Hard disk drives

[nathanj_15]

So storage is one of my weak points in my knowledge and I was about to buy a WD BLUE 1tb 7200rpm for more storage when I noticed that it said "for Macs and small form factor" despite it being in the desktop section. Does this matter? Also will their be any compatibility issues? Like my port isn't right or it can't fit in the hard drive bay. My case is about 7 years old (second hand) and I have have a really old 500gb slow as shit HDD but, all other parts are 6 months old(i5 7400, 1060, new mobo) the works.

 

[molletts]

It could be a 2.5" drive - that would explain the "small form factor" bit. You'd need a mounting bracket to fit it into a 3.5" bay.

You'd probably get better performance from a 3.5" drive as they're designed with less power-constrained applications in mind, but if you can afford an SSD, that is the way to go - even an entry-level SSD will totally wipe the floor with any current high-performance hard drive.

 

[Blas]

It will work, don't worry, the store may have put it in the wrong section, but these things are standard. No compatibility issues to be expected.

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

MERGED QUESTION
Question from nathanj_15 : "Looking for a new HDD"

So storage is one of my weak points in my knowledge and I was about to buy a WD BLUE 1tb 7200rpm for more storage when I noticed that it said "for Macs and small form factor" despite it being in the desktop section. Does this matter? Also will their be any compatibility issues? Like my port isn't right or it can't fit in the hard drive bay. My case is about 7 years old (second hand) and I have have a really old 500gb slow as shit HDD but, all other parts are 6 months old(i5 7400, 1060, new mobo) the works.

Thanks: Nathan

Never heard of a MAC specific HDD, and by your description it may be a 2.5" HDD.

You want a 3.5" HDD always unless there is no space for one.

Ideally you should have Windows/apps on an SSD (i.e. 250GB Samsung 850 EVO) and a separate HDD for C-drive Image backup (to restore), large games, videos etc.

But... if budget allows only an HDD then peruse pcpartpicker (change to your country).

*If you get an SDD and HDD, then don't get a 7200RPM HDD as it will be NOISIER.

Examples:
2TB 7200RPM HDD ($56): https://pcpartpicker.com/product/2RPfrH/hitachi-internal-hard-drive-0f10311
3TB HDD: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/gwBv6h/seagate-internal-hard-drive-st3000dm001
2TB 5400RPM: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/bskwrH/western-digital-internal-hard-drive-wd20ezrz
2TB SSHD: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/NpBrxr/seagate-firecuda-2tb-35-7200rpm-hybrid-internal-hard-drive-st2000dx002

An SSHD has some SSD memory, and will auto-allocate boot files and frequently used files to speed things up. Faster than an HDD, but usually slower than an SSD (depends how you use the computer.)

SSD: https://pcpartpicker.com/product/3kL7YJ/samsung-internal-hard-drive-mz75e250bam

*so for about $150 you could get the SSD and the 2TB 5400RPM WD drive.

UPDATE:
If you got the SSD + HDD, then you would do something like THIS:

1) add both drives physically
2) install Samsung Magician (if Samsung SSD) then run benchmark (should be over 500MBps sequential read/write), and OverProvision to 10%

3) get WD diagnostics to test HDD
4) COPY files from 500GB HDD as needed to get USED SPACE below 160GB
5) CLONE 500GB HDD to SSD
6) *if you BOOT to the old HDD go into the BIOS and change the boot order to the SSD

7) TEST for at least a week
8) then FORMAT the 500GB HDD (NTFS, FULL format.. takes a few hours)
9) shut down and unhook 500GB HDD cables (use as spare)

10) use Acronis True Image (WD free version) to make a compressed backup IMAGE of your Windows partition. (consider buying full version to make AUTOMATED backups to HDD... i.e. INCREMENTAL, weekly, chain of 1+7, then DELETE older chains. (confusing I know)

 

[Phillip Corcoran]

nathan - - please do not double post in future! -