Building an Exteranl Hard Drive

So I need to build myself an external hard drive between 250-350 GB. What should I look for in the way of brands, model, or specs. Also how would I build it?

Buy and IDE hard drive and and external enclosure from newegg.com I hit up woot for a refurb 250 gb WD for $50 and paid like 25 for an enclosure from newegg (there are cheaper ones)...So I got a 250 external for about 75 bucks, and that was over a year ago. Putting it together is pretty simple....a few screws and a couple plugs.

Buy any IDE / PATA Hard Drive like the 250GB one that is on sale here for $50 http//www.outpost.com/product/4008252

Then buy an enclosure like this one from Fry's as well for $40[=http//shop3.outpost.com/%7B8Ja-Z6p0Mz5hUORt3Rqvfwlili.node3%7D/product/4362175;jsessionid=8Ja-Z6p0Mz5hUORt3Rqvfwlili.node3?site=srSEARCHMAIN_RSLT_PG] like this one from Fry's as well for $40 or this one for $10[=http//www.xpcgear.com/emv35bk.html]or this one for $10


You can also buy a 300GB one assembled for for $90 here[=http//www.thetechgeek.com/content/product.php?pid=25993&cid=]for $90 here

Then make the external drive, add it as a device (you should just have to plug it in, and copy your files back and forth.

60$ 250gb IDE

http//www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822144422


Nice enclosure, with a fan, you can leave it on all the time if you like to

http//www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817186104



I bought this one last month, Its cheap and works(will run hot if you have it on all the time)
http//www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817185010

What about this drive?

http//www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822144188

Or do I need an IDE instead of SATA?

sata is fine, just need a sata enclosure

http//www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817121184

Ok, best deal yet. 400 GB for $100, Internal but SATA, 3.5"

http//shop4.outpost.com/product/5175466

Well thank you guys for your help. I decided to go for a Seagate 500 GB Internal Hardrive on sale at Staples for $94

I got a 160 gig external off Frys last week for $50. The prices are dropping at an incredible rate.

I still need an enclosure, any seen any deals latley?

- 3.5" SATA External USB 2.0 HD Enclosure -

There's one I listed n my post for $12 (used to be $10).

Ugg, its IDE like every other cheap one on the net.

I would not buy a Maxtor...That seagate 500gigs for 94 bucks seems like a good choice.

[quote0000dbe7d8="O4F-Manofice"]I would not buy a Maxtor...That seagate 500gigs for 94 bucks seems like a good choice.[/quote0000dbe7d8]

I've always chose Seagate over Maxtor, I've heard maxtor's havn't been as bad now....... things change? heh

[quotec32dfb2b89="shaggz"][quotec32dfb2b89="O4F-Manofice"]I would not buy a Maxtor...That seagate 500gigs for 94 bucks seems like a good choice.[/quotec32dfb2b89]

I've always chose Seagate over Maxtor, I've heard maxtor's havn't been as bad now....... things change? heh[/quotec32dfb2b89]

I had a 250 gig Maxtor ultra drive crap out before 1 year. I bought a 320 gig I believe Seagate after that and the thing rocks and comes with a 5 year warranty, I'm buying Seagate from now on.

Not to hijack (intentionally), but where might a cheap 2.5" pata drive over 100GB be found? (aside from Newegg) More importantly, how cheap should I expect to find one?