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Biffbarf
March, 2025

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External hard drive for editing

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Mar-O
Posts: 960 - Karma: 827
So I need some help finding a fast hard drive so that I can start editing of my dads iMac without filling up his computer. I know there has been threads about this before but I haven't found any resent ones that involves editing.
So to make it easier for you guys to help me here is a list of things that I think is relevant:

- I will use it with an iMac 21.5 (mid 2010) so I am looking at a drive that supports fierwire 800 (this is the fastest my computer will support, right?).
- I will use it to edit off, if possible I will set my render files and everything to be saved at the hard drive.
- I edit with premiere cs6 and fcp 7 if that matters.
- It is not a big deal if it can be powered straight from the computer or not, but if I can get one thats just as fast I will prefer not having to connect it to a outlet.
- I am looking at a 2tb or maybe 3tb drive.
- I haven't really set a budget but would like to keep it under 250$ if possible.

And one more thing should I only look at hard drives in stores near me in case something happens or is it pretty safe to order hard drives from legit stores like b&h?

I have done some research and I have found a couple drives that I am interested in. Heres a link to my b&h wish list with the drives I have looked into.
And of course k+ will be given for any help.
12 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61860 - Karma: 125,742
Lacie d2 2tb
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/770602-REG/LaCie_301543U_2TB_LaCie_d2_Quadra.html

Lacie rugged 1tb (this one will work great if you travel alot)
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/800155-REG/LaCie_301984_1TB_Rugged_Triple_Interface.html

Another great option is gtech
http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/645055-REG/G_Technology_GD4_2000_2TB_G_Drive_External_Hard.html

There are tons of other 2tb options for under $200 bucks but the lacie d2 and the gtech seem to be the best ones, im sure others will give you more options.

I'd stay away from 3tb, larger the drive = more likely to fail. 2tb will be fine.

you probably don't need a RAID1 setup, so ignore anyone that suggests that.
12 years ago
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Mar-O
Posts: 960 - Karma: 827
^thanks and k+, but I noticed that the LaCie Rugged had 5400rpm, I am guessing this means it is slower but will it still work for editing?
12 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61860 - Karma: 125,742
everyone complains about 5400 drives but they still work. but id only get the rugged if you plan on traveling alot. the gtech or d2 will be better overall
12 years ago
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RileySnyderPhoto
Posts: 688 - Karma: 1,451
I've had problems with all 3 of my 5400s... not buying LaCie again
12 years ago
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SSteezle
Posts: 9457 - Karma: 2,366
yep, I was surprised to see the ratings. I have a 1tb Lacie 5400 and the thing is literally about to explode. I can no longer change what is on the drive, it's mostly just there for a backup of a backup. Maybe a re-format will fix it, but i'd stay away from the 1tb. I have a lacie 500gb and that feels much better built, and it hasn't had any problems
12 years ago
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
OWC is the best bang for your buck.
12 years ago
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Mar-O
Posts: 960 - Karma: 827
Thanks, but are they allot better than the g-tec and LaCie? I cant find any norwegian stores that sells them and I am not sure if I want to order from other countries in case something happens so I think I will go for the G-Tec 2tb drive.
12 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61860 - Karma: 125,742
This is true. OWC, Gtech or Lacie d2. All 3 of these drives will do you well.
12 years ago
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
G-Tech makes some of the best hard drives. LaCie is hit or miss. I have had nothing but duds with them; some people have had good experiences. I also hate the idea of paying money for a stupid novelty enclosure. I like OWC drives because they're no-bullshit workhorses.
12 years ago
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,311
None of these companies make hard-drives.

The only ones who make the hard drives themselves are Western-Digital, Seagate and Toshiba.
Lacie & G-Tech just make enclosures.



That said I have around 12 LaCie D2's, 2 Lacie 2.5 Porsche drives and 2 Lacie 3.5 Porsche drives.

None of them ever failed...EVER.
12 years ago
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Mar-O
Posts: 960 - Karma: 827
Bumping this thread because my school just got 30 new iMacs for us to edit on so no I will need a hard drive that I can bring to school every day.
Even tho I have realised allot of people have had problems with the laCie rugged I think that would be my best option at this point.
The only thing I have not decided is if I should go with the LaCie 1tb 5400rpm or the 500gb 7200rpm , the 1tb would be great but I can go with the 500gb to because I already have a couple of 1tb usb2 drives where I can place all my finished projects.
I have searched allot and it seems like allot of people say that you wont notice the different when using firewire 800, but what do you guys think?
12 years ago
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Splice.
Posts: 1381 - Karma: -192
I use a Glyph GT050Q

It's awesome, but is expensive
12 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61860 - Karma: 125,742
ive used the 1tb it worked great despite the 5400 rpm. everyone gets so worked up about numbers just dont worry about it
12 years ago
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Laurent.
Posts: 10056 - Karma: 25,311
RPM is right up there with "megapixel" and "GHz" as a useless measurement. Yes it is easy to understand but who cares how fast the platters spin? What you care about is how many bits fly under the read/write heads per second.

