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Wii U Recomended HDDs / USB drives?

P

Producer

Member
Looking to get either one. Does anyone use external storage and can vouch for one? Especially from people who have been using it for months and/or using it extensively.

For USB drives i am looking into 128GB models and for external HDDs 1tb since that seems to be the lowest (i know i'll need a Y Cable for these). Thanks
 
I'd also be very interested to know.

Being an 8gb owner and wanting to play BOTW sucks.
 
Western Digital 2 TB USB 3.0 My Book Desktop External Hard Drive (WDBFJK0020HBK-NESN )

Been using it for over three years now and between my daughter and I we've probably put over a thousand hours on our Wii U and I've got somewhere around 300 games on it; it's a great drive and incredibly reliable, not to mention the fact that it's an externally powered usb drive which is recommended for the Wii U. More space than you'll ever need for the Wii U as well, which I suppose is nice. I believe there's a 1tb version that's obviously probably cheaper, and honestly I'd recommend going for that one.
 
Joey Ravn said:
I've been using this one for years and it hasn't given me any issues at all. Mind you, you'll need a Y-type USB cable so it can draw power from two USB ports. But other than that, it's perfectly fine.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CRZ2PRM/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Click to expand...

Thank you for the suggestions. I've searched the same type with less storage as I don't need this much. And this is the cheapest that I can find from Amazon Germany:

(750gb €46)

https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B00H53ET0C/

Is there a cheaper option? I really don't care about storage. 128gb is more than enough. It's for Zelda mainly. The most important is finding a reliable and cheapest solution.

Would this also be the right y cable?

https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B009EAF0RU/
 
When I upgraded my 250GB PS3 drive to 1 TB years ago I just put the old one in an enclosure and plugged it into my Wii U no problem.
 
RpgN said:
A USB 2.0 works? I thought only 3.0 ones work?

I really am a complete noob when it comes to hard drives...
Click to expand...

The WiiU only has USB 2.0 ports, I see no reason why a USB 3.0 HDD shouldn't work, but it won't be any faster or anything.

This is how I have had mine since launch day (excuse the dust).

C1sl6C6.jpg
 
B1G_A1AN said:
The WiiU only has USB 2.0 ports, I see no reason why a USB 3.0 HDD shouldn't work, but it won't be any faster or anything.

This is how I have had mine since launch day (excuse the dust).
Click to expand...


This is a big deal. I already have a USB 2.0 320gb HDD by WD Elements.

I'll order one of those y cables and give it a try then. Expect a report back.

Thank you...
 
I've used a 32GB USB3 stick since I got my 8GB Wii U (3 years ago or so?). I know Nintendo don't advise USB sticks but I have never had a problem.
 
Thanks for the suggestions guys, some of these i already had my eye on so its good to see i wasnt that far off the mark.

poodaddy said:
Western Digital 2 TB USB 3.0 My Book Desktop External Hard Drive (WDBFJK0020HBK-NESN )

Been using it for over three years now and between my daughter and I we've probably put over a thousand hours on our Wii U and I've got somewhere around 300 games on it; it's a great drive and incredibly reliable, not to mention the fact that it's an externally powered usb drive which is recommended for the Wii U. More space than you'll ever need for the Wii U as well, which I suppose is nice. I believe there's a 1tb version that's obviously probably cheaper, and honestly I'd recommend going for that one.
Click to expand...

I actually was at my local target last night and saw this for sale for $70. Might go for it since it seems reliable, being externally powered and only about $10 more than the other recommended portable hdds + ycable. But its definately much more space that i'd ever need haha.
 
I put a 2TB Firecudda drive in my PS4 and took the 500GB drive was in the PS4 into a USB enclosure and use that on my Wii U.

Solved two problems at once for me.
 
I'm going to go the other way here, I'm using just a simple 128gb USB flash drive , probably a Sandisk Cruzer, I don't really know.

It works great, no problem. Save yourself the money.
 
Nintendo says not to use flash drives with the Wii U due to possibility of data loss. However many people seem to have done so successfully.

For hard drives, the only important thing is that it is USB 2.0 compatible. The second most important thing is that it either have its own power plug ("desktop" class hard drive) or come with a USB y-cable so it can be plugged into two USB ports on the Wii U at once to power itself. USB 2.0 compatible SSDs should also work without a y-cable due to lower power draw.
 
The issue with USB flash drives and overall recommendations, is more of an advise and guideline.

If they said "you can use any USB", people would use any cheap flash drive they got for $1 or in a keychain or whatever... Then loss all data...then make a thread in here to complain about how much Nintendo sucks.

Same with the fake SD Cards that many buy on eBay from China...just because it was cheap.
 
Producer said:
Thanks for the suggestions guys, some of these i already had my eye on so its good to see i wasnt that far off the mark.



