Recommend a hard drive [Archive]

Skiz

12-13-2007, 04:21 PM

I don't know much about hardware so I'm seeking a bit of help from those who do. I'm looking add a 500GB hard drive to an Dell XPS700.

The current drive I use is a WDC WD3200KS-75PFB0 (298 GB, IDE)

Other stats:

CPU Type Mobile DualCore Intel Merom, 2133 MHz (8 x 267)
Motherboard Name Dell DXG061
Motherboard Chipset nVIDIA nForce4 Intel Edition

The new drive will be used for extra file sharing space. Movies, music, etc. so 7200 RPM should be plenty.

Ideas? :)

clocker

12-13-2007, 05:02 PM

Vantec PCMCIA eSATA card. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16839113007)

Vantec NexStart enclosure. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817145167)

Seagate 500GB Barracuda. (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148151)

For $200 you get a fast, quiet and reliable external setup.

Skiz

12-13-2007, 05:10 PM

I really don't have the ideal space for an external and I don't want it sitting on the carpet obviously.

With no real advantages, I can hardly see the point in spending the extra money.

clocker

12-13-2007, 05:23 PM

This is a laptop, right?

Skiz

12-13-2007, 05:32 PM

No. :unsure:

http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/4486/xps7002jc6.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Shiranai_Baka

12-13-2007, 05:54 PM

mr. nails

12-13-2007, 08:12 PM

i prefer western digital for my hdd's.

WDC500GB (http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073).

clocker

12-13-2007, 09:42 PM

No. :unsure:

Then why the mobile chip?
Also, all the Dell's I've opened recently use SATA drives, yet you say IDE.
The pictured PC most certainly is set up for SATA so the drive I mentioned would still work you just don't need the card and enclosure.

Skiz

12-14-2007, 03:45 AM

Mobile chip? I dunno... you're asking the wrong guy. :idunno:

Here's an Everest specs list. Perhaps that will help...

Edit: Removed your attachment
It had information that you wouldn't want spread around, such as your email address.

lynx

12-14-2007, 09:11 AM

Everest often gets this sort of thing wrong, because the SATA chip behaves as if it was an IDE chip.

Before anyone suggests using SIW, it often does the same too.

The only way to be sure is to look at the model number of existing drives, then check what sort they are. Or take the cover off and have a look.

S!X

12-14-2007, 09:21 AM

Seagate's the way to go!

Skiz

12-15-2007, 07:16 AM

I opened the (dusty) case and here is how the drive connects:

I think that answers the question, correct?

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/8500/drivegx7.png (http://imageshack.us)

clocker

12-15-2007, 12:34 PM

Yeah, it's SATA.

Skiz

12-16-2007, 12:22 AM

So the same drive then?

I'll scoop it up after the new year. Thanks. :)

FalconAce

12-16-2007, 01:24 AM

Seagate or Western Digital make great drives. Mine never failed on me yet :) WD's Raptor harddrives are really fast too...

supermoe

12-16-2007, 01:39 AM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073
rulez

clocker

12-16-2007, 01:47 AM

The Seagate that Shiranai posted above would actually be a better choice than mine...larger cache.

@SB...I didn't recommend that one cause I hadn't seen it before.

Skiz

12-16-2007, 02:08 AM

The Seagate that Shiranai posted above would actually be a better choice than mine...larger cache.

@SB...I didn't recommend that one cause I hadn't seen it before.

Didn't feel like waiting.

Purchased.

Thanks again, to both of you. :)

Detale

12-16-2007, 05:26 AM

Which one did you go with?

Skiz

12-16-2007, 08:43 AM

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148288

clocker

12-16-2007, 01:47 PM

Be sure to check the jumper on the drive...I believe they are jumpered from the factory to run SATA I (to accommodate older boards) and your PC certainly supports the faster SATA II.

grimms

12-18-2007, 11:39 AM

Go with a Western Digital Raptor Sata 1TB or 750GB for around $249 i think. Just as long as it's a Western Digital.

clocker

12-18-2007, 03:41 PM

There aren't any Raptors of 1TB/750GB size.

Just out of curiosity, what do you base your love of WD drives on?

GhostRetired19

12-18-2007, 05:53 PM

Western Digital My Book

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss_gw/104-5477628-4109517?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=+Western+Digital+My+Book&x=21&y=13

Skiz

12-19-2007, 05:18 AM

I thought it worth mentioning that I did find a great standalone utility called SIV (http://siv.mysite.wanadoo-members.co.uk/), which appears spot on in terms of accuracy.

It has quite a bit to offer in terms of information as well and gives "live" reading on info such as temp, memory usage, etc.

clocker

12-19-2007, 04:18 PM

Wow, Skiz, that's an amazing little app.
Thanks.

Skiz

12-21-2007, 05:18 AM

Be sure to check the jumper on the drive...I believe they are jumpered from the factory to run SATA I (to accommodate older boards) and your PC certainly supports the faster SATA II.

From reading other forums around the web, it seems that I don't need a jumper at all. Is that correct? :huh:

Broken

12-21-2007, 05:36 AM

With SATA drives there is no master or slave designation.
If there is a jumper, it should only be to limit data transfer to 1.5Gb\s on a drive capable of 3Gb\s (SATA vs. SATA2).

Depending on the age (and capabilities) of your Mobo, you probably will not need any jumper on the HD.

mrbombastic

12-26-2007, 03:04 AM

Western Digital makes good hard drives.

Skiz

12-26-2007, 03:09 AM

Well, I removed the jumper entirely and all seems well.

I let it run for a day or two prior to moving my music over.

Still fearful of deleting the music from the original drive tho'. I just feel safer with a backup.