Upgrading harddrive?

[Red coupe]

So I have a semi old PC that I have been upgrading bit by bit, and now I want to add more disk space.

Im looking for something fast to help out with load times and what not in games.

I think I also need to keep my original because it has all the factory restore stuff on it, and I don't have any physical copy of windows...

I figured it would be relatively simple, but when I look online I see them offered regular, or with "kits" and in a few different accronyms....

So what do I need to know when upgrading or adding on a second hard drive?What are some good brands, what would be the best for gaming?I don't nessisarily need a huge one, I wouldn't even know what to do with 100's of gbs...Im just barely outgrowing the 80GB one I have now.What would I need to spend to get something good? <$200 would be enough?

Its an HP from 2 years or so ago, with 2 gig of ram upgraded PSU and a 7800GS, 2.4Ghz P4

[MinisterofDOOM]

Is your current setup IDE or SATA (how old is the PC)?

If your current drive is IDE, adding a new drive is really straightforward. Just make sure you have the jumpers in the right spots (windows drive as master, new drive as slave).

If it's SATA, you'll probably end up spending a bit more money and installation isn't quite so simple. I've actually never installed a SATA drive myself, so I can't help much there.

You shouldn't have to spend anywhere near $200 for an 80 gig HDD, though. I picked up a 250 gig a couple months ago for $130 and that was in a brick and mortar store. I'd bet you can find a decent one online for closer to $50.

[mrzabala]

SATA is just as easy as installing an IDE. The only major difference is the ports for them are different. The power source must have ports for the SATA. It is different from IDE. Also the port that runs from SATA to the motherboard is different and the mother board must be compatible meaning that it has to have the ports for SATA. Im not sure about HP as I am assuming you bought your computer ready to go, but my computer is custom made for about 4-5 years now so most computers should have it. It has Abit NF7 motherboard and currently has 2 SATA drives. For SATA, the power source will usually have a cable with a black plug and will be smaller that the plug for an IDE. For the mother board, it will usually have a red thin flat cable with 4 small inlet plugs to put into the HD and motherboard. By no means am I good with computers or know it all. The 2nd SATA I have I installed myself and found it fairly easy. Try Frys weekly special for Seagate harddrivers. Bought 400gb IDE HDs for $108x2 and sold them for $150. Also bought a SATA 300gb for $117. Frys has the cheapest HD prices per 1GB

If you want a IDE Hard drive, pick a company with a long warranty like Seagate - 5 year warranty. Others like maxtor or western digital have about 1 year warranty. I believe you will have to go to your set up when you turn on your comp press the delete button. The interface will have options and you will need to have it set so it will read another hard drive (Sorry for lack of detail, Id have to restart my comp to remember exact procedures and it may be different since I dont have an HP).Its the same thing for SATA. I recommend it rather than an IDE HD since it reads faster, and will replace IDE in the near future.

Note: if you spend more than $60 on an 80gb, it better have 11000rpm read.. If not your just a sucker.

[Red coupe]

The ***** of it is I cant even remember how old the PC is...That kinda tells me its older then I'm thinking but its not terribly outdated...

Stock it was 2.53 Ghz, P4 with 500mb ram, a DVD-R, and XP SP1

I have no idea which of those two it is...Is that something I could find poking around control panel/system info or something, or would I have to open it up?

Its the same thing for SATA. I recommend it rather than an IDE HD since it reads faster, and will replace IDE in the near future.

Note: if you spend more than $60 on an 80gb, it better have 11000rpm read.. If not your just a sucker.

OK Ill do some searching around on SATA and IDE...From the sounds of it I could possibly have connections for either in which case SATA is faster? What speeds should I be looking for on fast (but not ridiculously top end) drive?

What is the deal with "Kits"? frys had a section with kits and a section without....What comes in a kit? mounting braket stuff? or just adapters ect..?

[240Knightrider]

You probably have IDE and your motherboard can handle SATA, yeah SATA is a lot faster when it comes to data transfers.

And $200 you can get a 600gb hard drive. And you say that you are barely at 80gb. A new 80GB should cost you around $50. But no more than that. I have Seagates right now for $49.72.

What is the model number of your computer. Yes you can get faster load times with a hard drive but you might want to concentrate on your graphics and memory status if you want more improved performance in gaming.

[Red coupe]

yeah....Im semi decent but still kinda wanna upgrade on the rest of that.

Not quite to the point of building a whole new system though(even though its probably a better idea)

But I don't have PCI-E on this mother board, and the 7800 was one of the better AGP cards I could find...still semi new....the 2 gig of ram is fine too, so really I would just be updating the processor and I don't think I wanna mess with all that...