I actually was at my local target last night and saw this for sale for $70. Might go for it since it seems reliable, being externally powered and only about $10 more than the other recommended portable hdds + ycable. But its definately much more space that i'd ever need haha.
Click to expand...

Yeah for that price it's an absolute steal and I highly recommend it, especially if you can find the 1tb variant for cheaper. Lemme know how it works out for ya :)
 
Don't use a USB-drive unless it's one of the better brands like SanDisk or Samsung (but even then its not recommended).
You can use any 2.5" or 3.5" hard drive, but if you get one of the 2.5" drives that work without a power supply you will most likely need a Y-cable to connect it two USB-ports for it to get enough power.
 
poodaddy said:
Yeah for that price it's an absolute steal and I highly recommend it, especially if you can find the 1tb variant for cheaper. Lemme know how it works out for ya :)
Click to expand...

I ended up picking it up, heh. It was very easy to setup and transfer all my stuff to. Really like the looks of it as well, pairs well with the wii u imo. Thanks for the suggestion man.
 
Producer said:
I ended up picking it up, heh. It was very easy to setup and transfer all my stuff to. Really like the looks of it as well, pairs well with the wii u imo. Thanks for the suggestion man.
Click to expand...

I'm pleased to hear it worked out for you brethren :). It is a nice looking drive and yeah I think it'll last ya the long haul. Happy gaming to ya brethren, now get out there and explore Hyrule!
 
dc89 said:
I've used a 32GB USB3 stick since I got my 8GB Wii U (3 years ago or so?). I know Nintendo don't advise USB sticks but I have never had a problem.
Click to expand...

That's because they don't want any liability for people going out and grabbing no-name brand USB sticks and having them fail. A good USB drive with decent read/write speeds is more than fine. Microsoft had Sandisk produce xbox 360 themed USB sticks for game downloads and saves.
 
poodaddy said:
Western Digital 2 TB USB 3.0 My Book Desktop External Hard Drive (WDBFJK0020HBK-NESN )

Been using it for over three years now and between my daughter and I we've probably put over a thousand hours on our Wii U and I've got somewhere around 300 games on it; it's a great drive and incredibly reliable, not to mention the fact that it's an externally powered usb drive which is recommended for the Wii U. More space than you'll ever need for the Wii U as well, which I suppose is nice. I believe there's a 1tb version that's obviously probably cheaper, and honestly I'd recommend going for that one.
Click to expand...

Blimey 300 games! So 2tb is overkill you'd say and 1tb should be fine?
 
Buy a Solid State internal drive and a 2.5in internal to external drive enclosure. Works really well and affordable.
 
I won't recommend mine but anyone that's highly rated should be just fine.

If you have a good one sitting around the house use that.
 
poodaddy said:
Western Digital 2 TB USB 3.0 My Book Desktop External Hard Drive (WDBFJK0020HBK-NESN )

Been using it for over three years now and between my daughter and I we've probably put over a thousand hours on our Wii U and I've got somewhere around 300 games on it; it's a great drive and incredibly reliable, not to mention the fact that it's an externally powered usb drive which is recommended for the Wii U. More space than you'll ever need for the Wii U as well, which I suppose is nice. I believe there's a 1tb version that's obviously probably cheaper, and honestly I'd recommend going for that one.
Click to expand...

finngamer's alt account? ;)
 
B1G_A1AN said:
The WiiU only has USB 2.0 ports, I see no reason why a USB 3.0 HDD shouldn't work, but it won't be any faster or anything.

This is how I have had mine since launch day (excuse the dust).

C1sl6C6.jpg
Click to expand...

Do they have a Dollar Tree around you? They sell these kickass duster cloths for a buck.
 
poodaddy said:
Western Digital 2 TB USB 3.0 My Book Desktop External Hard Drive (WDBFJK0020HBK-NESN )

Been using it for over three years now and between my daughter and I we've probably put over a thousand hours on our Wii U and I've got somewhere around 300 games on it; it's a great drive and incredibly reliable, not to mention the fact that it's an externally powered usb drive which is recommended for the Wii U. More space than you'll ever need for the Wii U as well, which I suppose is nice. I believe there's a 1tb version that's obviously probably cheaper, and honestly I'd recommend going for that one.
Click to expand...

Seconding this, the 1TB, it works excellently. I got it as a gift from esteemed GAFer emeritus terrisus.
 
I bought a WD 1TB one the other day. Needed the Y cable. I haven't used it while playing anything though. Backed up everything to it. Took awhile.

I'm assuming there will be added load times. That's why I'm playing Zelda on the internal SSD.


eliochip said:
Do they have a Dollar Tree around you? They sell these kickass duster cloths for a buck.
Click to expand...
Heh.
 
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