1) you may not have the new greens with bigger sectors (EAD vs. EAR). A lot of RAID software doesn't handle these
2) WD started taking TLER out of their lower end drives at the beginning of 2010, yours are older, thus work in a RAID. If you got a pair manufactured since then you would not be able to set them up. Yep, they're crap now. Which is a shame because they'd be perfect for a low power RAID setup.

So the Samsung F3 1TB over the F2 1.5 TB, which is the Green version.

Only it seems like 1 TB drives are getting a lot worse reviews than 320-500 GB drives. Are they just trying to put way too much into the 1+ TB drives that make them more prone to overheating and/or just failing?

I also read reviews of externals failing because of overheating. Found most enclosures had no active cooling. I am not promoting the Thermaltake enclosures but . . . that big ol fan keeps the drive enclosure cool to the touch 24/7.

I would look for enclosures that had some kind of active cooling which I feel is almost as important as the drive you put in the enclosure.

Edit: I think even Thermaltake stopped making the active cooling enclosures actually.

The Antec MX-1 someone mentioned has a cooling fan.

I think I'll get the 500 GB version, which would be enough to store about 10 times the GOG games I have now if they were all about the 1.5 GB level

Okay, so after doing my homework, and trying to stay about $100 for HDD and enclosure, it looks like the Samsung F3 500 GB and the Antec MX-1 eSATA/USB enclosure.

Yeah, sounds about right.

Thank you all for your help. You've been awesome. :D

I also agree active cooling is very important, that is why I have the Antec mx-1. I do plan on upgrading to USB 3, I have personally seen how fast they run, even with a 5400rpm hd inside! I have no experience with WD brand, but my 1tb Samsung 5400rpm HDs are very good, have had them over a year with NO issues. I would recommend doing some searches also on things that have been replied here, always a good idea.

That's what I've been doing all day actually. Between backing up my games and searching are reasons I've been on this forum so much instead of finishing Planescape: Torment. Although I've still been getting in a good 2-4 hours a day, which is about my daily maximum of game time.

Apparently you can't turn it back on in the new drives. Sorry, when we're speaking of WD Green we mean the Caviar Green drives, low power drives (with low RPMs). Honestly if your drive doesn't kick it in the first month or two it'll be fine for the long haul. I'd say Seagate Barracuda if you aren't going to shell out for an Enterprise class drive (and I can't blame you for not, they cost a lot more). Yeah they are a lot crappier than they used to be but the tools are at least still decent and the warranty isn't completely gone:)