I've been browsing all afternoon trying to find out if I can fit a new,
bigger hard drive in tandem inside the box of our lay flat type GX270.
Dell's US site comes up with an option for a bigger drive, but I can't see
if the US included these lay flat type desktops we have in the UK. UK Dell
site just comes up with peripherals for our model.
Wiki seems to indicate there may only be connections for one drive in these
models.
As our existing drive is only 40gig and has a mere 2gig left, I would
ideally like to just put in a say 500gig drive beside the existing one and
move all the personal files over, without having to interfere with the OS or
any formatting.
Can this be done on our model?
If so, what should I be buying/what is likely to be compatible.
Much appreciate any light readers can throw on this for me!
Re: Upgrade harddrive suggestions for Optiplex GX270
it came in three different types of cases. namely the small form-factor,
the small desktop, and the small mini tower.
only the small mini tower has two bays for internal hard drives, the other
two have only one. if you forgoe the optical drive you could mount a hard
drive in that bay and get a ide cable that support two hard drives, or you
could just get an external usb drive to expand this system.
"spamlet" <spam.morespam@spamola.invalid> wrote in message
news:Hp6Qj.70048$Ff4.69666@newsfe5-win.ntli.net...
> Hi all,
>
> I've been browsing all afternoon trying to find out if I can fit a new,
> bigger hard drive in tandem inside the box of our lay flat type GX270.
> Dell's US site comes up with an option for a bigger drive, but I can't see
> if the US included these lay flat type desktops we have in the UK. UK
> Dell site just comes up with peripherals for our model.
>
> Wiki seems to indicate there may only be connections for one drive in
> these models.
>
> As our existing drive is only 40gig and has a mere 2gig left, I would
> ideally like to just put in a say 500gig drive beside the existing one and
> move all the personal files over, without having to interfere with the OS
> or any formatting.
>
> Can this be done on our model?
> If so, what should I be buying/what is likely to be compatible.
>
> Much appreciate any light readers can throw on this for me!
>
> Cheers,
>
> S
>
>
>
Re: Upgrade harddrive suggestions for Optiplex GX270
given that the current drive is only 40gb you would not be loosing much by
just replacing it.
if you get a 500gb retail packaged ide (or patat) hard drive you will find
that it comes with a installation cd and a data cable. you can use the data
cable to temporaily connect both the old and new drive to the system
(leaving the case open for the moment). then install the software and run
the clone utility telling it that your intention is to clone the current
primary drive to the new drive and then make the new drive the only drive in
the system... once copied you put the new large drive in place of the old
and volia, you have everything just like before with 450gb of additional
space available. you could buy a bare drive (no cd or cable) and download
the software and purchase a cable seperately but it probbaly won't amount to
much savings.
"Christopher Muto" <muto@worldnet.att.net> wrote in message
news:qM-dnYGHI7fsao3VnZ2dnUVZ_tyknZ2d@earthlink.com...
> it came in three different types of cases. namely the small form-factor,
> the small desktop, and the small mini tower.
> only the small mini tower has two bays for internal hard drives, the other
> two have only one. if you forgoe the optical drive you could mount a hard
> drive in that bay and get a ide cable that support two hard drives, or you
> could just get an external usb drive to expand this system.
>
> "spamlet" <spam.morespam@spamola.invalid> wrote in message
> news:Hp6Qj.70048$Ff4.69666@newsfe5-win.ntli.net...
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I've been browsing all afternoon trying to find out if I can fit a new,
>> bigger hard drive in tandem inside the box of our lay flat type GX270.
>> Dell's US site comes up with an option for a bigger drive, but I can't
>> see if the US included these lay flat type desktops we have in the UK.
>> UK Dell site just comes up with peripherals for our model.
>>
>> Wiki seems to indicate there may only be connections for one drive in
>> these models.
>>
>> As our existing drive is only 40gig and has a mere 2gig left, I would
>> ideally like to just put in a say 500gig drive beside the existing one
>> and move all the personal files over, without having to interfere with
>> the OS or any formatting.
>>
>> Can this be done on our model?
>> If so, what should I be buying/what is likely to be compatible.
>>
>> Much appreciate any light readers can throw on this for me!
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> S
>>
>>
>>
>
>
Re: Upgrade harddrive suggestions for Optiplex GX270
"spamlet" <spam.morespam@spamola.invalid> wrote in message
news:Hp6Qj.70048$Ff4.69666@newsfe5-win.ntli.net...
> Hi all,
>
> I've been browsing all afternoon trying to find out if I can fit a new,
> bigger hard drive in tandem inside the box of our lay flat type GX270.
> Dell's US site comes up with an option for a bigger drive, but I can't see
> if the US included these lay flat type desktops we have in the UK. UK Dell
> site just comes up with peripherals for our model.
