Primer: A-Z: A PC Hard Drive Buying Guide
Mar 14 '00 (Updated Mar 20 '00)
If you are shopping for (or thinking of shopping for) a new hard drive, there are actually many factors to consider besides just size (storage capacity). Upgrading and/or adding a new hard drive may seem relatively simple, but in computers today the process is anything but routine... even for the seasoned computer expert such as myself.
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CONTENTS
A. Introduction
B. Picking The Correct Hard Drive For Your Computer
- - 1. Type (IDE or SCSI)
- - 2. Speed (5400 rpm or 7200 rpm)
- - 3. Data Transfer Rate (33MB/s or 66MB/s)
- - 4. Physical Dimensions (2.5" or 3.5" or 5.25")
- - 5. Power Plug Available?
- - 6. EIDE Port / Plug Available? / Correct Type of Cable
C. Picking the correct size for you
D. Conclusions
E. The Next Step (If you dare)
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A. INTRODUCTION
In addition to storage capacity, you must also consider what type of drive your computer can store and handle. The physical dimension of the drive may be at issue, as well as the possible location(s) where you actually plug the drive into your computer. Furthermore, there is the issue of purchasing the correct speed & data transfer rate that your computer can use most efficiently.
This goal of this review is to be a general-audience tell-all guideline that can be used to aid you in purchasing the correct hard drive for your needs and your computer system. I will not go as far as explaining how to install it (that is another topic all in it's own), but I will cover that in subsequent review.
B. PICKING THE CORRECT HARD DRIVE FOR YOUR COMPUTER
1. Type
Hard drives for PC's come in two general types: IDE and SCSI. If you do not know which of these you have in your system you most likely have IDE (the standard, and cheaper of the two). SCSI drives are mainly used for network server computers, and rarely come pre-installed on home PCs. IDE drives are slower-speed drives and are well-suited for home computers. The remainder of this editorial, for simplicity, will assume that you require an IDE hard drive.
2. Speed
Today, IDE drives are available in two speeds: 5400 rpm and 7200 rpm (rotations per minute). Of course, the 7200 rpm drives are faster, and more expensive. However, you may not want to go with the faster speed. I recommend sticking with the 5400 drive if you are not planning on using your new drive to boot up your computer, or if your CPU speed is less than a Pentium 2.
7200 rpm drives do significantly increase a computer's speed if used to boot up a Pentium 2 system or higher. However, I have noticed that the faster drives are significantly louder - which I personally do not like. If you are just purchasing a 2nd drive to store files, a 5400 speed will suit you perfectly.
3. Data Transfer Rate
Approximately a year ago hard drive manufacturers began producing double-speed hard drives. You now have a choice, where about a year ago you did not. The new speed is 66MB/second (Ultra DMA 66). Previously you could only purchase 33MB/second drives.
The new UDMA66 Drives are slightly more expensive than their 33MB counterparts, and certainly are faster. However, unless you purchased your computer within the last six months or so it is very unlikely that your computer can support such a drive. Furthermore, it is even possible that a computer you purchase tomorrow will not support this type of hard drive either. Be sure to consult your computer's (motherboard's) specifications to determine which speed(s) your computer can support.
If you are able to support an UDMA66 drive, good for you! However, there is one more factor you need to keep in mind. To utilize the 66MB/s speed, you need a special 66MB/s hard drive cable which has twice as many wires as the older counterpart cable. These special cables typically cost $10.00 each wholesale, so be sure that you either have one of these already, or that one is included with your drive when you purchase it.
NOTE: The newer UDMA66 hard drives are backwards compatible with all older computers (IDE transfer speeds). You can use them in virtually any computer from 486’s on. While it will not operate at its full speed potential, it will still function at the motherboard’s maximum sustainable speed.
4. Physical Dimensions
The standard size for a hard drive is 3.5" wide. This drive will fit into an available 3.5 inch "bay" inside your computer. Before you go out and purchase a new drive, be sure that you have an available "bay" to install it into. Hopefully your PC manufacturer was polite enough to provide you with an open bay, but this is not guaranteed.
You may not have a 3.5" bay open, but instead have a 5.25" bay available (CDROM size). If this is the case, you will need to use special mounting brackets to install the 3.5" drive into the 5.25" bay. This mounting kit will cost about $5 wholesale and may even be included with the new hard drive.
