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ASUS M3A - How many hard drives?
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Rhino
Nov 30, 2011, 9:16:23 AM11/30/11
to
I have an ASUS M3A mainboard with two 750 GB hard drives. Both are nearly
full so I'd like to add a third, larger hard drive, probably a 3 TB drive
since they have become fairly affordable at $150 for an internal one.
Are there any negatives associated with adding a third drive to this
computer, especially one that is larger than the others? Is there any reason
why it would be better to make the new drive external than internal?
Also, would I put the third drive on the same 80 conductor ribbon cable as
the existing two drives - I haven't had the case open in a while and can't
remember if there is a third connector on the cable - or would I need to run
a second ribbon cable from the motherboard? Is it even possible to have a
second ribbon cable from the motherboard? I am very weak on matters of
hardware so forgive my question, which may be very foolish.
The main thing I'm storing on these drives is large standalone data files if
that makes any difference.
I'm running Windows XP with no immediate plans to upgrade to Win7.
--
Rhino
full so I'd like to add a third, larger hard drive, probably a 3 TB drive
since they have become fairly affordable at $150 for an internal one.
Are there any negatives associated with adding a third drive to this
computer, especially one that is larger than the others? Is there any reason
why it would be better to make the new drive external than internal?
Also, would I put the third drive on the same 80 conductor ribbon cable as
the existing two drives - I haven't had the case open in a while and can't
remember if there is a third connector on the cable - or would I need to run
a second ribbon cable from the motherboard? Is it even possible to have a
second ribbon cable from the motherboard? I am very weak on matters of
hardware so forgive my question, which may be very foolish.
The main thing I'm storing on these drives is large standalone data files if
that makes any difference.
I'm running Windows XP with no immediate plans to upgrade to Win7.
--
Rhino
Chris S.
Nov 30, 2011, 9:46:26 AM11/30/11
to
"Rhino" <no_offline_c...@example.com> wrote in message
news:jb5dn4$agi$1...@speranza.aioe.org...
drive will be SATA and will work fine.
http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM2Plus/M3A/#specifications
Chris
Rob
Nov 30, 2011, 10:35:24 AM11/30/11
to
You do need to open the case and check that the power supply has
spare SATA type drive power connectors.
If not, you'll need a converter cable like this:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812104652
and don't forget a SATA data cable, if you don't already have one -
new drives don't often come with one.
HTH,
--
Rob
GMAN
Nov 30, 2011, 11:23:05 AM11/30/11
to
possibly a data cable. But i have yet to buy a retail Seagate or Western
Digital drive in the box that didnt come with the data cable.
Mike Andrews
Nov 30, 2011, 12:11:09 PM11/30/11
to
Rob <no...@nowhere.nothere.com> wrote in <9jn0ps...@mid.individual.net>:
still are available, and indeed I had to buy one just last week. There
may even be cases where PATA is preferable to SATA, though the OP's case
probably is not one.
--
Mike Andrews, W5EGO
mi...@mikea.ath.cx
Tired old sysadmin
> On 30/11/2011 14:16, Rhino wrote:
>> I have an ASUS M3A mainboard with two 750 GB hard drives. Both are nearly full so I'd like to add a third, larger hard drive, probably a 3 TB drive since they have become fairly affordable at $150 for an internal one.
>>
>> Are there any negatives associated with adding a third drive to this computer, especially one that is larger than the others? Is there any reason why it would be better to make the new drive external than internal?
>>
>> Also, would I put the third drive on the same 80 conductor ribbon cable as the existing two drives - I haven't had the case open in a while and can't remember if there is a third connector on the cable - or would I need to run a second ribbon cable from the motherboard? Is it even possible to have a second ribbon cable from the motherboard? I am very weak on matters of hardware so forgive my question, which may be very foolish.
>>
>> The main thing I'm storing on these drives is large standalone data files if that makes any difference.
>>
>> I'm running Windows XP with no immediate plans to upgrade to Win7.
>> I have an ASUS M3A mainboard with two 750 GB hard drives. Both are nearly full so I'd like to add a third, larger hard drive, probably a 3 TB drive since they have become fairly affordable at $150 for an internal one.
>>
>> Are there any negatives associated with adding a third drive to this computer, especially one that is larger than the others? Is there any reason why it would be better to make the new drive external than internal?
>>
>> Also, would I put the third drive on the same 80 conductor ribbon cable as the existing two drives - I haven't had the case open in a while and can't remember if there is a third connector on the cable - or would I need to run a second ribbon cable from the motherboard? Is it even possible to have a second ribbon cable from the motherboard? I am very weak on matters of hardware so forgive my question, which may be very foolish.
>>
>> The main thing I'm storing on these drives is large standalone data files if that makes any difference.
>>
>> I'm running Windows XP with no immediate plans to upgrade to Win7.
> As Chris said, you should be fine, but the new drive will be SATA.
> You do need to open the case and check that the power supply has
> spare SATA type drive power connectors.
> If not, you'll need a converter cable like this:
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812104652
>
> and don't forget a SATA data cable, if you don't already have one -
> new drives don't often come with one.
I'm not sure why you both said the new drive would be SATA; PATA drives
> You do need to open the case and check that the power supply has
> spare SATA type drive power connectors.
