Skip navigation
nngn
nngn Calculating status...
Currently Being Moderated

External hard drive as primary media drive?

Dec 5, 2012 5:15 PM

Tags: #external_hdd

Hi,

 

Since I'm running on a low spec laptop with a 5400 RPM drive 750G HDD (partition to 150G system drive and 600G media drive) , I'm thinking to add an external hard drive shortly even though I still have plenty of empty space on both drive, but just for the future as the footage eats space quite quick.

 

The option on my mind is to build a 2TB external hard drive with a 7200RPM speed disk such as WD Caviar Enterprise 3.5 inch RE4 2TB 7200RPM 64MB SATA II or a Seagate Barracuda 2TB Hard Drive ST2000DM001 + enclosure with USB3.0 interface.

 

Once built will this 7200RPM external drive be a better primary media drive than my internal 5400RPM one? I mean storing all my media files for the PP or AE workflow? or the USB3.0 transfer rate is still not as good as an internal drive where it could impact on the overall performance?

 

And is there any settings that I need to pay particular attention to?

 

Thanks in advance.

853 Views   12 Replies   Latest reply: ComputerNovice25, Dec 7, 2012 8:37 PM
 
Replies
  • Jim Simon
    Currently Being Moderated
    1. Jim Simon,
    Dec 5, 2012 5:30 PM   in reply to nngn
    Report

    Does your Laptop have a USB 3.0 port?

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • nngn
    Currently Being Moderated
    2. nngn,
    Dec 5, 2012 5:47 PM   in reply to Jim Simon
    Report

    Yes Jim, my laptop has both USB3.0 and 2.0, it also has a eSATA port. but I guess eSATA is not good for PP/AE to locate files.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • John T Smith
    Currently Being Moderated
    3. John T Smith,
    Dec 5, 2012 9:54 PM   in reply to nngn
    Report

    >partition to 150G system drive and 600G media drive

     

    As well as 5400 rpm drive being a limiting factor, there has been a report of partition crashes

     

    http://forums.adobe.com/thread/957286

     

    So, yes, a fast external is very likely going to be better for video files

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Harm Millaard
    Currently Being Moderated
    4. Harm Millaard,
    Dec 6, 2012 1:21 AM   in reply to nngn
    Report

    Using eSATA is your best option. USB3 is second choice. Those disks you mentioned will achieve sustained transfer rates of about 140 - 150 MB/s over eSATA and around 100 - 110 over USB3. In comparison, the partitioned internal drive will not even reach 100 MB/s.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • nngn
    Currently Being Moderated
    5. nngn,
    Dec 6, 2012 4:39 PM   in reply to Harm Millaard
    Report

    Thanks Harm.

    Is there any setting I need to make to ensure PP/AE can locate all files on the external disk?

    I recall I read some discussion on the forum regarding the eSATA external hard disk set up, mentioned about MANDATE the disk name etc.

    Thanks.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • lasvideo
    Currently Being Moderated
    6. lasvideo,
    Dec 6, 2012 5:07 PM   in reply to nngn
    Report

    I am running an esata external raid . PrP and AE have no problem locating the files. Its a good idea to keep all your media and cache (PrP and AE)  and preview folders on that driver for best performance.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • nngn
    Currently Being Moderated
    7. nngn,
    Dec 6, 2012 5:25 PM   in reply to lasvideo
    Report

    Thanks Lasvideo.

    It's more assuring hearing of your personal experience with that set up.

    While all my media files including cashe and preview folders are stored in my internal drive as I edit from there. I'm wondeing if you moved all your old files onto the external disk when you set up or PP/AE would create a new set of files for new projects?

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • lasvideo
    Currently Being Moderated
    8. lasvideo,
    Dec 6, 2012 5:32 PM   in reply to nngn
    Report

    I recently switched to a PC. I got it optimized by the very smart folks at ADK (Eric). He created folders  for Caches ( that took both PrP and AE Media and Data cache files).  He then configured PrP and AE to use these files.

     

    When you start up PrP you can tell it where you want your preview files and captured files as well.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • nngn
    Currently Being Moderated
    9. nngn,
    Dec 6, 2012 5:39 PM   in reply to lasvideo
    Report

    Thanks a lot guys.

    I now have a much better understanding.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • Gisootje
    Currently Being Moderated
    10. Gisootje,
    Dec 7, 2012 1:48 PM   in reply to nngn
    Report

    To add my experience for your faith: I run PPro and AE on an i7. All my projects, media cache files and video files are stored on an external 2Tb Samsung (7200 rpm) with USB 3.0 without any problem. I can move this drive to every machine I own and continue my work. One think to keep in mind: make sure that your external HD on all those machines have the same drive letter. If not, PPro wil ask every time it opens your project where your files are.

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • nngn
    Currently Being Moderated
    11. nngn,
    Dec 7, 2012 7:27 PM   in reply to Gisootje
    Report

    Thanks Gisootje for your input.

    Now I'm confident that I would optimize my workflow with this set up

     
    |
    Mark as:
  • ComputerNovice25
    Currently Being Moderated
    12. ComputerNovice25,
    Dec 7, 2012 8:37 PM   in reply to nngn
    Report

    I use E-SATA on a daily basis as well. I am running a RAID-5 array with 4 7200RPM 1TB HDD's. It works wonderfully with Premiere. I use the external RAID array for all my footage and editing elements like graphics etc. and I don't ever have any issues.

     
    |
    Mark as:
Actions

More Like This

  • Retrieving data ...

Bookmarked By (0)

Answers + Points = Status

  • 10 points awarded for Correct Answers
  • 5 points awarded for Helpful Answers
  • 10,000+ points
  • 1,001-10,000 points
  • 501-1,000 points
  • 5-500 points