Buying a new hard drive

vxdesigns · 02-23-2006, 06:22 PM

Hi how is everyone today. Long time no see, well i have been busy with work and my website. Anyways I would like an opnion from you guys and gals regarding an hard drive issue

1)for the past month or so my hard drive makes a weird clicking noise(this happens randomly once or twice a week or so) and right after that my computer hangs up/crashes and i have to reboot it. I am guessing my hard drive is dying out and the clicking noise is made when the hard disk spindle stops spinning and then tries to spin again thus crashing my windows XP. This is not a spyware/virus problem as i have installed a new copy of windows XP and scanned all of my drives with no virus or spyware to be found. So i want to know whats your opinion on this.

2)even if my hard drive is not dying i will still have to purchase a new better and bigger capacity hard drive. So i want to know what are the majoy/key points to consider before buying a new hard drive ??? Is there a step to step guide out there which i can read and then decide which hard drive will suit my needs

My computer:
Windows XP, Service Pack 1
Intel Celeron, 1.1Ghtz (1100mthz)
128mb Ram
15gb HDD (Harddrive)

Thx in advance

meanman · 02-23-2006, 08:37 PM

it just depends on whether your looking for sata or pata if your looking for pata seagate are good if you are looking for sata then there is a choice between sata 1 or sata2 how fast the hdd spins ie 7200 or 10'000 a good middle of the road sata drive is the maxtor diamondmax 10, if you have the money the Western Digital Raptor X is one of the best but pricey both of these sata drives have 16mb cache

suprasteve · 02-23-2006, 08:38 PM

#1 that drive is going bad, get a new one soon and if there's anything left on the drive that wasn't already wiped with the reinstall, back it up
#2 for that computer, you'll need an ATA/IDE drive (means the same thing) NOT sata as it will not be compatible. Look for rpm's (7200 is standard and is what I'd suggest assuming it's a desktop) and cache size (8mb will probably be the biggest you will find below 250gb). As far as size, all depends on what you want to put on, I'd suggest looking for a new computer in general in the near future as that one is getting dated anyways, but there's really no reasonto get smaller than like 80gb. As far as brands, I personally like maxtor, but western digital and seagate are also fine

vxdesigns · 02-23-2006, 09:39 PM

Thx a ton for your replies meanman and suprasteve. After i posted here i have been searching on google and other places to get what ever info i could get my hands on to get an idea myself of what a harddrive is,how it works and which one will be right for me. I came across many new terms and found out their meaning but there are still a few things i would like to ask you people.

1)what is an interface and why so many different types of them ???
ATA 100, EIDE ATA-100, Ultra ATA-100, Serial ATA-150
I see the newer drives have higher number infront of their interface why is that, is it that thats the speed of the interfaces ??? I already knew my computer uses ATA/Pata/IDE interface but "suprasteve" you have confirmed it.

2)also is it possible for me to change the interface of my computer ??? I have seen interface adapter which are quite cheap, are they compatible to all systems ??? Will they work with my Asus Tusi-M motherboard ???

3)i also read somewhere that to get the maximum pottential from a harddrive i should purchase a harddrive which has interface speed matching to my computer. How can i find out whats the interface speed for my computer ???

4)why do they have OEM term describing a harddrive ??? What is this and is it important to have it ??

5)last but not least is it a good idea to get a refurbished hard drive which costs half of what a brand new one costs ??? It is comming with a 6 months warranty. Why yes or why not ?