> If not, you'll need a converter cable like this:
>
> http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812104652
>
> and don't forget a SATA data cable, if you don't already have one -
> new drives don't often come with one.
still are available, and indeed I had to buy one just last week. There
may even be cases where PATA is preferable to SATA, though the OP's case
probably is not one.
--
Mike Andrews, W5EGO
mi...@mikea.ath.cx
Tired old sysadmin
Rob
Nov 30, 2011, 12:16:36 PM11/30/11
to
--
Rob
Rhino
Nov 30, 2011, 12:57:03 PM11/30/11
to
"Chris S." <csi...@nospamverizon.net> wrote in message
news:jb5fk2$il8$1...@dont-email.me...
challenged that I wasn't sure if I was understanding the information
correctly.
Any thoughts on the pros and cons of getting an internal drive vs. an
external one?
--
Rhino
Rhino
Nov 30, 2011, 12:59:00 PM11/30/11
to
"Rob" <no...@nowhere.nothere.com> wrote in message
news:9jn0ps...@mid.individual.net...
new drive would come with everything I needed to connect it.
Do you have any thoughts on the pros and cons of an internal vs. an external
drive? I'm leaning toward internal because I've got lots of room in the case
and it's going to cost less than the same sized drive in an external format
but maybe there are some cons that I'm not considering.
--
Rhino
Paul
Nov 30, 2011, 4:20:42 PM11/30/11
to
or was a backup device. Considering the reliability of
large drives like that, a second large drive wouldn't hurt.
Then, one could be internal, and one external. You unplug the
external one, after the backup operation is completed.
Unplugging the backup, protects the backup drive from lightning.
The contents of the computer can be destroyed by a direct lightning
hit (following along the power wires). If your backup drive is
disconnected at the time, it might survive.
If the data is really important, you keep the backup drive off-site
completely. That's to protect against fire or other disasters.
If the drive is being used for primary storage, then having it inside
the computer makes a lot of sense. Then, there is less wiring and
need for physical space, outside the computer case.
Paul
BobT
Dec 1, 2011, 9:25:09 AM12/1/11
to
On Wed, 30 Nov 2011 09:16:23 -0500, "Rhino"
<no_offline_c...@example.com> wrote:
>I have an ASUS M3A mainboard with two 750 GB hard drives. Both are nearly
>full so I'd like to add a third, larger hard drive, probably a 3 TB drive
>since they have become fairly affordable at $150 for an internal one.
Interesting price--I haven't seen them that cheap for the last month
<no_offline_c...@example.com> wrote:
>I have an ASUS M3A mainboard with two 750 GB hard drives. Both are nearly
>full so I'd like to add a third, larger hard drive, probably a 3 TB drive
>since they have become fairly affordable at $150 for an internal one.
or so. Remember, if you want to be able to access all of the 3TB, you
will have to format it under GPT rather than FAT. And I don't think,
with the M3A, that you will be able to use it as a boot drive.
Rhino
Dec 1, 2011, 12:38:34 PM12/1/11
to
"Paul" <nos...@needed.com> wrote in message
news:jb66nb$ock$1...@dont-email.me...
I'm already on a UPS so I think I'm safe against lightning. At least I hope
so!
--
Rhino
Rhino
Dec 1, 2011, 12:39:38 PM12/1/11
to
"BobT" <fa...@invalid.net> wrote in message
news:de3fd71vo325tcr07...@4ax.com...
prices may have gone up again but they were about $150 the time I looked.
--
Rhino
Mike Andrews
Dec 1, 2011, 12:52:56 PM12/1/11
to
Rhino <no_offline_c...@example.com> wrote in <jb8dus$flr$1...@speranza.aioe.org>:
> I'm already on a UPS so I think I'm safe against lightning. At least I hope
> so!
By no means. If you hang out in the amateur radio newsgroups and mailing
lists, you can get some really good advice on lightning protection. If your
house takes a direct strike, the UPS probably will be little or no help.
> I'm already on a UPS so I think I'm safe against lightning. At least I hope
> so!
lists, you can get some really good advice on lightning protection. If your
house takes a direct strike, the UPS probably will be little or no help.
Paul
Dec 1, 2011, 4:48:59 PM12/1/11
to
Rhino wrote:
>
> Thanks, that gives me the info I need.
>
> I'm already on a UPS so I think I'm safe against lightning. At least I
> hope so!
> --
> Rhino
That kind of surge protection is not absolute.
>
> Thanks, that gives me the info I need.
>
> I'm already on a UPS so I think I'm safe against lightning. At least I
> hope so!
> --
> Rhino
You're not safe.
An external backup drive, disconnected when not in usage, is a good idea.
The ATX power supply, can fail, and deliver +15V on the +12V rail.
That can damage all the hard drives at the same time. That would be
another example of a fault, but in that case, no lightning was involved.
(It's basically a failure in the regulation inside the supply. That
power supply you bought for $29.95, could fail that way.)
Again, an external backup drive, powered by its own AC adapter, is your
best bet. All the drives inside the computer case could be ruined,
but your backup copy is still safe.
Some people keep a backup drive in the deposit box at the bank, but
that's carrying things to extremes :-)
Paul
Chris S.
Dec 1, 2011, 5:08:10 PM12/1/11
to
news:jb8sob$ips$1...@dont-email.me...
Had a client that did that. When his system crashed, the bank was closed!
Chris
Chris
Bob F
Jan 4, 2012, 7:37:08 PM1/4/12
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