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View Full Version : Are there hard drive limits for motherboards?


pete_rfd
Jul 5th, 2012, 02:53 PM
I have an ASUS M4A88T-M LE (http://www.asus.com/Motherboards/AMD_AM3/M4A88TM_LE/) and want to throw in a 1TB drive, along with the 160GB which will have the OS. I've read some posts about motherboards having limits, but I can't seem to find anything on mine. I want to buy one from Tigerdirect, so returning it will not be an option. I have a bunch of externals, so internals I'm not too familiar with.

Any tips/advice would be great regarding internal drives :)
uber_shnitz
Jul 5th, 2012, 02:56 PM
What do you mean by "limits"? The only limit is the port, not the drive capacity (at least nothing for anything recent).
pete_rfd
Jul 5th, 2012, 03:03 PM
What do you mean by "limits"? The only limit is the port, not the drive capacity (at least nothing for anything recent).
Limits as in capacity yes. I read a few posts on other forums (from years ago) people having issues with 160GB drives.

Stupid thread I guess - oops lol
uber_shnitz
Jul 5th, 2012, 03:07 PM
Maybe for older motherboards with IDE or something but that motherboard is pretty recent and has SATA so you should be fine with 1TB.
coolspot
Jul 5th, 2012, 03:07 PM
Limits as in capacity yes. I read a few posts on other forums (from years ago) people having issues with 160GB drives.

No, your board supports SATA, it can use drives as large as 4TB.

However your OS will need to support it, if Windows, make sure you format as NTFS.
pete_rfd
Jul 6th, 2012, 03:12 PM
Ok so I found a 6Gb/s drive, my mobo is 3Gb/s - any issues with that? Stupid me I once put a different memory stick in a computer, and fried the mobo - don't want that happening again lol
killoverme
Jul 6th, 2012, 03:16 PM
Ok so I found a 6Gb/s drive, my mobo is 3Gb/s - any issues with that? Stupid me I once put a different memory stick in a computer, and fried the mobo - don't want that happening again lol

its fine. Hard drives are backward compatible
pete_rfd
Jul 6th, 2012, 11:32 PM
Thanks for the help everyone :)

Bought this guy here: http://www.bestbuy.ca/en-CA/product/seagate-seagate-2tb-internal-hard-drive-st2000dm001-st2000dm001/10198062.aspx

Seems like a good product from the reviews on Tigerdirect, but bought it from Bestbuy cause it's the same price, and easier returns if I need to :) The price isn't too bad either.
xalex0
Jul 6th, 2012, 11:49 PM
Hard drives are backward compatibleTo a degree. I was having some trouble getting a 1.5TB drive working with an early SATA board.
Gee
Jul 7th, 2012, 02:02 AM
Limits as in capacity yes. I read a few posts on other forums (from years ago) people having issues with 160GB drives.

Stupid thread I guess - oops lol

Yes there were limits, but that was over 15 years ago. The limit was 120 Gig

That is because the BIOS had predefinied hard drive types (40) and they didn't support LBA (Large Block Addressing)

These issues don't exist any longer.
wilsonlam97
Jul 7th, 2012, 02:42 AM
Yeah my HP downstairs (i got it to run windows 8) only supports up to 120GB....

oh well. it had it's run. I mean with a P4 and 1.5GB of ram it's bound to retire.
It's too big of a power hog to be a torrent box anyways.
pete_rfd
Jul 12th, 2012, 02:53 PM
So I bought the 2TB drive. I opened the package, and it was just the hard drive wrapped in bubble wrap - wtf?! I called and they said that considered defective and re -order it. So I did that, 2nd package, same thing. Is this how internal drives are usually shipped? Seems weird that Bestbuy ships out drives like this.
Mark77
Jul 12th, 2012, 02:56 PM
So I bought the 2TB drive. I opened the package, and it was just the hard drive wrapped in bubble wrap - wtf?! I called and they said that considered defective and re -order it. So I did that, 2nd package, same thing. Is this how internal drives are usually shipped? Seems weird that Bestbuy ships out drives like this.

Did you buy an "OEM" drive, or a full retail package?

You link went 404...
Gee
Jul 12th, 2012, 03:03 PM
What did you expect to receive?

The retail boxed version is the same. The only difference is the packaging and maybe a cable and DVD with some software. I would stick with the bare drive (OEM) and just install it.
pete_rfd
Jul 12th, 2012, 03:11 PM
Did you buy an "OEM" drive, or a full retail package?

You link went 404...
I just got off the phone and they're not selling the drive on the site anymore, so she couldn't even look for info on the drive. If it said OEM or refurbished I probably wouldn't have bought it.

Here's the same item at Tigerdirect if that helps http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=744345&CatId=4357


What did you expect to receive?

The retail boxed version is the same. The only difference is the packaging and maybe a cable and DVD with some software. I would stick with the bare drive (OEM) and just install it.
Well, I was hoping for a magic unicorn to hand deliver it :P

I was expecting proper packaging http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK_wQBlcwOs Having the item securely in a box and padding gives me more piece of mind than wrapped in bubble wrap. Is bubble wrap enough protection? If you tell me you've received hard drives like that, with no issues, I'll consider installing it :)
_Allan_
Jul 12th, 2012, 04:18 PM
I just got off the phone and they're not selling the drive on the site anymore, so she couldn't even look for info on the drive. If it said OEM or refurbished I probably wouldn't have bought it.

Here's the same item at Tigerdirect if that helps http://www.tigerdirect.ca/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=744345&CatId=4357


Well, I was hoping for a magic unicorn to hand deliver it :P

I was expecting proper packaging http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XK_wQBlcwOs Having the item securely in a box and padding gives me more piece of mind than wrapped in bubble wrap. Is bubble wrap enough protection? If you tell me you've received hard drives like that, with no issues, I'll consider installing it :)
I have bought, received and installed dozens of drives packed like that. Hell, I have bought a drive, just in its anti static bag, tossed it in my backpack, and it works. In Joey Tribiani style ..."dun worry about it."
pete_rfd
Jul 12th, 2012, 04:23 PM
I have bought, received and installed dozens of drives packed like that. Hell, I have bought a drive, just in its anti static bag, tossed it in my backpack, and it works. In Joey Tribiani style ..."dun worry about it."
I've only bought externals on their own, only bought internals when buying a new system - so little new to this :) BB told me to call Seagate, and I also called TG, and both said they are shipped in anti-static bubble wrap, and the box I got was just regular bubble (from what I can tell) - but I will trust more intelligent people and install it and see :)