My computer:
Windows XP, Service Pack 1
Intel Celeron, 1.1Ghtz (1100mthz)
128mb Ram
15gb HDD (Harddrive)
Asus Tusi-M Motherboard

Thx in advance i really appreciate all your help.

vxdesigns · 02-24-2006, 04:43 AM

Ok after doing alot of research myself and getting helpful replies here i have found out the right specifications and found a hard drive which matches my systems compatibility. Now i would like to get your opinion as to if this is a good buy. Please provide honest and genuine opinion.
http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...p?EdpNo=119620
Thx in advance

**DCIScouts** · 02-24-2006, 04:59 AM

Ha, I was about to say it's ok but not great, and then I realized that's Canadian dollars, whoops! Anyway, that's a pretty good deal, you need to make sure that you mail-in the rebate, it's pretty good without the rebate, but that's what really makes it good. Plus TigerDirect is one of the two companies I deal with on-line when ordering stuff, so they're really good...

suprasteve · 02-24-2006, 05:09 AM

that's an excellent choice for a hard drive, maxtor's are my personal favorite, but the only thing I think is it may be overkill for your current computer, I mean you're coming from a 15gig drive, but then again it's hard to argue with the rebate, and when you get a new computer, you can put that drive in it too

meanman · 02-24-2006, 08:51 AM

a great hdd but you could do a search to see how much this one is Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 10 make sure to get the pata version it has a higher cache
its 16mb but if to expensive the other drive is good

vxdesigns · 02-24-2006, 03:37 PM

Thx for your replies guy i really appreciate all of the help you guys have provided so far. I just have one last question some1 told me i should get a HDD which interface speed matches my computers, and some1 told me my computers interface speed is compatible upto ATA100. The new HDD i am thinking to buy(the above link) is ATA133 , will this be a problem ? Or can i still use the neww ATA133 without burning my whole system down ?
Thx in advance

StrangleHold · 02-24-2006, 04:06 PM

It will be fine, it will just run at ATA-100-UMDA 5

02-23-2006, 06:22 PM	#1 (permalink)
vxdesigns Bronze Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 81	Buying a new hard drive Hi how is everyone today. Long time no see, well i have been busy with work and my website. Anyways I would like an opnion from you guys and gals regarding an hard drive issue 1)for the past month or so my hard drive makes a weird clicking noise(this happens randomly once or twice a week or so) and right after that my computer hangs up/crashes and i have to reboot it. I am guessing my hard drive is dying out and the clicking noise is made when the hard disk spindle stops spinning and then tries to spin again thus crashing my windows XP. This is not a spyware/virus problem as i have installed a new copy of windows XP and scanned all of my drives with no virus or spyware to be found. So i want to know whats your opinion on this. 2)even if my hard drive is not dying i will still have to purchase a new better and bigger capacity hard drive. So i want to know what are the majoy/key points to consider before buying a new hard drive ??? Is there a step to step guide out there which i can read and then decide which hard drive will suit my needs My computer: Windows XP, Service Pack 1 Intel Celeron, 1.1Ghtz (1100mthz) 128mb Ram 15gb HDD (Harddrive) Thx in advance

02-24-2006, 04:59 AM	#6 (permalink)
DCIScouts Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan, USA Age: 25 Posts: 5,046	Ha, I was about to say it's ok but not great, and then I realized that's Canadian dollars, whoops! Anyway, that's a pretty good deal, you need to make sure that you mail-in the rebate, it's pretty good without the rebate, but that's what really makes it good. Plus TigerDirect is one of the two companies I deal with on-line when ordering stuff, so they're really good... __________________ In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. -Martin Luther King Jr. The most overlooked advantage to owning a computer is that if they foul up there's no law against wacking them around a little. -Joe Martin FOLDING FOR THE GOOD OF MANKIND :F@H Team 44358 Posting and you - CF Edition Cheers CF

02-24-2006, 04:06 PM	#10 (permalink)
StrangleHold Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: In a realm of unknown Wonders Posts: 6,832	It will be fine, it will just run at ATA-100-UMDA 5 __________________ NZXT Apollo Athlon 64 X2 5600+ Gigabyte GA MA770 DS3 G Skill DDR2 800 2gb PNY 8800GT Spinpoint F1 500gb. Too bad stupidity isn't painful.

