Adding an additional HD to my existing SATA

[deandremouse]

HI I wanted to know if I could have a second internal Hard drive in my computer for additional memory working with the one that has all my files and the OS.

It would be like a slave, just used for memory only. Thing is theres only one SATA port on the motherboard for the Hard drive. Can I add a second harddrive?

(its behind that mess of wiring lol)

 

[inzone]

Yes please list the motherboard because I've not heard of a motherboard with only one sata port , unless you have a really old motherboard that has the IDE port along with the sata port. If in fact you do only have the one sata port you can put this in the open pci slot that I see in the picture.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815283032

 

[deandremouse]

ASUS P5KPL-AM SE motherboard I believe theres only one I think I see another port.

 

[tomatthe]

Based on a quick google search, the board has "4 xSATA 3 Gb/s ports"

You should be able to connect the drive to one of those extra ports. It's likely just hard to see hidden behind that mess of power cables you've got going there.

You can see them on the board in this pic,

http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/Intel_Socket_775/P5KPLAM/#specifications

Its the red connections in the right corner from the way that photo is oriented.

 

[deandremouse]

Oh Ok. So how do I set the second HD as slave? I just plug it in to the board or something else has to be done?

 

[inzone]

You no longer have to deal with master and slave with the sata ports , all you have to do is plug in the second hdd and make sure that the drive with the OS on it is listed first in the boot sequence list.

 

[deandremouse]

You no longer have to deal with master and slave with the sata ports , all you have to do is plug in the second hdd and make sure that the drive with the OS on it is listed first in the boot sequence list.

Thats in the startup menu correct?

 

[inzone]

It's in the bios and in the bios splash screen if you hit f8 or f12 depending on your bios when you start the computer. A screen will come up with all of the boot options and you just select the one with your OS on it. If you go into the bios it's under the advanced tab and you would select boot sequence and again select the drive with the OS on it.

 

[deandremouse]

Best answer selected by deandremouse.

 

[deandremouse]

I actually Popped open my case I only have 2 ports. Both occupied by my main HDD and CD Drive

*Sigh what do I do now?

 

[inzone]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815283032&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1bw7ziwtp9qy6

You can try a pci card like this one.

 

[deandremouse]

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16815283032&nm_mc=AFC-C8Junction&cm_mmc=AFC-C8Junction-_-RSSDailyDeals-_-na-_-na&AID=10521304&PID=4176827&SID=1bw7ziwtp9qy6

You can try a pci card like this one.

lol external plug? That'll do then. Thanks!.

 

[inzone]

lol external plug? That'll do then. Thanks!.

It also has an internal port as well.