Glyph Portagig vs. 16MB cache $270 cheaper alternative

transfiguration · 13th June 2006, 08:57 PM

I am interested in adding an external Firewire 400 HD to my MBox / laptop setup.

I'm considering the Glyph Portagig: $400. The plus side it is powered off of the Firewire bus so no extra thing to plug in. Downside is price ($400) and the 8MB instead of 16MB cache of $270 cheaper.....

ARGOSY ALUMINUM 3.5" USB 2.0 / FIREWIRE IEEE EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE ENCLOSURE W/ MAXTOR 200GB EIDE 7200RPM (16MB) CACHE $128

Am loving the specs and price but was wondering what any slutz might have to say about the potential negatives of this external HD.

Kind Regards, trans

transfiguration · 16th June 2006, 05:05 PM

transfiguration · 19th June 2006, 03:32 PM

3 strikes........

& I'm out

aussie_techie · 19th June 2006, 03:51 PM

i would be cautious of drives that run on bus power. as far as 8/16MB cache goes you are going to hit the LE track limit before the drive hits its limit.

DivineMusic · 19th June 2006, 09:41 PM

i've never really cared to spend all the extra money on glyph drives.. the hot swap ones are cool but still i'm not gonna pay that much. i have 3 maxtor diamond max 16mbcache 400gig drives on my daw. 2 inside and 1 in a firewire case with an 80gig for my os...

save yourself the $270

Igotsoul4u · 20th June 2006, 02:10 AM

Check these out

http://www.g-technology.com/Products/G-DRIVE-mini.cfm

Also. With external drives its more important to make sure you put a high quality drive like a seagate inside. The case is important too, but not as important as the drive.

transfiguration · 22nd June 2006, 02:46 AM

Thanks for the replies guyz. I'm thinking I'll just go with the initial $130 purchase for the 200GB drive and consider they Glyph later on down the road if this choice proves problematic.

Kind Regards, trans

aussie_techie · 22nd June 2006, 04:38 AM

just make sure the cheeper option has the oxford 911 chipset and ull be fine

BrianT · 22nd June 2006, 04:45 AM

Glyph is overpriced.

There are only a few drive manufacturers, so Glyph merely buys a drive you could buy yourself and puts it in their case. There is no magic or superiority to Glyph drives. It boggles my mind that people spend the extra $$$.

And FWIW, I've had Glyph drives die within an hour of hooking them up, so there goes any theory of superior QA. The only caveat to buying drives that seem too cheap to be true is that they are not refurbs.

transfiguration · 22nd June 2006, 05:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussie_techie

just make sure the cheeper option has the oxford 911 chipset and ull be fine

How can one make absolutely sure of this?

This "Oxford 911 chipset"...what exactly is this specification speaking to....the interaction between the HD housing to HD to Firewire?

Thanks again, much appreciated!

aussie_techie · 22nd June 2006, 05:54 AM

its the IDE to FireWire chipset
good manufactures will say they use it any that dont say anything about it dont use it.

transfiguration · 22nd June 2006, 09:40 PM

Excellent. Based upon new information regarding the Oxford 911 chipset I am now looking at the following:

COOLMAX 3.5" USB 2.0 / FIREWIRE (OXFORD 911) ALUMINUM COMBO EXTERNAL HDD ENCLOSURE W/ MAXTOR DIAMOND MAX 10 250GB 7200RPM (16MB) ATA/133: $146

thanks for the info and help guyz!

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13th June 2006, 08:57 PM	#1
transfiguration Gear maniac Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 243	Glyph Portagig vs. 16MB cache $270 cheaper alternative I am interested in adding an external Firewire 400 HD to my MBox / laptop setup. I'm considering the Glyph Portagig: $400. The plus side it is powered off of the Firewire bus so no extra thing to plug in. Downside is price ($400) and the 8MB instead of 16MB cache of $270 cheaper..... ARGOSY ALUMINUM 3.5" USB 2.0 / FIREWIRE IEEE EXTERNAL HARD DRIVE ENCLOSURE W/ MAXTOR 200GB EIDE 7200RPM (16MB) CACHE $128 Am loving the specs and price but was wondering what any slutz might have to say about the potential negatives of this external HD. Kind Regards, trans

16th June 2006, 05:05 PM	#2
transfiguration Gear maniac Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 243	Bueller?.....Bueller?.....

22nd June 2006, 02:46 AM	#7
transfiguration Gear maniac Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 243	External Firewire HD Thanks for the replies guyz. I'm thinking I'll just go with the initial $130 purchase for the 200GB drive and consider they Glyph later on down the road if this choice proves problematic. Kind Regards, trans

22nd June 2006, 04:45 AM	#9
BrianT Lives for gear Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Nashville Posts: 1,666	Glyph is overpriced. There are only a few drive manufacturers, so Glyph merely buys a drive you could buy yourself and puts it in their case. There is no magic or superiority to Glyph drives. It boggles my mind that people spend the extra $$$. And FWIW, I've had Glyph drives die within an hour of hooking them up, so there goes any theory of superior QA. The only caveat to buying drives that seem too cheap to be true is that they are not refurbs. __________________ Regards, Brian T

19th June 2006, 03:32 PM	#3
transfiguration Gear maniac Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 243	3 strikes........ & I'm out

19th June 2006, 03:51 PM	#4
aussie_techie Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 2,040	i would be cautious of drives that run on bus power. as far as 8/16MB cache goes you are going to hit the LE track limit before the drive hits its limit.

19th June 2006, 09:41 PM	#5
DivineMusic Lives for gear Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Hotlanta Posts: 1,552	i've never really cared to spend all the extra money on glyph drives.. the hot swap ones are cool but still i'm not gonna pay that much. i have 3 maxtor diamond max 16mbcache 400gig drives on my daw. 2 inside and 1 in a firewire case with an 80gig for my os... save yourself the $270

20th June 2006, 02:10 AM	#6
Igotsoul4u Lives for gear Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: New York, NY Posts: 1,607	Check these out http://www.g-technology.com/Products/G-DRIVE-mini.cfm Also. With external drives its more important to make sure you put a high quality drive like a seagate inside. The case is important too, but not as important as the drive.

22nd June 2006, 04:38 AM	#8
aussie_techie Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 2,040	just make sure the cheeper option has the oxford 911 chipset and ull be fine

22nd June 2006, 05:54 AM	#11
aussie_techie Lives for gear Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Perth, Australia Posts: 2,040	its the IDE to FireWire chipset good manufactures will say they use it any that dont say anything about it dont use it.

22nd June 2006, 09:40 PM	#12
transfiguration Gear maniac Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Austin, TX Posts: 243	Oxford 911 chipset Excellent. Based upon new information regarding the Oxford 911 chipset I am now looking at the following: COOLMAX 3.5" USB 2.0 / FIREWIRE (OXFORD 911) ALUMINUM COMBO EXTERNAL HDD ENCLOSURE W/ MAXTOR DIAMOND MAX 10 250GB 7200RPM (16MB) ATA/133: $146 thanks for the info and help guyz!

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