[ Help ] Can my mobo support a third internal HDD?

[Ariyx3]

Hi all!

My computer now has two internal HDD, first a 500GB HDD, which I used as OS drive initially, but changed it into a storage drive for less important files(such as movies or drama files) after it started malfunctioning and slowing down the system.

Second a 2TB that I divided into different partitions for OS now, other programs and storage for my files and games.

As not much unimportant stuff I can put into the 500GB HDD lol, now my 2TB is running low on space. So I'm thinking if I can install a third HDD on the com, but I'm not sure if my mobo can support it?


Mobo: ASUS P8B75-M
Processor: Intel Core i5-3450 3.10GHz


If my mobo can't support 3 HDDs, then maybe I will just replace that slow 500GB away


p.s: any reliable internal HDD to recommend? I'm thinking of buying another 1TB or a 2TB. Max budget is around $200.


Many thanks in advance

 

[cephelix]

from your mobo website, specifications put it as yes. It has 5 x SATA 3Gb/s that are coloured blue and 1 x SATA 6GB/s, coloured gray.

Even so, if you say that the 500GB is going into the bin soon, might as well replace it. I personally like Western Digital hard drives. Looking at the pricelist from PCThemes, a 2TB WD Black costs 185.

Any reason you're not looking into purchasing an SSD instead? much faster for OS and programmes. Then you could use your 2TB solely for storage, no need for partitioning. If you are interested, from the same price list, the Crucial M500 240Gb is only 164. Quite a bit of space for installing OS/programmes/games.

Not too sure about other brands besides the ones I've mentioned as I've never used the others before. But WD and Crucial have served me well over the years. Maybe someone else with experience with other brands may chime in.

 

[nippp0n]

Buy a Plextor M6S 128GB @ $98 for OS installation and WD Purple 2TB @ $123 for storage.

Prices from Tradepac pricelist.

 

[Ariyx3]

from your mobo website, specifications put it as yes. It has 5 x SATA 3Gb/s that are coloured blue and 1 x SATA 6GB/s, coloured gray.

Even so, if you say that the 500GB is going into the bin soon, might as well replace it. I personally like Western Digital hard drives. Looking at the pricelist from PCThemes, a 2TB WD Black costs 185.

Any reason you're not looking into purchasing an SSD instead? much faster for OS and programmes. Then you could use your 2TB solely for storage, no need for partitioning. If you are interested, from the same price list, the Crucial M500 240Gb is only 164. Quite a bit of space for installing OS/programmes/games.

Not too sure about other brands besides the ones I've mentioned as I've never used the others before. But WD and Crucial have served me well over the years. Maybe someone else with experience with other brands may chime in.

Thank you for the detailed and fast reply! That's a good suggestion! I wasn't thinking of buying SSD coz I thought it will be too expensive, but looks like the price now is more affordable. I will consider the SSD you recommended to use as the OS drive !

I don't really understand the specifications, does it mean I can install up to 6 internal HDDs? What does the 3GB/s, 6GB/s and colours mean?

 

[Ariyx3]

Buy a Plextor M6S 128GB @ $98 for OS installation and WD Purple 2TB @ $123 for storage.

Prices from Tradepac pricelist.

Thank you for the reply! Looks like WD is one of the more reliable HDD? I will take your suggestions into consideration^^

(my spoiling 500GB is a WD though..maybe I'm just unlucky LOL)

 

[cephelix]

Technically yes, you can install 6 drives in total. But not all of the SATA connections go through the Intel chipset(which is what you want). Instead, some would go though the Marvell(or equivalent) chipset. I'll try an take a look at your motherboard manual when I have time.

Basically, you'd want your OS drive, be it HDD or SSD on the 6Gb/s connection. Storage drives can go on the 3Gb/s ones. They'll never be able to saturate the bandwidth anyways. Try googling for configurations on how to add drives for your motherboard cos for my old MSI P55-GD85, default SATA setting was IDE, and I needed to manually enter BIOS to switch it to AHCI. But honestly, I didn't see a difference between the two.

There are other brands of HDD out there, I've just had more luck with WD compared to Seagate(ugh). Don't know whether the Toshiba ones are good but I've read an article that in server situations, the Hitachi ones had the lowest failure rate compared to the WDs or Seagates.

From the specification sheet I found online, the colours refer to the SATA connectors found on your motherboard. 3Gb/s and 6Gb/s refers to the connection speed. The important thing you need to know, is that for SSDs, connect it to the grey connector on your motherboard. And the HDDs, to the blue.

For the different SSD brands, you could take nippon's suggestion though I personally have no experience with it. The Samsung 840 Evo I've heard is good, and faster than the Crucials though. If it's your first SSD, you won't notice the difference between read and write speeds between the different brands. Whatever it is, the SSD would be blazingly fast compared to your current HDD.

 

[Ariyx3]

Technically yes, you can install 6 drives in total. But not all of the SATA connections go through the Intel chipset(which is what you want). Instead, some would go though the Marvell(or equivalent) chipset. I'll try an take a look at your motherboard manual when I have time.

Basically, you'd want your OS drive, be it HDD or SSD on the 6Gb/s connection. Storage drives can go on the 3Gb/s ones. They'll never be able to saturate the bandwidth anyways. Try googling for configurations on how to add drives for your motherboard cos for my old MSI P55-GD85, default SATA setting was IDE, and I needed to manually enter BIOS to switch it to AHCI. But honestly, I didn't see a difference between the two.

There are other brands of HDD out there, I've just had more luck with WD compared to Seagate(ugh). Don't know whether the Toshiba ones are good but I've read an article that in server situations, the Hitachi ones had the lowest failure rate compared to the WDs or Seagates.

From the specification sheet I found online, the colours refer to the SATA connectors found on your motherboard. 3Gb/s and 6Gb/s refers to the connection speed. The important thing you need to know, is that for SSDs, connect it to the grey connector on your motherboard. And the HDDs, to the blue.

For the different SSD brands, you could take nippon's suggestion though I personally have no experience with it. The Samsung 840 Evo I've heard is good, and faster than the Crucials though. If it's your first SSD, you won't notice the difference between read and write speeds between the different brands. Whatever it is, the SSD would be blazingly fast compared to your current HDD.

Sorry for the late reply, I have been too occupied by school last week x_x

Thank you so much for your explanation and instructions, they are really detailed and clear!

Seagate never works for me also lol. I think hitachi's really not bad, my 2TB is a hitachi.
So I will do some more research on SSD and how to install drive onto the com, then it's time to make a trip to simlim

Thanks again, you're really really helpful!