If my two previous WD externals hadn't of conked out on me, I wouldn't be so reluctant to jump on the WD Train.

 

[VashTS]

WD is tha shizz. Been a fan for a long time, never had one die. I had one take a HARD spill from the desk to the floor. Lost all data but drive is still working to this day.

2nd in line is Seagate. Didn't trust them for a while but I think they have become more reliable.

 

[The Real Jdbye]

Hitachi was acquired by WD.
Toshiba sells Hitachi 3.5 HDDs as WD passed that on to them.
WD sells Hitachi 2.5 HDDs
avoid Seagate.

Seagate drives fail more than any other.
The others should be fine but Hitachi has the lowest failure rate. That's why Toshiba should technically be best for 3.5 and WD should technically be best for 2.5". In the end it doesn't matter that much, just remember Seagate has a high failure rate, about 25% over 2 years. The others all perform on a similar level so any would be sufficient there..
Older Hitachi drives should be great