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02-23-2006, 08:37 PM	#2 (permalink)
meanman Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: england Posts: 1,699	it just depends on whether your looking for sata or pata if your looking for pata seagate are good if you are looking for sata then there is a choice between sata 1 or sata2 how fast the hdd spins ie 7200 or 10'000 a good middle of the road sata drive is the maxtor diamondmax 10, if you have the money the Western Digital Raptor X is one of the best but pricey both of these sata drives have 16mb cache

02-23-2006, 08:38 PM	#3 (permalink)
suprasteve Diamond Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,355	#1 that drive is going bad, get a new one soon and if there's anything left on the drive that wasn't already wiped with the reinstall, back it up #2 for that computer, you'll need an ATA/IDE drive (means the same thing) NOT sata as it will not be compatible. Look for rpm's (7200 is standard and is what I'd suggest assuming it's a desktop) and cache size (8mb will probably be the biggest you will find below 250gb). As far as size, all depends on what you want to put on, I'd suggest looking for a new computer in general in the near future as that one is getting dated anyways, but there's really no reasonto get smaller than like 80gb. As far as brands, I personally like maxtor, but western digital and seagate are also fine

02-23-2006, 09:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
vxdesigns Bronze Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 81	Thx a ton for your replies meanman and suprasteve. After i posted here i have been searching on google and other places to get what ever info i could get my hands on to get an idea myself of what a harddrive is,how it works and which one will be right for me. I came across many new terms and found out their meaning but there are still a few things i would like to ask you people. 1)what is an interface and why so many different types of them ??? ATA 100, EIDE ATA-100, Ultra ATA-100, Serial ATA-150 I see the newer drives have higher number infront of their interface why is that, is it that thats the speed of the interfaces ??? I already knew my computer uses ATA/Pata/IDE interface but "suprasteve" you have confirmed it. 2)also is it possible for me to change the interface of my computer ??? I have seen interface adapter which are quite cheap, are they compatible to all systems ??? Will they work with my Asus Tusi-M motherboard ??? 3)i also read somewhere that to get the maximum pottential from a harddrive i should purchase a harddrive which has interface speed matching to my computer. How can i find out whats the interface speed for my computer ??? 4)why do they have OEM term describing a harddrive ??? What is this and is it important to have it ?? 5)last but not least is it a good idea to get a refurbished hard drive which costs half of what a brand new one costs ??? It is comming with a 6 months warranty. Why yes or why not ? My computer: Windows XP, Service Pack 1 Intel Celeron, 1.1Ghtz (1100mthz) 128mb Ram 15gb HDD (Harddrive) Asus Tusi-M Motherboard Thx in advance i really appreciate all your help.

02-24-2006, 04:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
vxdesigns Bronze Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 81	Ok after doing alot of research myself and getting helpful replies here i have found out the right specifications and found a hard drive which matches my systems compatibility. Now i would like to get your opinion as to if this is a good buy. Please provide honest and genuine opinion. http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applicatio...p?EdpNo=119620 Thx in advance

02-24-2006, 05:09 AM	#7 (permalink)
suprasteve Diamond Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Atlanta Posts: 1,355	that's an excellent choice for a hard drive, maxtor's are my personal favorite, but the only thing I think is it may be overkill for your current computer, I mean you're coming from a 15gig drive, but then again it's hard to argue with the rebate, and when you get a new computer, you can put that drive in it too

02-24-2006, 08:51 AM	#8 (permalink)
meanman Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: england Posts: 1,699	a great hdd but you could do a search to see how much this one is Maxtor DiamondMax Plus 10 make sure to get the pata version it has a higher cache its 16mb but if to expensive the other drive is good

02-24-2006, 03:37 PM	#9 (permalink)
vxdesigns Bronze Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 81	Thx for your replies guy i really appreciate all of the help you guys have provided so far. I just have one last question some1 told me i should get a HDD which interface speed matches my computers, and some1 told me my computers interface speed is compatible upto ATA100. The new HDD i am thinking to buy(the above link) is ATA133 , will this be a problem ? Or can i still use the neww ATA133 without burning my whole system down ? Thx in advance