Hard drive upgrade advice please!

OnTheRopes · 19 May 2013 at 11:39

I currently have a 1Tb hard drive which I use mainly for photo editing and storage. I backup to an external usb drive at the moment.

I am looking to upgrade to 2 x 2TB internal hard drives, one solely for backup and the other to replace my current hard drive for OS and data on separate partitions.

My motherboard is an Asus P7P55D-E which states on the specs that it has 6 x SATA 3.0Gb/s ports. However elsewhere under connector/jumpers/slots it states 7 pin SATA 1-6.

I was thinking of getting 2 x Western Digital Caviar Black 2TB SATA 6Gb/s 64MB Cache - OEM (WD2002FAEX) HDD - which is compatible with SATA 2.

So I am a bit confused, will these HD's work with my MB and do I need specific leads?
I presume the 6Gb/s will be throttleed to 3Gb/s if it does work?

Is my MB SATA II or what?

Should I upgrade my Motherboard?

Thanks for the help

Idleman · 19 May 2013 at 11:54

If this is your mobo, then you will be fine.

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/P7P55DE/#specifications

2 x SATA 6.0Gb/s connectors (gray)
7 x SATA 3.0Gb/s connectors (blue from P55, black from JMB363)

OnTheRopes · 19 May 2013 at 11:58

Idleman - Cheers
Yes this is the one, will I need to order leads as extra with the hard drives?

Also, do you think one of these would bo compatible? http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-084-HI&groupid=701&catid=14

Thanks

Idleman · 19 May 2013 at 12:07

OnTheRopes said:
Idleman - Cheers
Yes this is the one, will I need to order leads as extra with the hard drives?

Thanks

Yes mate, as hdd`s don`t come with data cables.
Any particular reason for the WD Blacks, as you could get 2x2TB seagate hdd and a 128GB ssd for the same price.

OnTheRopes · 19 May 2013 at 12:17

Well, that is a good point but my OS and Applications partition is currently 238Gb so I ignored the ssd option.

No reason specifically for the blacks I just want large capacity for plenty of backup and reliability

Idleman · 19 May 2013 at 12:49

Also, do you think one of these would bo compatible? http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showpr...d=701&catid=14

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/internal-hard-drives/1296265/hitachi-deskstar-7k4000-4tb

OnTheRopes · 19 May 2013 at 15:27

Thanks

Idleman · 19 May 2013 at 15:43

OnTheRopes said:
Thanks

Ninja edit, but not quick enough it seems.

Hmm not SATA II compatible

What do you mean?

OnTheRopes · 19 May 2013 at 16:14

Idleman said:
Ninja edit, but not quick enough it seems.

What do you mean?

Lol caught out :/

Well, I was comparing with other HD's which claim to be backwards compatible with SATA II. I suppose being unknowledgeable about the subject I was having some doubt if my mobo will be OK with SATA III and therefore could use II if required, but I probably have it all wrong

Idleman · 19 May 2013 at 18:14

You wont notice any difference between sata 2 or 3 in regards to hdds. As you will plug both into the same 3gb port, as sata 3 drives can`t utilise 6GB. An ssd will but not a hdd.

OnTheRopes · 20 May 2013 at 09:31

OK thanks for the help Idleman
Much appreciated