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USB 3.0 vs eSATA\USB 2.0

  • 16-12-2010 9:56pm
    #1
    U_Fig
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 893 ✭✭✭


    I have a 2.5" 500GB 7200rpm SATA HDD that came from an old laptop. I've been looking to turn it into a portable HDD.. Do You think i would be better getting an enclosure with an eSATA connection or USB 3.0 both will be USB 2.0 compatible so i wouldn't have to worry about any old computers i'd be using it with.


Comments

  • #2
    Overheal
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 85,278 ✭✭✭✭Overheal


    2.0 enclosures are cheapest and its an incredibly common interface. your HDD wont benefit from a 3.0 interface, and eSATA is not as common.


  • #3
    U_Fig
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 893 ✭✭✭U_Fig


    Overheal wrote: »
    2.0 enclosures are cheapest and its an incredibly common interface. your HDD wont benefit from a 3.0 interface, and eSATA is not as common.

    would the transfer speed not be higher from USB 3.0 or eSATA. and both enclosures are ~€20


  • #4
    Voodu Child
    Closed Accounts Posts: 6,706 ✭✭✭Voodu Child


    USB 3.0 is backwards compatible so you don't have to worry about using it with older computers.

    You will definitely see improvements in sustained transfer speeds compared to USB 2.0, even with a laptop drive in it. Assuming of course the enclosure is half-decent and your PC/laptop has a USB 3.0 port. Same goes for eSATA.

    USB 3.0 hasnt really gone mainstream though, and it might not. Enclosures with USB 2.0/eSATA combo are fairly cheap and common.


  • #5
    U_Fig
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 893 ✭✭✭U_Fig


    Voodu Child wrote: »
    USB 3.0 is backwards compatible so you don't have to worry about using it with older computers.

    You will definitely see improvements in sustained transfer speeds compared to USB 2.0, even with a laptop drive in it. Assuming of course the enclosure is half-decent and your PC/laptop has a USB 3.0 port. Same goes for eSATA.

    USB 3.0 hasnt really gone mainstream though, and it might not. Enclosures with USB 2.0/eSATA combo are fairly cheap and common.

    well my laptop has boh usb 3.0 and eSATA that's why i'm asking.. the enclosures i'm looking at are roughly the same price though one has 3.0 and the other is 2.0/eSATA so like i dunno which one to choose..


  • #6
    ressem
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 2,426 ✭✭✭ressem


    Are the laptop and enclosure ports eSATAp? Or is a power adapter required also? In which case USB 3 would likely be more portable.

    I'd go for USB myself, as it's easier to move between machines. The performance bottleneck will be your old hard disk.

    Only reason I can think of to choose eSata is if you want to easily install and boot a second version of windows from this disk, which is awkward to do from a USB connected disk.


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  • #7
    U_Fig
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 893 ✭✭✭U_Fig


    ressem wrote: »
    Are the laptop and enclosure ports eSATAp? Or is a power adapter required also? In which case USB 3 would likely be more portable.

    I'd go for USB myself, as it's easier to move between machines. The performance bottleneck will be your old hard disk.

    Only reason I can think of to choose eSata is if you want to easily install and boot a second version of windows from this disk, which is awkward to do from a USB connected disk.

    ya it's eSATA/USB 2.0 powershare in the one port so that's eSATAp so really i think i'll just go to the shop and buy which ever one is in stock i'm think USB 3.0 will be more common in the future but i never thought of having a portable OS might come in handy but thanks for all the opinions i'm still undecided


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