>
> Wiki seems to indicate there may only be connections for one drive in these
> models.
>
> As our existing drive is only 40gig and has a mere 2gig left, I would
> ideally like to just put in a say 500gig drive beside the existing one and
> move all the personal files over, without having to interfere with the OS or
> any formatting.
>
> Can this be done on our model?
> If so, what should I be buying/what is likely to be compatible.
>
> Much appreciate any light readers can throw on this for me!
>
> Cheers,
>
> S
It looks like you've got the small form factor SFF or what used to be called
a "pizza box". You can't fit two hard drives internally, in fact according
to the spec sheet only the mini tower has two internal HD bays.
Your problem there is that with only a single serial ATA connector on the SFF
Motherboard it won't be possible to simply swap the contents of the HD onto
another larger SATA disk using a disk imaging program as would be the usual
suggestion. In which case you could either temporarily install a card with
a second SATA connector or swap the contents onto an EIDE drive connected
to one of the two EIDE slots on the motherboard. There may however be
performance issues of EIDE as against SATA.
If your present HD is EIDE ( the wide ribbons) -
then all you need do is disconnect whatever is presently hooked up to
the 2nd EIDE connector, presumably an optical drive CD DVD etc, hook up
the new drive onto that having first remembered to set the jumper if
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
necessary and copy the contents old drive onto the new drive using a disk
imaging progamme. Most people have their own favourites - mine
happens to be Ghost 2003.
You will need to do this with the lid removed and the new drive sitting temporarily
on top of the chassis. Or on the desk depending on the length of the ribbon. As with
pizza boxes there's no real alternative. Then with the copy made and the jumper reset
if necessary the new drive can be swapped for the old drive which might then be
kept in a drawer and used for backing up your most important files. Using a similar
sort of procedure as above.
None of this is cutting edge or particularly difficult.
I stand to be corrected but any make of standard 3 1/2 hard disk can be used
in any PC. The only constraints are the capacity of the disk in relation to the
Operating system - earlier systems won't recognise large capacity disks, and the
connectors which need to match those on the motherboard. Or any card which may
be fitted.
The first thing to establish probably is whether the present disk is EIDE -
(wide ribbon)or SATA.
Re: Upgrade harddrive suggestions for Optiplex GX270
I have worked on a reasonable number of Optiplex SFF GX270s, and I have yet to
see one with a factory-installed SATA drive. The usual power supply in the SFF
GX270 does not have an SATA power connector. However, I have installed SATA
drives in the SFF GX270 chassis using an inexpensive small adapter that makes
the old 4-pin 12v standard connector into an SATA power connector. The SFF
chassis is a little cramped and the adapter requires careful fitting of all the
wires and cables inside.
If, late in the life of the GX270, Dell began using the same power supply in the
SFF GX270 found in the SFF GX280, then the drive would be SATA. But this is
pretty unlikely... Ben Myers
>
>"spamlet" <spam.morespam@spamola.invalid> wrote in message
>news:Hp6Qj.70048$Ff4.69666@newsfe5-win.ntli.net...
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I've been browsing all afternoon trying to find out if I can fit a new,
>> bigger hard drive in tandem inside the box of our lay flat type GX270.
>> Dell's US site comes up with an option for a bigger drive, but I can't see
>> if the US included these lay flat type desktops we have in the UK. UK Dell
>> site just comes up with peripherals for our model.
>>
>> Wiki seems to indicate there may only be connections for one drive in these
>> models.
>>
>> As our existing drive is only 40gig and has a mere 2gig left, I would
>> ideally like to just put in a say 500gig drive beside the existing one and
>> move all the personal files over, without having to interfere with the OS or
>> any formatting.
>>
>> Can this be done on our model?
>> If so, what should I be buying/what is likely to be compatible.
>>
>> Much appreciate any light readers can throw on this for me!
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> S
>
>It looks like you've got the small form factor SFF or what used to be called
>a "pizza box". You can't fit two hard drives internally, in fact according
>to the spec sheet only the mini tower has two internal HD bays.
>
>http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...n/ug/specs.htm
>
>Assuming your HD is connected via the 7 pin serial ATA connector -
>
>as shown on here -
>
>http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...h+Images&gbv=2
>
>rather than an EIDE ribbon
>
>http://images.google.com/images?gbv=...=Search+Images
>
>
>Your problem there is that with only a single serial ATA connector on the SFF
>Motherboard it won't be possible to simply swap the contents of the HD onto
>another larger SATA disk using a disk imaging program as would be the usual
>suggestion. In which case you could either temporarily install a card with
>a second SATA connector or swap the contents onto an EIDE drive connected
>to one of the two EIDE slots on the motherboard. There may however be
>performance issues of EIDE as against SATA.
