Too many IDE devices for my Power supply and Case!!!

[IndianCreek]

I have been recording movies for a little over a year and I have a few hard drives full, now all of them won't fit in my case at the same time.
Whenever I want to watch or record a movie thats on a different drive, I have to shut down, open case and swap cables around. I'm looking to have all my hard drives attached at the same time so I won't have to do any shutting down and swapping of cables.
To solve this problem, I think I need a case with 2 power supplies and space for 6 hard drives and room for expansion. I know this will mean getting a full tower case, but I just can't find one that definately has 2 power supplies, and I don't wanna get the wrong case.
If anyone can tell me where I can get a case w/ these capabilities or tell me of another way to solve this problem I'd appreciate it.

Thx in advance
IndianCreek

[Soopafresh]

No need for 2 power supplies. Just get a 500+ watt one.

http://www2.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Manufactory=&PropertyCodeValue=0&Proper...ubmit=Property


Another Option:

http://www2.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.asp?Manufactory=1305&PropertyCodeValue=353%...ubmit=Property

Your system will run faster with less physical hard drives attached.

[pfh]

Are you using PATA, SATA or SCSI drives?

PATA only allows 4 drives total.

SCSI & SATA allow more than 4.

[IndianCreek]

I'm using IDE interface. Is SATA better than IDE?
I already have a large power supply in the mid tower that I have now, I still don't have enough power connectors inside my case for all my devices.
Of course I have an IDE controller card, but it does me no good if there is no power connector for each device that I have attached. Thanks for the quik reply and PLEASE, keep 'em coming.

[bugster]

Are you using PATA, SATA or SCSI drives?

PATA only allows 4 drives total.

SCSI & PATA allow more than 4.

So which is it?

Actually, you can have more than 4 PATA (IDE) devices in a PC, ist just that most Motherboards only support 4 (2 channels). Using an expansion card, or two, or more, you can have as many as you want (I think Windows tops out at 24 drives)

@IndianCreek, have you considered an external drive caddy, connected by USB2 or (preferably) firewire. These have their own Power Supplies and give loads of flexibility.

[Marty2003]

Can't you just buy molex y splitters to get more power connections?

[pfh]

Can't you just buy molex y splitters to get more power connections?

yeah, but you'd start having voltage drops that would cause probs.

Bugsters idea is good.

I made the correction in previous post BTW.

[IndianCreek]

@bugster, are you talking about a caddy for a single drive or for all my drives. If you are talking about a caddy for all my drives that has an IDE controller card in it and connected to my pc by usb2.0, then I'd have to ask if that would be slow on the access time and I am also concerned about the compatibility with my Primera Bravo II, for its finicky and isn't compatible with alot of devices and alot of connections
Can you think of anything else that would help as far as having all my drives connected with the controller and having enough power connectors to go around? I'm really stumped
thx for the replies

[bugster]

@bugster, are you talking about a caddy for a single drive or for all my drives. If you are talking about a caddy for all my drives that has an IDE controller card in it and connected to my pc by usb2.0, then I'd have to ask if that would be slow on the access time

A Large caddy for multiple drives is an option, but these tend to be quite expensive (several hundred $$'s). Several single external drive cases would be cheaper, each would have its own PSU. You can connect several via USB 2.0 or Firewire. Swapping between drives or PC's is simple too, adding more drives is no problem either. As for transfer rate, IDE maxes out at 133Mbps, USB 2.0 is 480Mbps and firewire is 400Mbps. Even with a little overhead for signalling, I don't think you would see much difference in performance between internal and external drives. Firewire, though slightly slower in theory, puts less load on the CPU than USB though, so may be the preferable solution.

I have no idea what a "Primera Bravo II" is, so I can't comment on that compatibility or otherwise.

[ViRaL1]

A Large caddy for multiple drives is an option, but these tend to be quite expensive (several hundred $$'s). Several single external drive cases would be cheaper, each would have its own PSU. You can connect several via USB 2.0 or Firewire. Swapping between drives or PC's is simple too, adding more drives is no problem either. As for transfer rate, IDE maxes out at 133Mbps, USB 2.0 is 480Mbps and firewire is 400Mbps. Even with a little overhead for signalling, I don't think you would see much difference in performance between internal and external drives. Firewire, though slightly slower in theory, puts less load on the CPU than USB though, so may be the preferable solution.

Hrad drive transfer speeds are rated in MB (Megabytes) while USB / Firewire transder speeds are rated in Mb (Megabits). So it's more like 100MBps for ATA vs 50MBps for Firewire and 60MBps for USB2. These are all theoretical throughputs as no devices really ever max out those interfaces.

[bugster]

Hrad drive transfer speeds are rated in MB (Megabytes) while USB / Firewire transder speeds are rated in Mb (Megabits).