So just some more disk space, and some faster load times will make me happy. I figure this HD is reasonably old, and was only a decent speed when it was new...so with something new and fast, pluss the 2 gig of ram I should be able to load BF2 maps with out having to go make a snack...

[brisknfade]

And $200 you can get a 600gb hard drive. And you say that you are barely at 80gb. A new 80GB should cost you around $50. But no more than that. I have Seagates right now for $49.72.

I managed to snag a 320 gig PATA Maxtor for 65 bucks shipped for my Xbox. PATA drives are really cheap nowadays.

[SOHCSE]

It's hard to find a 10,000 RPM drive in a PC133 IDE interface. Here is what I suggest:ModelBrand: MaxtorSeries: DiamondMax 10Model: 6L250R0

PerformanceInterface: IDE Ultra ATA133Capacity: 250GBRPM: 7200 RPMCache: 16MBAverage Seek Time: 9msAverage Latency: 4.17ms

3 Year WarrantyPrice: $59.99

Yes it is only a 7200RPM drive but the 16MB cache should make up for a lot. At that price it's like a sore peter - you can't beat it!

Here is a link: http://www.newegg.com/Product/...44422

Let us know if you have any issues.

[mrzabala]

Sorry if this offends you or anyone else, but Apple/mac sucks. Im glad most colleges have pcs since HS get left with the ****ty left over macs. Im not going to even argue so dont even bother posting you leeches.

OK Ill do some searching around on SATA and IDE...From the sounds of it I could possibly have connections for either in which case SATA is faster? What speeds should I be looking for on fast (but not ridiculously top end) drive?

What is the deal with "Kits"? frys had a section with kits and a section without....What comes in a kit? mounting braket stuff? or just adapters ect..?

Heres a better suggestion:SATA is faster than IDE. 7200rpm is the medium on hardrives no matter if its a SATA or IDE. Above it your looking at double or sometimes tripple the price. Theres a difference and you will know it but the price you pay is not worth it. Go with a seagate if possible. Since you seem like your not looking for anything really high end an 8mb cahce should suffice. I have 1 8mb 400gb SATA almost used up with movies and such and has not given me a problem.

A 250GB Seagate 8/16mb cache SATA/IDE Hard-drive. Im not sure what "kits" your refering to.To give you an example of what HD it should be and look like, go on ebay and either type in seagate 250gb or for example item: type in 320103375590At frys if you wait long enough and get daily updates through the newspaper or internet newspaper, you will see deals for this HD at around $50-75.

[SOHCSE]

Sorry if this offends you or anyone else, but Apple/mac sucks. Im glad most colleges have pcs since HS get left with the ****ty left over macs. Im not going to even argue so dont even bother posting you leeches.

Heh no offense taken. My job requires me to switch from OSX/XP/Linux. My MacBook Pro fits my needs quite nicely. Our design studios use Quad and Eight core Mac Pros. If you don't need high end then there is no reason to buy a mac.

[Red coupe]

Above it your looking at double or sometimes tripple the price. Theres a difference and you will know it but the price you pay is not worth it. Go with a seagate if possible. Since you seem like your not looking for anything really high end

Well I would like as high end as possible....and I was fine/looking to spend in the hundred something dollar range sooooo....Im not just looking for economy or average....But Im not look for high ends as in $300 700TB ect ect....

Im not sure what "kits" your refering to.

like here: http://shop4.outpost.com/categ...tring="Internal Retail Kits" or "Internal Bare Drive"

[brisknfade]

The "Retail Kits" are basically what you would go into Best Buy and see. Retail boxes with the drives, sometimes an extra cable and some software you might not really need. Bare drives are just that, you get the drive in a anti-static bag. No box, nothing else. At least it's like that at Frys.

[mrzabala]

What you buy the HDs that are on display? Will you guys stop with the kits and bs... Frys has them in boxes in different category sections in the store.... Please no one make anymore comments. He should know what to do by now.

[Red coupe]

What you buy the HDs that are on display? Will you guys stop with the kits and bs... Frys has them in boxes in different category sections in the store.... Please no one make anymore comments. He should know what to do by now.

look at the website man, before you choose anything else, it makes you choose as a kit or bare, so I ask....And who are you to tell anyone when anything is done in MY thread?

Edit: Just got done rummaging through the case. Not seeing a SATA plug...Ive seen there is adapters but I think that kinda ruins the point of having a SATA drive no?

oh well at least I know what Im looking for now, thanks for the help guys.
Modified by Red coupe at 5:58 PM 4/20/2007

[240Knightrider]

Yeah not much point in the adapter, like you said ruins the point.