It should be noted that you can also purchase a 5.25" size hard drive. Personally I have never bought one of these. One possible brand that comes to mind is the Quantum Bigfoot. I do not recommend purchasing one of these, however, because they are not too fast and typically do not have too high of a storage capacity. And, of course, the obvious reason: You can install a 3.5" drive into a 5.25" bay, but not vice-versa.
One other note: Hard disk drives for laptops are 2.5" wide. These are generally smaller, slower, and much more expensive. These are meant for the power & size limitation of laptops, and not intended to be installed into a desktop computer.
5. Power Source
Before you purchase that hard drive make sure you have "room" to plug it into your power supply. If there is an available power plug dangling around in your computer, great! However there is a high probability that there will not be, and you will need to purchase a power "Y-splitter" cable. This can be purchased wholesale at about $2.00, but just the other day I saw one on sale for $8.00 retail - so only purchase one if you are sure you will need it.
6. IDE Cable
I touched on the difference between the UDMA33 and UDMA66 cables above. Here I will mention briefly that two hard drives (or devices) are supported for each EIDE cable, and typically two EIDE ports exists on your motherboard supporting up to 4 devices total. Be sure to follow closely the directions on both your hard drive and your computer's motherboard when installing hard drives. All cables must be hooked up property and all devices must be initialized in your computer's bios. This is a very complex method, which I will describe in another review.
Also, of course, be sure that you have less than four IDE devices previously installed in your computer. If, for example, you already have a hard drive, a CDROM, a CDR/RW drive and an internal ZIP drive, you probably are not able to add an additional hard drive. This is a very important factor, as it will determine if you are forced to replace your hard drive completely and not continue to use it with your new one.
C. PICKING THE CORRECT SIZE (STORAGE CAPACITY) HARD DRIVE
This, in my opinion, is the easiest decision to make. I simply suggest purchasing the largest hard drive that you can afford. Today the newest hard drives on the market are typically a minimum of 20GB (Gigabytes), but can range as low as 10GB and as high as 50GB. The fastest 7200 rpm drive is currently 37GB, but will surely be increasing in the near future.
If you are planning on installing a lot of graphics-intensive games then purchase at least a 20GB drive. If you enjoy converting all of your audio CDs into mp3 format even a 50GB drive may not be enough - depending on how large your music collection is.
If you simply use your computer to browse the Internet and use office-related programs, then you will not need more than a 10GB drive. My only concrete recommendation is do NOT purchase a drive LESS than 10GB. I doubt that you can find a new drive smaller than 10GB, but if you do purchase one you will surely be sorry a few years from now as more and more applications take up room on your hard drive.
When deciding how big of a drive to purchase, consider price and storage size. Simply by determining the dollars per gigabyte ratio ( $$ / 1 GB ) you can determine which drive is the better bargain. Typically the 20GB drive will be the best deal.
D. CONCLUSIONS
It is my belief that the general hard drive buying guide that I have constructed above will serve you well in your quest to purchase a new hard dive. If you have any questions about what I have said, or there is something additional that you believe I should have said, please contact me by E-mail or leave a comment.
E. THE NEXT STEP
There is no chore, besides replacing the motherboard itself, that requires more tinkering inside of your computer than upgrading your hard disk drive. If you are not at least 90% comfortable with this, I do not suggest that you attempt to install a hard drive by yourself.
If you have a friend (like me) who is knowledgeable with computers I recommend you invite them to your house to help you out. Note: Be sure to offer them (me) a home-cooked (or take-out) dinner before-hand, and a couple beers afterwards!
This task will take you AT LEAST a good two hours or so to complete. You may want to seriously considering having a professional do it for you. Make sure beforehand that this "professional" is insured for damage to your computer, and that you have backed up all important files beforehand. If you purchase your drive at a retail store they will most likely offer this service for approximately $50.00.
If you are still determined to install the drive for yourself, be prepared for a challenge that offers you a great learning experience. If you can survive this procedure without pulling out all your hair and throwing your computer out the nearest window you will have gained valuable knowledge and a new sense of power/accomplishment with your computer.
I was planning on writing a review on this topic, but after starting to write it, I realized that it was far too complex of a subject to squeeze into a review - it belongs in a BOOK! :) If you think that THIS article is long, that one would be at LEAST three times longer - sometimes it is a burden to be so thorough! <grin>
For this information I recommend that you read as much as you can on the subject. Most certainly read ALL relevant information in your manuals!
Good luck with your installation endeavors!
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Member: Shaun Smith
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