>
>
>If your present HD is EIDE ( the wide ribbons) -
>
>then all you need do is disconnect whatever is presently hooked up to
>the 2nd EIDE connector, presumably an optical drive CD DVD etc, hook up
>the new drive onto that having first remembered to set the jumper if
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>necessary and copy the contents old drive onto the new drive using a disk
>imaging progamme. Most people have their own favourites - mine
>happens to be Ghost 2003.
>
>You will need to do this with the lid removed and the new drive sitting temporarily
>on top of the chassis. Or on the desk depending on the length of the ribbon. As with
>pizza boxes there's no real alternative. Then with the copy made and the jumper reset
>if necessary the new drive can be swapped for the old drive which might then be
>kept in a drawer and used for backing up your most important files. Using a similar
>sort of procedure as above.
>
>None of this is cutting edge or particularly difficult.
>
>I stand to be corrected but any make of standard 3 1/2 hard disk can be used
>in any PC. The only constraints are the capacity of the disk in relation to the
>Operating system - earlier systems won't recognise large capacity disks, and the
>connectors which need to match those on the motherboard. Or any card which may
>be fitted.
>
>The first thing to establish probably is whether the present disk is EIDE -
>(wide ribbon)or SATA.
>
>
>
>michael adams
>
>...
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>>
>>
>>
>
Re: Upgrade harddrive suggestions for Optiplex GX270
added to previous post: Er, I should perhaps have added "plus any constraints
imposed by the system BIOS " as BIOS's reflect the limits of the then current
technology as much as do operating systems.
"spamlet" <spam.morespam@spamola.invalid> wrote in message
news:Hp6Qj.70048$Ff4.69666@newsfe5-win.ntli.net...
> Hi all,
>
> I've been browsing all afternoon trying to find out if I can fit a new,
> bigger hard drive in tandem inside the box of our lay flat type GX270.
> Dell's US site comes up with an option for a bigger drive, but I can't see
> if the US included these lay flat type desktops we have in the UK. UK Dell
> site just comes up with peripherals for our model.
>
> Wiki seems to indicate there may only be connections for one drive in these
> models.
>
> As our existing drive is only 40gig and has a mere 2gig left, I would
> ideally like to just put in a say 500gig drive beside the existing one and
> move all the personal files over, without having to interfere with the OS or
> any formatting.
>
> Can this be done on our model?
> If so, what should I be buying/what is likely to be compatible.
>
> Much appreciate any light readers can throw on this for me!
>
> Cheers,
>
> S
It looks like you've got the small form factor SFF or what used to be called
a "pizza box". You can't fit two hard drives internally, in fact according
to the spec sheet only the mini tower has two internal HD bays.
Your problem there is that with only a single serial ATA connector on the SFF
Motherboard it won't be possible to simply swap the contents of the HD onto
another larger SATA disk using a disk imaging program as would be the usual
suggestion. In which case you could either temporarily install a card with
a second SATA connector or swap the contents onto an EIDE drive connected
to one of the two EIDE slots on the motherboard. There may however be
performance issues of EIDE as against SATA.
If your present HD is EIDE ( the wide ribbons) -
then all you need do is disconnect whatever is presently hooked up to
the 2nd EIDE connector, presumably an optical drive CD DVD etc, hook up
the new drive onto that having first remembered to set the jumper if
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
necessary and copy the contents old drive onto the new drive using a disk
imaging progamme. Most people have their own favourites - mine
happens to be Ghost 2003.
You will need to do this with the lid removed and the new drive sitting temporarily
on top of the chassis. Or on the desk depending on the length of the ribbon. As with
pizza boxes there's no real alternative. Then with the copy made and the jumper reset
if necessary the new drive can be swapped for the old drive which might then be
kept in a drawer and used for backing up your most important files. Using a similar
sort of procedure as above.
None of this is cutting edge or particularly difficult.
I stand to be corrected but any make of standard 3 1/2 hard disk can be used
in any PC. The only constraints are the capacity of the disk in relation to the
Operating system - earlier systems won't recognise large capacity disks, and the
connectors which need to match those on the motherboard. Or any card which may
be fitted.
Er, I should perhaps have added "plus any constraints imposed by the system
BIOS " as BIOS's reflect the limits of the then current technology as much
as do operating systems.
The first thing to establish probably is whether the present disk is EIDE -
(wide ribbon)or SATA.
Re: Upgrade harddrive suggestions for Optiplex GX270
"spamlet" <spam.morespam@spamola.invalid> wrote in message
news:Hp6Qj.70048$Ff4.69666@newsfe5-win.ntli.net...
> Hi all,
>
> I've been browsing all afternoon trying to find out if I can fit a new,
> bigger hard drive in tandem inside the box of our lay flat type GX270.
> Dell's US site comes up with an option for a bigger drive, but I can't see
> if the US included these lay flat type desktops we have in the UK. UK
> Dell site just comes up with peripherals for our model.
