How Reliable are 2 TB Drives?

[Ed Cordes]

I currently use 2 WD 1 TB external drives for archival back up. One is at home and one at work for off site protection. They are now getting kind of full and I need to add additional drives.

One plan I have is to add a WD Caviar Black 2 TB 7200 rpm 64mb cache drive at 3.0 Gb/sec mounted in an eSATA cooled enclosure as my "home" back up. I would then split the off site data on the two 1 TB drives I still own.

The advantage of this is only buying one drive and enclosure as well as reducing clutter on my desk. However this is only a good solution if the 2 TB drives are reliable.

So, what has been the experience out there? Is this a good plan?

Thanks

[Roger Clark]

Ed,

I have been using numerous 2TB drives, both internal and external for a long time. Many of my colleagues are using them too. Never had a problem (early in the vista days one guy had a problem with 2 TB drives, but that was quite a while ago, and it was software not the drives).

But as backup I would not use a 7200 rpm drive. They are more expensive, and the data rate for sustained writes is not significantly different in my opinion to warrant the extra cost. I buy 5400 or 5900 rpm drives, except a 7200 rpm for the op sys disk. I've probably used 30 2TB disks in the last year for imaging data.

3TB drives have just come out, so 2TB prices will drop (have some already). 4TB are "soon," probably later this year. Just bought some 2Tb internal drives for about $110 with 5-year warranties.

Roger

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I haven't had any problems with 1 and 2TB hard drives, either.

[Ed Cordes]

Thanks for the info Guys. Roger, I also appreciate the advice re the 5400 RPM. I knew I would get good advice here. Thanks

[Declan Troy]

If you asked me a couple of days ago I wouldn't hesitate to say never a problem and I'm still pretty much of that mind as most of my large drives have been problem free and a delight to have. I do have one very temperamental drive A WD 4TD network drive that I regret ever getting. On the plus side, I don't think there is any issue with the drive mechanisms (2 x 2 TB) but still no consolation if one need access it and it isn't available.

If you want more desk space why not go for an internal 2 TB drive?

[Chris Ober]

What's a decent brand these days? It's been a while since I had to buy one :)

[Ed Cordes]

What's a decent brand these days? It's been a while since I had to buy one :)

I am thinking either Western Digital or Hitachi

[Hilary Hann]

I use Lacie 2tb external drives and no problems so far. Fingers crossed.

[Axel Hildebrandt]

I am thinking either Western Digital or Hitachi

I have Western Digital external HDDs using Firewire 800. I only turn them on if needed, hopefully they will last longer this way.

[Chris Cox]

Hi, FYI

I bought a Drobo S and three Western Digital Caviar 2TB 7200RPM Serial ATA II/300 Hard Drives in early Feb 2010 and I haven't had an issue with either of the three.

Chris