[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

[Count Jackula]

Great. Thanks for your help.

[Count Jackula]

Back again.

Ive rethinked my upgrade and am now changing my mobo to AM2 socket.

I'm having trouble finding out if my current HDD will work with new mobos.

Here is one I plan on buying:

http://www.novatech.co.uk/novatech/s...tml?MBB-AM462M

It says ATA/133 and I believe my HDD is ATA/100, does this mean I can't use it?

If that mobo won't do, what about this: http://www.ebuyer.com/product/131187 ?

If I buy a new Mobo does it have to have an ATA/100 connector for me to use my HDD?

[philthomas]

According to the spec of your 1st choice mobo, the board has 1 x ATA/133 + 2 x SATA 300 controllers.

Your ATA/100 HDD will work fine with this mobo. The only thing to consider is .... what other IDE (ATA) drives you may want to add, as the 1 x ATA/133 will only support 2 x devices and any further ones, will need to be SATA. For example if you wish to add a DVD-ROM Drive and a DVD Burner, one would have to be a SATA.