Extra Internal Storage

[MaiDong]

I've got a Compaq Presario CQ3072L with the specifications below, I would like to know if I could install an extra HDD inside - just buy and plug in, any ideas?

Intelฎ Pentiumฎ dual core processor E5400

2.7GHz, 2MB L2 Cache, 800MHz FSB, EM64T, Execute Disable Bit, EIST"

Intelฎ G31 Express Chipset, 320GB SATA hard drive at 7200RPM

1GB DDR2RAM up to 4GB with FSB RAM 800MHz

SuperMulti SATA Drive with Lightscribe Technology, Double Layer (8.5GB),

Integrated Intel High Definition Audio, 5.1 Surround Sound Ready

Intelฎ GMA 3100 Graphics with 128MB shared graphics memory up to 251MB

Integrated 10/100 Base-T Ethernet, 56k ITU v.92 Modem

6 USB 2.0 Port (2 Front 4 Rear)

1 PCI Express(x16 )and ,2 PCI Express(x1)

Integrated PS2 keyboard, Optical scroller mouse

FreeDOS, PC Doctor program preloaded

6-in-1 digital media reader

1-year limited on-site warranty

Compaq w185q 18.5" LCD Monitor

[d0ndela]

You can, the only thing that could stop you from doing so is if all HDD slots were already occupied or if all power/IDE/SATA cables were used. But if you only have a single hard drive in there now (which I assume you have) you can put in another HDD without problems.

Only thing to check before you buy the new disk is if your system uses IDE or SATA standard for the drives.

Edit: I missed the SATA hard drive you listed, so no need to check Just buy a SATA disk and you are good to go.

[MaiDong]

Thanks for your reply, I've opened up the case and I can't work out if I have enough slots as there is a rather large bundle of cables and I'm wo0rried about pulling them around in case I pull something out and don't know what I've done!

I can confirm that there are spare cables dangling around in there so I assume they are for extra hard drives?...

[MaiDong]

My issue is this: I want to get 1TB, I've seen these somewhere priced at around B3,000(internal) I think, I'd like an external but if I can save a few thousand Baht I'd use internal - unless someone can point me in the right direction for a decent & robust 1TB unit for a good price...

[d0ndela]

1TB external Western Digital is available for around 3700 baht. And an internal 1TB disk would as you say be around 3000 baht. So if you want to be able to transport your disk around and avoid the troubles of installing the internal one, 700 baht isn't so bad.

[MaiDong]

I suppose so, I've heard WD are a bit temperamental, any experiences?

[d0ndela]

Personally I use Buffalo drives, only WD I have is a 2.5" 320GB version, but have had no problems with that so far. The cheapest Buffalo 1TB external drive is just under 4000 baht.

A reason why you hear of more problems with WD than other brands could be because they are probably the brand which sells the most drives. So might be the same percentage of failures, just with that many more drives sold the number of failures are higher? I'm just guessing here, and by no means can I back it up with any evidence

There have been a few tests in some of the recent PC World magazines. I believe that the winner in one of the tests was a LaCie drive and in the other it was an iomega drive (might remember wrong, but I think it was those two).

[MaiDong]

I'm off to the IT mall to have a look, thanks for the info

[MaiDong]

I ended up getting an acer 1TB external for B3350, down from B3400

Definitely a better option to an internal, for me, I couldn't wait to find a better deal.

[ignis]

Depends on how often you are using the extra hard drive?

Do you use air con in the room with the PC ?

I have 3 internal sata hard drives ALL I fitted with the twin fan HDD units... myself used these type of hard drive fans for at least 7 years..

I also have 3 external hard drives, used maybe 1x per week on 2 of them, mostly for backup the other a little more often as use with laptop..

I never use air con, and found out 3-4 years ago that if you leave the externals on for hours they overheat, now the sata external I use with the PC + laptop appears to be doing odd things..

Likewise my old laptop would start to do odd thing after it was on for some time, I bought the 3 fan stand about a year ago, never had the problem again..

No idea about your Motherboard, but mine has 4x connections for Sata cables HDD's and of course the connection for the IEE ribbon so could fit 6 HDD's [dom't need also no room with HDD fans on each]

[MaiDong]

Well, I'll be mainly using it for backup too, part of my ongoing attempts to do a complete clean install of legit OS's on all computers and then being able to backup the fresh install and settings so in theory I won't need the hard drive to stay on all the time, I haven't unplugged it since I got in last night though best do that now...

[d0ndela]

It's very simple, if you plan to have your external hard drive turned on all the time, just buy one with built-in fan/cooler. That's what they are made for. OF course they do cost those extra couple of hundred baht, but it's well worth it for 24/7 use.

[MaiDong]

It's very simple, if you plan to have your external hard drive turned on all the time, just buy one with built-in fan/cooler. That's what they are made for. OF course they do cost those extra couple of hundred baht, but it's well worth it for 24/7 use.

As I said above, I'll only be using it for backups.