Anyone heard of the external drive?

Pointbreakd · 20th August 2005

http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...a=&cm_ite=feed

I have a gift certifcate and it's the only USB/Firewire for 160GB. Any good?

Pointbreakd · 20th August 2005

its' Acomdata

theblue1 · 20th August 2005

Acomdata is the largest 'manufacturer' of outboard drives.

I actually have an Acomdata 160 USB2 drive. (If you're on a Mac, probably best to stick with FW, as I understand it, due to Mac USB2 issues, but if it's just for backup, archiving, it would probably be fine.)

Frankly, I wasn't expecting a whole lot from this drive -- since it seems to be the consensus that while USB2 is good for large data bursts, that FW is superior for sustatined data flow. (On top of that, it's only got a 2 MB cache as opposed to the 8 MB cache in many new drives.)

But it's been fine so far for streaming BFD off of, as well as actually being the work drive for audio work in Sonar, although when I'm using BFD I typically use my interanl. (My laptop has an internal 7200 so I can use either. It's probably best to keep BFD on a separate drive, though, they tell me.)

Oh, and the drive inside the box appears to be a Western Digital (at least the controller ID's that way), which is my preferred brand.

It's quite quiet. I don't even think you can hear head seeks and the spin noise is very, very subtle.

I was concerned about heat, especially since I elected to lay the drive box horizontally -- I do have some airflow underneath it, though. (The only HD I've ever had go bad was mounted 'vertically'... my ex-hardware guru told me that was okay by then. That's not the only reason I'm my own guru now, but...

) But, anyhow, heat buildup doesn't seem to be a problem.

Anyhow, it ain't sexy, but so far, so good.

eskay · 21st August 2005

I bought the 160 gigabyte with USB 2.0 from COMP USA 3 months ago and it's been rock solid. It's connect to my laptop running Nuendo. I've been using it with 20 tracks and ton' of plugs with no problems. I just finished a whole album while I'm vacationing in Corfu, Greece. I've also traveled extensevily with this drive to other places in Greece, and it's been rock solid. Plus it has a cool blue light on it!!

theblue1 · 21st August 2005

I hate the blue light!

It feels to my eyes like a low power lazer shining right in 'em. I tilt a remote up against it.

Pointbreakd · 21st August 2005

Awesome. Yah I was worried, but it is working very well, super quiet too.

Mine actually has USB2 and FW so I should be good.

20th August 2005	#1
Pointbreakd Gear nut Joined: Aug 2005 Posts: 76 Thread Starter	Anyone heard of the external drive? http://www.compusa.com/products/prod...a=&cm_ite=feed I have a gift certifcate and it's the only USB/Firewire for 160GB. Any good?

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20th August 2005	#3
theblue1 Gear Guru Joined: Mar 2005 Location: Long Beach, CA Posts: 15,095	Acomdata is the largest 'manufacturer' of outboard drives. I actually have an Acomdata 160 USB2 drive. (If you're on a Mac, probably best to stick with FW, as I understand it, due to Mac USB2 issues, but if it's just for backup, archiving, it would probably be fine.) Frankly, I wasn't expecting a whole lot from this drive -- since it seems to be the consensus that while USB2 is good for large data bursts, that FW is superior for sustatined data flow. (On top of that, it's only got a 2 MB cache as opposed to the 8 MB cache in many new drives.) But it's been fine so far for streaming BFD off of, as well as actually being the work drive for audio work in Sonar, although when I'm using BFD I typically use my interanl. (My laptop has an internal 7200 so I can use either. It's probably best to keep BFD on a separate drive, though, they tell me.) Oh, and the drive inside the box appears to be a Western Digital (at least the controller ID's that way), which is my preferred brand. It's quite quiet. I don't even think you can hear head seeks and the spin noise is very, very subtle. I was concerned about heat, especially since I elected to lay the drive box horizontally -- I do have some airflow underneath it, though. (The only HD I've ever had go bad was mounted 'vertically'... my ex-hardware guru told me that was okay by then. That's not the only reason I'm my own guru now, but... ) But, anyhow, heat buildup doesn't seem to be a problem. Anyhow, it ain't sexy, but so far, so good.

21st August 2005	#4
eskay Gear addict Joined: Mar 2003 Posts: 363	I bought the 160 gigabyte with USB 2.0 from COMP USA 3 months ago and it's been rock solid. It's connect to my laptop running Nuendo. I've been using it with 20 tracks and ton' of plugs with no problems. I just finished a whole album while I'm vacationing in Corfu, Greece. I've also traveled extensevily with this drive to other places in Greece, and it's been rock solid. Plus it has a cool blue light on it!!