Max Size of Hard Drive
Thread Starter
Max Size of Hard Drive
a couple of questions
1. What key info does one need to know how big an internal hard drive can be run in a desk top? I was wondering if I can install a 3 or 4 TB in the specs below.
Do the following computer specs give the answer or is there something else that limits the drive size?
Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) Service Pack 1 (build 7601)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (United States)
Installed: 7/1/2011 12:02:02 PM Dell Inc. Studio XPS 9100 00
System Service Tag: 8MC4HQ1 (support for this PC)
Chassis Serial Number: 8MC4HQ1
Enclosure Type: DesktopProcessor a Main Circuit Board b3.20 gigahertz Intel Core i7 960
32 kilobyte primary memory cache
1024 kilobyte secondary memory cache
8192 kilobyte tertiary memory cache
64-bit ready
Multi-core (4 total)
Hyper-threaded (8 total) Board: Dell Inc. 05DN3X A00
Serial Number: ..CN7441513O0696.
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: Dell Computer Corporation A02 05/26/2010
2. Can I run a 3-4 Tb external hard drive off a 3.0 USB controler?
1. What key info does one need to know how big an internal hard drive can be run in a desk top? I was wondering if I can install a 3 or 4 TB in the specs below.
Do the following computer specs give the answer or is there something else that limits the drive size?
Windows 7 Home Premium (x64) Service Pack 1 (build 7601)
Install Language: English (United States)
System Locale: English (United States)
Installed: 7/1/2011 12:02:02 PM Dell Inc. Studio XPS 9100 00
System Service Tag: 8MC4HQ1 (support for this PC)
Chassis Serial Number: 8MC4HQ1
Enclosure Type: DesktopProcessor a Main Circuit Board b3.20 gigahertz Intel Core i7 960
32 kilobyte primary memory cache
1024 kilobyte secondary memory cache
8192 kilobyte tertiary memory cache
64-bit ready
Multi-core (4 total)
Hyper-threaded (8 total) Board: Dell Inc. 05DN3X A00
Serial Number: ..CN7441513O0696.
Bus Clock: 133 megahertz
BIOS: Dell Computer Corporation A02 05/26/2010
2. Can I run a 3-4 Tb external hard drive off a 3.0 USB controler?
Thread Starter
Thanks for the "yes"
From my read it looks like most Win 7 systems running 64 bit will be able to access the 3-4 TB drives.
If there are exceptions let me know.
From my read it looks like most Win 7 systems running 64 bit will be able to access the 3-4 TB drives.
If there are exceptions let me know.
Spoon PPRuNerist & Mad Inistrator
From my read it looks like most Win 7 systems running 64 bit will be able to access the 3-4 TB drives.
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Just a few potential boot-related gotchas, I'm sure people will correct me if this info is out of date/just plain wrong.
A boot partition larger than 2TB needs to use GPT rather than MBR.
XPS 9100 has a non-UEFI BIOS, so it won't boot from a GPT partition.
If you're using AHCI (e.g. Intel RAID), then older drivers (early 2011) won't recognise anything bigger than 3TB, so you need to make sure, if you're doing a clean install from older media, that you have a slipstream disk with recent drivers.
E&OE, always wear lead knickers, etc.
A boot partition larger than 2TB needs to use GPT rather than MBR.
XPS 9100 has a non-UEFI BIOS, so it won't boot from a GPT partition.
If you're using AHCI (e.g. Intel RAID), then older drivers (early 2011) won't recognise anything bigger than 3TB, so you need to make sure, if you're doing a clean install from older media, that you have a slipstream disk with recent drivers.
E&OE, always wear lead knickers, etc.
Last edited by Bushfiva; 26th Sep 2012 at 02:10.
Thread Starter
And how do you plan to back it up?
Better with 2 (or 3) smaller drives.
Mac
Better with 2 (or 3) smaller drives.
Mac