That is the product of the aerial bit density times the tangental velocity of the track holding your data. (OK tangental velocity is proportional to RPM but RPM is only 1/3rd of the story)
12 years ago
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Mar-O
Posts: 960 - Karma: 827
thanks, then I will go for the 1tb 5400rpm.
12 years ago
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RileySnyderPhoto
Posts: 688 - Karma: 1,451
Just had two of my 3 Lacie Rugged 1TBs break on me again. Looks like I have to scrap the enclosures and just use cheap enclosures. I find LaCie to be VERY unreliable and bulky.
12 years ago
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RockNRollNghtClb
Posts: 2013 - Karma: 2,509
has anyone had any experience with western digital?

they are real cheap so im kinda skeptical...
12 years ago
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[~_~]
Posts: 20239 - Karma: 1,273
I've never seen so many drives crash for no apparent reason. Steer clear.
12 years ago
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.qzyxya
Posts: 1479 - Karma: -26
My friend ordered this "rugged armor A80 Military Grade USB 3.0 drive off amazon" its shipping. Check it out it has great reviews, USB 3.0, and its extremely durable (waterproof even). You might need firewire or something though, maybe you can adapt usb 3.0 from it. idk

12 years ago
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Mar-O
Posts: 960 - Karma: 827
This really makes me doubt my decision on going with the 1tb, do you think the 500gb 7200rpm is a little more durable? I really haven't found any other drives that I think will be very suited for me to bring at school everyday with firewire 800. And I have really only looked at firewire 800 drives but do usb 2 work for editing?
12 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61860 - Karma: 125,742
i used a 1tb lacie rugged and 2tb lacie rugged xl ( not portable) two years in a row no issue. at least one person is gonna have a problem with every hd out there
12 years ago
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SSteezle
Posts: 9457 - Karma: 2,366
my 500 feels much more solid than my 1tb. Although I ended up reformatting the 1tb drive and since then it's been working fine, but now I only use it as a backup drive in fear it'll shit the bed again.
12 years ago
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1337
Posts: 31074 - Karma: 29,629
Raid 5 doods
12 years ago
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Official_Recap
Posts: 1075 - Karma: 525
I'm looking into this heavily. Will probably hit you on Facebook in a bit if you have a second to chat about it.
12 years ago
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1337
Posts: 31074 - Karma: 29,629
Yeah man, hit me up whenever you want! Been researching all the systems lately, so I'll hopefully be able to help
12 years ago
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S.C
Posts: 3070 - Karma: 2,340
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/eSATA_FW800_FW400_USB
12 years ago
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RileySnyderPhoto
Posts: 688 - Karma: 1,451
Honestly I would say get a bare drive and an enclosure that meets your needs, would save you serious money and pain dealing with bad designed enclosures.
12 years ago
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andrew.ski
Posts: 368 - Karma: 69
you are going to school with the drive. Get a nice little case for it and keep it in your backpack. Its not gonna get roughed up that bad. I had three classes every semester i used my hard drive for, and it lasted me the two years i needed with no signs of future breakdown.
12 years ago
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rlee
Posts: 593 - Karma: 1,144
Any one know anything about the CalDigit AV Drive? http://www.caldigit.com/AVDrive/

Been looking at these and the G-Drive/ G-Raids. I will be upgrading to the new iMac in December and need some more storage/ good editing harddrives. Heard good things about the CalDigit but so so's on the G-Tech's apart from in here. The new iMacs will have USB 3.0 which will be great. The CalDigit has 3.0 but not the G-Raids. However the G raids are dual drives whereas the CalDigit is just a single drive so safer if one end up crashing.

Anyone have any input on the drives or will both be a safe option?

Thanks


12 years ago
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hackysackett
Posts: 1 - Karma: 10
So I am going to be needing an external hard drive setup to edit on my i5 Macbook Pro. I edit DSLR footage (Mostly 1080p, but occasionally 720p) on Premiere Pro and After Effects.

 I was looking at purchasing the 1TB Lacie Little Big Disk (Thunderbolt) to edit off of, and the 2TB LaCie d2 Quadra to back up my files. I don't need light-speed rendering or anything, but I do want the ability to edit/render footage without much lag.

Please let me know your thoughts on this! If you have any other models you'd suggest, feel free to suggest them.
12 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61860 - Karma: 125,742
caldigit is a very legit company, their drives are just more expensive.
12 years ago
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eheath
Posts: 61860 - Karma: 125,742
If you don't need light-speed then why are you getting thunderbolt? Thunderbolt is sick but its much more expensive. But, really your only other options are firewire and USB2.0 so I dunno. Too bad you don't have usb 3.0. The d2 is a great drive, you could probably just run everything off of it...
12 years ago
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