[Count Jackula]

Hello there.

I am in the process of upgrading my computer, I've posted in the Graphics section already concerning a Graphics card upgrade but I am now stuck on another thing.

At the moment I have a Samsung SV0813H 80GB hard-drive, which is very nearly full. So as part of my upgrade I am buying a new hard-drive. I would like to keep my old one and simply add another one in. However I do no know which ones would be compatible. I have looked up my system information and I'm not sure as to whether it is SATA or what. It says is it an ATA device with Ultra-ATA/100 interface. I don't know what that means. On the website for my motherboard it says " SerialATA 1.5Gb/s, RAID 0,1,JBOD, SATA HDD Hotplug". So I'm guessing it is SATA.

Could somebody please recommend a hard-drive for me for under £30 with more than 80GB which would be compatible? Preferably from Ebuyer.com. I don't want to buy one and find I cannot use it.

If you need more information just ask and I will try my best to find out.

[alex]

Hey CJ

Depends on the motherboard really, what mobo you running?

[alex]

Also, I haven't looked yet but I'd be surprised if you got a hdd, new, with a capacity over 80gb for less than £30.

You might get a 80GB for that.

[philthomas]

As Alex said, it will depend on the mobo. Many mobos support PATA and SATA drives, which may be so with yours.

A simple way of checking the one you have is to pop the case panel and look at the data cable going to it. If it's a 2" approx ribbon cable it's a PATA (IDE) drive .... if it's a .6" approx ribbon cable, then it's SATA.

[Count Jackula]

My motherboard is an ASRock 939S56-M.

An 80GB will do me fine I think.

[philthomas]

According to the spec. for your mobo you have 2 x PATA and 2 x SATA Connectors, so you have a choice of either :

http://www.asrock.com/mb/overview.asp?Model=939S56-M

[Count Jackula]

OK thanks.

Would this one be ok? http://www.ebuyer.com/product/129414

Also, if that drive is ok. Do I just simply plug it into the connector? Or will I have to do something else aswell?

[philthomas]

Yep that should be fine.

If your existing drive is a PATA drive though, you may need to install the SATA drivers from the mobo disk, before installing ..... assuming you are just adding this as a data drive and not to install your OS on.

If your existing drive is SATA, they will already be installed.

[philthomas]

Update

I just checked and your Samsung SV0813H 80GB is a PATA drive, so you will need to install the SATA drivers ;)

[philthomas]

This may help, if you haven't got the original mobo disk :

http://www.asrock.com/mb/download.asp?Model=939S56-M