When using this resource, please read the opening post. The Tech Support forum regulars have helped create countless of desktop systems without any compensation. The least you can do is provide all of the information required for them to help you properly.

skyR

Canada13817 Posts

October 18 2013 09:56 GMT

#1361

On October 18 2013 18:18 FFGenerations wrote:+ Show Spoiler +

heya, my pc internal hard drive died at last

im thinking of buying Seagate Expansion 1.0TB USB 3.0 External Hard Drive
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-237-SE

i could alternatively get Samsung M3 1TB USB3.0 Slimline Portable
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-154-SA

or i could get Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s 64MB
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-255-SE&tool=3

having been a person who uses like 100gig drives in the past, i'm not worried about capacity (i was thinking 500gig until i saw how cheap 1tb drives are).

i'm also not worried about noise, because my pc is loud as fuck anyway.

so i guess i'm going for one of the external drives unless someone wants to give me a reason to get an internal.

the real question is, i will be booting, installing and maintaining operating system; using the external drive as the computers main/internal drive.

is this normal to do with an "external" drive?

i've used a 32gig usb drive with bootable version of windows to format my laptop before, but that was installing windows from the usb drive to the laptop's internal drive.

secondly, i will be wanting to take the pc's external drive (on which operating system and everything will be installed) and stick it in my laptop/take it round someone's house sometimes. will there be any problem with doing this if the drive considers itself to be a windows operating system etc drive? will i be able to just see a list of my movies etc, or will i have to reboot using the drive's operating system (and consequently log out of my laptop's operating system)?

hope this makes sense, i can clarify if needed (i rambled a bit)

The drive would act as a regular drive when you plug it into any other device that is already turned on. If you plug it into a laptop before it is turned on then when you turn on the laptop, it would ask you which drive to boot from.

If you aren't running Windows 8 and don't have a UEFI motherboard than it's a bit iffy to boot from USB3. And even with those criteria met, it's a bit iffy...

FFGenerations

7088 Posts

October 18 2013 10:52 GMT

#1362

Thanks, that answers and makes sense.

If you aren't running Windows 8 and don't have a UEFI motherboard than it's a bit iffy to boot from USB3. And even with those criteria met, it's a bit iffy...

My motherboard is possibly 3-5+ years old.

It looks like the Seagate external HD is listed as "USB3" rather than USB3/2.

In comparison, the Samsung M3 1TB USB3.0 Slimline has listed in its feature list:
"Future your conectivity with USB 2.0 and USB 3.0 " link

It looks like we're concluding that I should buy the samsung usb2/3 drive

skyR

Canada13817 Posts

October 18 2013 11:13 GMT

#1363

USB2.0 isn't fast enough for a HDD so it is not suggested unless you want to have performance issues.

FFGenerations

7088 Posts

October 18 2013 11:23 GMT

#1364

Great, I'm ever so glad I asked. I would have happily ordered the usb3 drive (without noticing it was usb3), sent it back, ordered the usb2 drive, then still be wondering wtf was going on.

Presumably there is little chance of compatibility problems if I order an internal drive. My pc does use sata/small red cables.

The Seagate Barracuda 2TB 7200RPM SATA 6Gb/s 64MB has listed on its features:
" ** Backwards compatible with SATA-II **"

I will go ahead and order it soon unless there is a strong alternative recommendation or caution
http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=HD-255-SE

Cyro

United Kingdom20343 Posts

October 18 2013 11:34 GMT

#1365

having been a person who uses like 100gig drives in the past, i'm not worried about capacity

You may want a 128gb ssd http://www.amazon.co.uk/Samsung-120GB-Basic-Solid-State/dp/B00E391KA8/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1382096014&sr=8-2&keywords=samsung 840

FFGenerations

7088 Posts

October 18 2013 12:07 GMT

#1366

I had a quick look at those, but I have a feeling that to me the advantage of having a 200gig+ HD outweighs the advantage of having a 120gb SSD.

Cyro

United Kingdom20343 Posts

October 18 2013 12:47 GMT

#1367

Depends if you want big storage or fast storage :D

Rollin

Australia1552 Posts

October 18 2013 13:47 GMT

#1368

If you've never had an ssd it's hard to appreciate the difference

Myrmidon

United States9452 Posts

October 18 2013 15:27 GMT

#1369

Nvidia's reveal today is apparently G-Sync, a new paradigm where the GPU dictates when the monitor refreshes. It requires monitors that support it, hence why I'm posting this here (new hardware to buy, if it does turn out decently...)

http://www.teamliquid.net/forum/viewmessage.php?topic_id=308280&currentpage=62#1226

edit: also GTX 780 Ti

Cyro

United Kingdom20343 Posts

October 18 2013 15:39 GMT

#1370

Yea 780ti wowowo

I didn't have the stream open. Full gk110?

Yea they're not gonna go easy on the 290x, they want dat title.

riotjune

United States3394 Posts

October 18 2013 17:44 GMT

#1371

Should I reapply thermal paste if I just removed the heatsink after a few minutes (wanted to adjust the CPU fan wiring)? The stock TIM 3 bars is already smudged and I just slapped the heatsink back on. Is this okay?

skyR

Canada13817 Posts

October 18 2013 17:45 GMT

#1372

Not doing so isn't going to kill you but it's best practice to replace the paste to avoid air bubbles.

riotjune

United States3394 Posts

October 18 2013 17:51 GMT

#1373

Damn, since I'm OCD about this I think I will buy some. Any stores carry thermal paste and what is the best one? I don't feel like waiting on Newegg, hope my local Radio Shack carries some.

As for removing the paste, will 91% isopropyl alcohol suffice?

skyR

Canada13817 Posts

October 18 2013 17:59 GMT

#1374

Hm I think Shin-Etsu or Indigo Xtreme are the best but I don't really keep track of thermal paste. Other good ones include Noctua NT-H1, Arctic Cooling MX, Arctic Silver, IC Diamond, basically any from most of the major brands are fine for the typical user. Mayo and mustard also are good people say =p

Yep, 91% is fine. Use a qtip, coffee filter, or a lint free cloth.

riotjune

United States3394 Posts

October 18 2013 18:02 GMT

#1375

Ok, thank you for the quick replies!

felisconcolori

United States6168 Posts

October 19 2013 01:01 GMT

#1376

On October 19 2013 02:51 riotjune wrote:
Damn, since I'm OCD about this I think I will buy some. Any stores carry thermal paste and what is the best one? I don't feel like waiting on Newegg, hope my local Radio Shack carries some.

As for removing the paste, will 91% isopropyl alcohol suffice?

Random off topic - Does Radio Shack even have that little chest of drawers with electronic components in it anymore? I know you can't actually buy a HAM radio in them.

Jonoman92

United States9110 Posts

October 19 2013 04:40 GMT

#1377

On October 19 2013 10:01 felisconcolori wrote:

Show nested quote +

Random off topic - Does Radio Shack even have that little chest of drawers with electronic components in it anymore? I know you can't actually buy a HAM radio in them.

Yes they do, might not have exactly what you want though. But the ones I've been in have your basic resistors and small circuit components like that.

riotjune

United States3394 Posts

October 19 2013 06:53 GMT

#1378

Booted up my newly built computer and Windows 7 isn't recognizing my 1TB WD Blue HDD, so I went into disk management and it asks me if I want MBR or GPT. Which should I choose?

Edit: Actually I went with MBR and now it's asking for New Simple Volume something since it's unallocated, should I go with the maximum disk space for that? Or choose some other value?