Is adding a new internal hard drive simple?

I am going to buy a new internal hard drive either 750 gb or 1 tb.

The thing is how will i know if i can connect it? I opened up my case and see extra connections available but can't really tell what's what.

I was thinking of getting one of these internal hard drives -WD Blue 1 TB Desktop Hard Drive: 3.5 Inch, 7200 RPM, SATA 6 Gb/s, 64 MB Cache - WD10EZEX

I see on the top of my HD that there is room for another HD should i choose to upgrade. But i am not sure if my extra cables from my PSU will power it on, most if not all internal HD'S in prebuilt pc's are 3.5 inches ?

If i don't connect the HD good or it gets no power whats the worse that can happen?

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN59W-56p3I

This is for Sata.

 

Look at your old hard drive cable if it's flat and 2 inches long you have an ide drive so you'll need to check if you have any sata ports, if your computer is less than about 5 years old you will have them.

The sata connector is small about an 3/4 inch long as pictures is the video posted.

If you have sata ports you can used ANY sata drive.

To power it you'll need a sata power connector, if you don't have one you'll need a molex to sata adapter.

http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_w1DJjHkhVkY/TPdGhz-ch6I/AAAAAAAAAUQ/HApQ9qRe91o/s1600/sata-power.JPG

 

Also do is most memory in pre built computers 1066 or 1333 speed?

I can't see a number on the stick i have for mine i can only see the brand, will using different brands and memory stick speeds cause problems?

 

It's all different speeds, run everest, sandra ect. to find out the speed and size of memory then buy identical if possible,same size,speed and brand,the less difference the better. If the memory you buy is faster it may work but the motherboard will default to the speed of the slower memory.

Go to the manufacturer of your computer or motherboards website and look at the memory support list to find the maximum speed and size you can use.

Because memory is so cheap and you may only have 2 slots you want to use the largest fastest you fit in there so dumping your old memory and completely replacing it with a new kit which is faster,larger and will definitely be compatible can often be the best choice.

 

States memory is kingston, ddr3 running off 665 mhz, so i guess ill dump my old one and just buy 2 other sticks which are a bit faster. My computer is definitely less than 5 years old ( 2 i think) so i guess the cables i have should support the drive.

Would i still think one of those cable converters?

 

Nexus.

You might benefit by going to a web site or page that specializes in Power Supplies (PSU) and check out the pics or diagrams of the connectors that come out of the PSU's and compare them to what you see available coming from your PSU.

This sounds like a simpleton type of method, but until I built my own PC last year I knew nothing about power supply connectors.

Here is one that helped me:

http://www.hardwaresecrets.com/printpage/Everything-You-Need-to-Know-About-Power-Supplies/181

Figures 15 and 17 indicate the two possible types of power connectors for hard drives.

 

I found out that most new internal hard drives don't come with sata cables.

I checked my power supply cables once again and it does seem like a have at least an extra sata power connector.

but the sata cable that plugs into the motherboard it seems it must iether come with the new hard drive or i i must buy one.

My only other issue i come across is that i see people mention '' left'' or ''right'' sata cables and i am not sure which one to get. The sata power connector is connected to my current drive in the left while the sata cable is connected to the right , is that of any assistance regarding my concern?

Also can i just buy any sata cable? there are generic ones on sale and i can get more than 1 for $5 orso. Does the color of the data cable change its durability?

The one i currently have on my main hard drive is all black , i mostly see red ones for sale. I guess i would appreciate some pointers in regards if i should buy a ''left'' or ''right'' sata cable which i don't really know which one i need, and also which brand if that matters.

 

I think you need a crash course in "adding a hard drive".

I would check out youtube videos until you find one that answers your questions.

You might also visit a vendors web page who specializes in computer cables and look at the various types of cables they sell. I've never heard of left or right cables myself, but others here may have.

Make sure your available sata power cable will reach the new hard drive when it's installed in it's bay; you might have to use an extension cable to reach it.

I don't think the process of adding a hard drive is that difficult. You just need to find the right instructions that explains the process, step by step.

I bought the cheapest cables I could find and they work fine. I used ebay. You might not want to use the cheapest but I doubt spending a lot more gets you a much better quality.

 

You are right about the reasearch part though i haven't really been able ot figure out whether i will be able ( or should) to format the hard drive in bios or windows.

I also don't know if i will have to tinker with some bios settings as some people keep mentioning in some guides that you may need to set 1 hard drive to '' master'' and another as a ''slave''.

Upon further research it doesn't appear the brand of the cables matters all too much, or the length for that matter. So i suppose i am good to go just with generic cables or name brand ones. Since the sata cables seem cheap in price i will just get an alienware one for $3 and a set of 5 generic ones for $5.

How much did you spent for your sata cable(S)? Seems the average price of a generic one is $1 and for a name brand one no more than $5

 

Your over thinking it

Get any sata cable that's the right length, master and slave is for older IDE drives so not of concern sata drives are plug and play, format in bios when you install windows or in windows if it's a secondary drive.

You have all the info you need to make the plunge, cross any other bridges when you come to them

 

I am curious if the new memory they sell is less ''taller'' now?

I just got my memory and its probably only half the height of what the original drr3 stick that was in the desktop already. It seems to be running fine though initially i was worried they sent me the wrong ones i guess they make them shorter now.

For the hard drive ( this will be used as a secondary drive) do i just format it with windows similar to quick formatting sd cards? Or should i use a specific program?

 

Windows will format it just fine.

 

I guess Ricky was right about overthinking, because i was also dwelling on getting a sata cable with clips or not and ended getting some with clips for the drive to be more securely latched into the cable.

Anyways i already installed the new hard drive, and its detected in the bios and the system checks it before it launches into windows but when windows starts i can't seem to format it. How do i go about trying to format it through windows?

Also my computer doesn't run ''noisier'' but i since i installed the new drive i do hear some nose as if something is spinning or at least trying to spin ( it does this every 10 seconds) is this normal?

When i installed the drive i had to bend some of the cables slightly to connect the power to it, because its the only way i could neatly organize the cables and close the case. I ran the 2nd sata cable in between my first drive because that seemed more ideal so the cable wouldn't be in the way.

I guess the cable already installed with my current hard drive was smaller because the one i bought was 18'' and i had enough leftover to note it.

I took a picture of how i organized the cables, and i don't think anything is in the way of anything. Right now all i am trying to do at the moment is trying to find out how to format the 2nd hard drive.

I am somewhat sure my psu ( 300 watts) can handle an extra hard drive as those don't take much ( i also upgraded my memory to 8 gb ddr3).

This is what i am running:
i3 intel cpu
x2 4 gb ddr3
2 internal hard drives 7200 rpm
Motherboard is just an average build one
I believe the case only has that large fan pictured

I hardly use my speakers as i mostly use headphones or earphones or no sound at all.

The only 3 usb devices i have constantly hooked up is my keyboard, usb mouse, and wifi usb adapter.

 

It appears the the extra noise i am hearing seems to be caused by some vibration inside ( more than likely the new hard drive), its not loud by any means but i can note it.

When i put slight pressure in the side panel ( with just a finger ) it stops, and when i take off my finger it seems to vibrate again. I can deal with the minor noise but i just want to make sure this won't cause problems?

I am sure the hard drive isn't loose as i put 4 screws and made sure it was secured fine.