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Thread ID: 58363 2005-05-29 07:25:00 How do I choose a hard drive? R0sered (7098) Press F1
Post ID Timestamp Content User
359538 2005-05-29 07:25:00 My 2 1/2 year old PC is running out of space and I would like to add a second hard drive - but I am not sure how to tell what is compatible with my existing system. I read somewhere that "newish" computers can take SATA - but the article didn''t define "newish"! Any hints or recommendations? R0sered (7098)
359539 2005-05-29 07:32:00 At 2-1/2 years old, it will not be SATA. It will be PATA (IDE), SATA was practically unknown that long ago.

Any common IDE drive should be fine. Seagate or Western Digital etc.
Unless you have extreme needs, there is no need to buy anything but the commonly available ones, pick the size you need or can afford.
godfather (25)
359540 2005-05-29 07:35:00 im guessing your old pc will be IDE so buy an IDE harddrive, buy one that has fast rpm, 7400rpm would be good and enough space to suit your needs..... im not too sure on the good brands though, someone here will advise you on that.... Prescott (11)
359541 2005-05-29 07:46:00 1. You have not told us what you have in your computer
moutherboard......,,,,,,(you need to give us a hint of what you have so we can give you hints on what we think, its a two way street.)

2. pata hd would be fine for most people still, get a 7200 rpm 8 m cache 120/160/200 or whatever you can afford, bigger the better.
memphis (2869)
359542 2005-05-29 11:07:00 My 2 1/2 year old PC is running out of space and I would like to add a second hard drive - but I am not sure how to tell what is compatible with my existing system. I read somewhere that "newish" computers can take SATA - but the article didn''t define "newish"! Any hints or recommendations?

IDE hard drive would be best. I would recommend a Seagate due to the 5 yr warranty and the fact that I haven't had a Seagate drive die in years. I currently have two Seagate 120 Gig drives one being removable and one is a copy of the other.

Just because I have not yet had a problem it does not mean I won't.
Elephant (599)
359543 2005-05-30 09:36:00 Thanks everyone - I guess 2 1/2 years is kind of old for a computer - should have realised that! I'm still trying to figure out what my motherboard is - can't seem to find out how I work that out. However I did find the original specifications from when I bought the computer - which says my existing hard drive is 40GB Ultra ATA (7200RPM), so I guess I'm on the right track if I buy the same sort. I worked out that ATA & IDE mean the same thing - so that's another confusion sorted.

I think I'm sorted now thanks (you can tell I don't do this every week!)
R0sered (7098)
359544 2005-05-30 18:06:00 If you download and use a program like Everest home edition (www.lavalys.com), it will tell you what your motherboard is and give you all the info on your other hardware. 4bes (2848)
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