How Do I Add Another SATA HDD ? Only got room for 2?

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  1. Posts : 71
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
       #1

    How Do I Add Another SATA HDD ? Only got room for 2?


    I have an Acer desktop (will update with specs)
    Just a quick question.. I have room for 2 SATA HDD's.

    1. Was my main HDD (was 1TB but corrupted so been replaced)
    2. Goes into my disc drive

    I don't have a 3rd, so was wondering is they some kind of splitter I could use to split one of the SATA cables?

    So it goes from my PC to a splitter, then the splitter has 2 connections for the SATA?

    Thanks.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 71
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #2

    Here's some pics.. Just wanted to know what these were for?
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails How Do I Add Another SATA HDD ? Only got room for 2?-20130714_224155.jpg   How Do I Add Another SATA HDD ? Only got room for 2?-20130714_224202.jpg  
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 2,752
    Windows 7 Pro x64 (1), Win7 Pro X64 (2)
       #3

    Unless you post detailed specs on your machine it's impossible for us to help.

    Are you asking if you could somehow string an external 3rd SATA drive off of an internal SATA cable going to one of your onboard SATA controller connectors? Pretty much impossible, as each controller is intended to control one drive.

    Do you have USB 3.0 connectors on the back of your machine? If so, your best bet would be to buy an external USB 3.0 drive (which are almost always just SATA-II drives in an external enclosure using a USB 3.0 connection interface). That way you get exactly the 3rd drive expansion capability you're looking for, and also a very high speed device... living within the constraints of your machine.

    I highly recommend this Verbatim Store n Save 97580 2TB drive for $115. I've installed eight of them on different family/friend machines (three for me alone) for use as system backup media, but obviously they can be used for whatever purpose you want... at full USB 3.0 speeds. They come with a nice piece of software (Green Button) that spins down the drive after some period of inactivity, to save on wear and tear until it is next needed (at which time the drive spins back up).

    The drives can run at USB 2.0 speeds as well if you only have USB 2.0 ports, but obviously that's not high-performance use as a true internal SATA drive would be.

    If you don't have a USB 3.0 port, but you do have a spare PCIe x1 expansion slot on your motherboard, you can add something like this USB 3.0 adapter from Transcend for $16 (it actually has an industry standard Renesas USB 3.0 controller on it). Works perfectly (I've added them to four machines) for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows and gives you two USB 3.0 ports on older machines that didn't include them but do have a free PCIe x1 slot. I had a problem with the drivers not working for another vendor's 4-port version of the same type of device, so I don't recommend it.
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  4. Posts : 6,330
    Multi-Boot W7_Pro_x64 W8.1_Pro_x64 W10_Pro_x64 +Linux_VMs +Chromium_VM
       #4

    If you have an open PCI Express slot you can get a card such as these
    Newegg.com - Computer Hardware, Computer Accessories, Add-On Cards, PCI Express to SATA Card
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 11,424
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64
       #5

    We need full model number and more pictures as you are asking about adding two HDD's but showing us PCIe slots and 4 pin connectors. We need to see if you have two empty 3.5" HDD bays open as well as at least one available molex connector off the PSU as well we need to see if you have two open sata headers.
    Please forgive my less than professional graphics..
    How Do I Add Another SATA HDD ? Only got room for 2?-sata-headers.jpg

    How Do I Add Another SATA HDD ? Only got room for 2?-power.jpg

    How Do I Add Another SATA HDD ? Only got room for 2?-hdd-bays.jpg
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  6. Posts : 71
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Model: Acer Aspire x1301

    Edition: Windows 7 Ultimate 32bit (was 64bit)

    Hard Drive: Was 1TB now 120GB

    Processor: AMD Athlon(tm) II x4 620 Processor 2.60 GHz

    Installed Memory (RAM): 4.00 GB (2.75 GB usable)

    System type: 32-big (Was originally 64)

    Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 8200


    Unsure what else you'll need.

    I've also ordered this off eBay THIS USB TO SATA

    I've posted pictures above of my motherboard, Not exactly sure what they're the names above

    Edit:
    Also found this - USER MANUAL

    Shows that I have a eSATA? on the back

    Also a PCI Express x16?

    & a PCI Express x1?

    What could I do with these?
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 11,424
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64
       #7

    The USB TO SATA you purchased is purely an external device and will come in handy but has zero use in what you are asking.
    What we need is pictures of all the drive bays, pictures of the sata headers as well pictures of any free molex or sata style power plugs.
    Let's stick with the interest in adding two HDD's and hold the other stuff for now as it will just get confusing till we determine what's available on your mobo currently.
    Maybe you need to look closely at my pictures and then look for these on your rig.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 11,424
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64
       #8

    Your sata headers are behind the cmos battery in your picture it only shows one but you should have several, please provide a detailed picture of those headers as well as the drive bays.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 71
    Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit
    Thread Starter
       #9

    linnemeyerhere said:
    Your sata headers are behind the cmos battery in your picture it only shows one but you should have several, please provide a detailed picture of those headers as well as the drive bays.
    Thanks.
    I'll be honest, My PC is really small and compact I doubt they would be space to officially fit another HDD in there.

    I had to get a hard drive out of a broken laptop (motherboard broken) and connect it to where my 1TB should be connected just to boot my PC as the 1TB HDD is broken.

    I'm just wanting to connect the 1TB HDD that was origonally in my PC to delete everything on there and see if I can connect it as a.. lets say external/second HDD so I'm not really loosing the full 1TB.

    I'm using my PC at moment but going to shut it down now and take full pictures of it.

    Will post back soon.
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 11,424
    Windows 7 Ultimate 64
       #10

    Perfect as the pictures I'm pulling up on line shows you could be very very limited for sata headers as well as space but pictures will help us understand.
    How many hard drives do you want to control ? and are they internal or external.
      My Computer


 
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