You are right of course, silly me!

[wwaag]

IndianCreek

I currently run 6 hard drives in an Antec case. Four are internally mounted and 2 are mounted on removable mobile hard drive rails in the external 5.25" bays. If you buy extra racks, then you can add as many drives as you like although not at the same time. I did have to replace my original 420 watt PS with a larger one.

wwaag

[IndianCreek]

I have already tried the removable rack in the 5.25" external bay, it doesn't suit my needs well. I didn't like how I had to shut down every time I needed something on a different hard drive. I need constant access to all my drives at the same time, for example, I may be watching a movie on one drive and ripping a different movie to another drive. There has to be a way to fit 'em all in one system. I'm willing to even go up to a full tower case.
Please keep the suggestions coming
thx in advance

[Xylob the Destroyer]

you could buy a fancier removable rack
while on a trip to MicroCenter the other day, they had a few that have "hot-swap" capability. they were about $50.00.

I have the same 'problem' you do, and have been considering getting one or even two of these racks with the "hot-swap" capability.
I haven't looked at them too closely, but I believe that the concept is similar to USB flash drives -- you simply have to click the icon and tell Windows that you are going to remove the drive before you actually do it.

[pfh]

I believe you'er right xylob- seems I recall a review in MaximumPC on something similar. Have to check back issues.

[sanlyn]

Or...set up another PC that acts as client to your current machine, use the 2nd PC as a file and movie file server. With 4 IDE drives on each system, that gives you up to 8 drives.

But even with USB, etc., any device that draws power from your PC needs a bigger supply. Try Antec's 400's and bigger, they also have extra connectors for fans (and WILL need a fan with 4 drives).

[Skith]

External cases would be Ideal (provided you have enough power outlets (a power strip or preferably an UPS would help). If your drives will be accessed heavily for extended periods, make sure you get one that has a fan. Aluminum cases also help dissipate heat.

I would highly recommend going with USB 2.0/Firewire combo case(s). They cost a bit more, but provide better flexability.

[normcar]

I have an Antec Truepower 430W powersupply with the following: 80GB HD, 2 250GB HD, 2 300GB HD, a 200GB and 300GB SATA HDs, 5 case fans, a DVD ROM, a DVD Writer, and an Intel 3.2GHz 1MB Cache . I have no problems with the power. Make sure that when you get a PS, that you get a good one because the cheaper ones can deliver as little as half of the PS rating.

[Skith]

I agree with normcar, I use an Antec True 480W, with an athlon XP 1900, 3 optical drives, two internal HDs, 4 80mm fans (one connected to external molex connection to cool my external HD), 1 92mm fan, +CPU fan (vantec tornado - set close to min speed), + 2 HD coolers (each has 2 40mm fans that connect to 1 molex).

[Xylob the Destroyer]

different experiences for different folks/set-ups..
I have Antec TruControl 550W PSU and it just ain't cuttin' it for my Athlon XP 3200+ (OEM fan), with 2 optical drives, 3 Hard drives, a PCI/IDE controller card, floppy, a SoundBlaster Audigy card, and 4 80mm fans

[macrovision]

If you wanna make it easy and you have a little extra money you should build your own multi disk rack using usb 2.0 or an external IDE card... It's easier than you think and you can unplug it or turn it off when not in use.

[IndianCreek]

@ macro,
That sounds like a plan, but I'm not exactly sure what you are talking about. Multi-Disk rack? I don't think that I've ever seen an external IDE card. Please, tell me how that would work.

thx

[cbsmooney]

I currently use a Maxtor external hard drive One Touch II, with a 16MB buffer (300GB storage capacity, but they make them smaller). The speeds are great. I primarily use it for system backups and to temporarily store movies until I am ready to burn. It is also useful to transfer data using it from one pc to another.

[Skith]

External cases are available with USB2.0, Firewire 400, 800, and USB 2.0/Firewire combinations. External SATA cases (as well as SATA PCI controllers with external connectors) are starting to appear as well.

External cases that hold multiple drives should be available in all flavors (though they may be harder to track down and be more expensive).

Single drive external cases often have the ability to be daisy chained, although I am unsure of what kind of limitations there may be (if any). Using 2 or 3 stackable single drive external cases might be on option (although you will need a lot of outlets for all of those plugs! A small UPS might work well).

If you go the external case route, be sure to get one made of metal/aluminum with a good fan, as drives can get very hot when in constant use.

[macrovision]

I opened my Lacie 400gb harddisk and found two 200gb EIDE harddisk, A controller card, And a USB/FIREWIRE card inside.... I thought it was One harddisk.... I opened it because it has an external power supply and the connector had a "COLD" solder connection(s)... DUHH! It was fun, but not enough fun.... I just might break something so I can fix it! :P I love electronics 8)