>
> Wiki seems to indicate there may only be connections for one drive in
> these models.
>
> As our existing drive is only 40gig and has a mere 2gig left, I would
> ideally like to just put in a say 500gig drive beside the existing one and
> move all the personal files over, without having to interfere with the OS
> or any formatting.
>
> Can this be done on our model?
> If so, what should I be buying/what is likely to be compatible.
If you have the SFF varient , you can always just buy an external HD and
connect it via a USB cable.
Either leave things that way, or use either Ghost or Acronis True Image, to
clone the contents of the 40gig drive to the external drive, then install
the drive from the external enclosure into the GX270 in place of the 40gig.
Of course if you choose to use a temp external/usb connected drive, make
sure the drive in the external enclosure matches the interface on the 40gig
drive.
You can either buy a retail external USB drive, or you can buy a HD, then
buy a cheap external case for it to use temporarily. If you went that route,
you could always take the 40gig (after it's been cloned to the new drive)
and put IT in the external USB case, and continue using the 40gig that way.
It might come in handy as a way to back up your important data.
>
> Much appreciate any light readers can throw on this for me!
>
> Cheers,
>
> S
>
>
>
Re: Upgrade harddrive suggestions for Optiplex GX270
The GX270 SFF BIOS is the same BIOS used in the other GX270s, so it does not
present any serious obstacle to running with 2 or even 3(!) hard drives. Only
one drive can be SATA because there is only one SATA connector on the
motherboard. Attaching 2 or more drives would make me worry more about
exceeding the limits of the smallish GX270 power supply. If the OP wants to
hook up two drives, he would do well to run the system with the chassis open
(Doh! It would have to be!) and with a full-sized ATX12v power supply in use.
Of course, all these extra parts would spill out onto a table or desk, but this
would only be temporary... Ben Myers
>
>
>added to previous post: Er, I should perhaps have added "plus any constraints
>imposed by the system BIOS " as BIOS's reflect the limits of the then current
>technology as much as do operating systems.
>
>"spamlet" <spam.morespam@spamola.invalid> wrote in message
>news:Hp6Qj.70048$Ff4.69666@newsfe5-win.ntli.net...
>> Hi all,
>>
>> I've been browsing all afternoon trying to find out if I can fit a new,
>> bigger hard drive in tandem inside the box of our lay flat type GX270.
>> Dell's US site comes up with an option for a bigger drive, but I can't see
>> if the US included these lay flat type desktops we have in the UK. UK Dell
>> site just comes up with peripherals for our model.
>>
>> Wiki seems to indicate there may only be connections for one drive in these
>> models.
>>
>> As our existing drive is only 40gig and has a mere 2gig left, I would
>> ideally like to just put in a say 500gig drive beside the existing one and
>> move all the personal files over, without having to interfere with the OS or
>> any formatting.
>>
>> Can this be done on our model?
>> If so, what should I be buying/what is likely to be compatible.
>>
>> Much appreciate any light readers can throw on this for me!
>>
>> Cheers,
>>
>> S
>
>It looks like you've got the small form factor SFF or what used to be called
>a "pizza box". You can't fit two hard drives internally, in fact according
>to the spec sheet only the mini tower has two internal HD bays.
>
>http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...n/ug/specs.htm
>
>Assuming your HD is connected via the 7 pin serial ATA connector -
>
>as shown on here -
>
>http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...h+Images&gbv=2
>
>rather than an EIDE ribbon
>
>http://images.google.com/images?gbv=...=Search+Images
>
>
>Your problem there is that with only a single serial ATA connector on the SFF
>Motherboard it won't be possible to simply swap the contents of the HD onto
>another larger SATA disk using a disk imaging program as would be the usual
>suggestion. In which case you could either temporarily install a card with
>a second SATA connector or swap the contents onto an EIDE drive connected
>to one of the two EIDE slots on the motherboard. There may however be
>performance issues of EIDE as against SATA.
>
>
>If your present HD is EIDE ( the wide ribbons) -
>
>then all you need do is disconnect whatever is presently hooked up to
>the 2nd EIDE connector, presumably an optical drive CD DVD etc, hook up
>the new drive onto that having first remembered to set the jumper if
>^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>necessary and copy the contents old drive onto the new drive using a disk
>imaging progamme. Most people have their own favourites - mine
>happens to be Ghost 2003.
>
>You will need to do this with the lid removed and the new drive sitting temporarily
>on top of the chassis. Or on the desk depending on the length of the ribbon. As with
>pizza boxes there's no real alternative. Then with the copy made and the jumper reset
>if necessary the new drive can be swapped for the old drive which might then be
>kept in a drawer and used for backing up your most important files. Using a similar
>sort of procedure as above.
>
>None of this is cutting edge or particularly difficult.
>
>I stand to be corrected but any make of standard 3 1/2 hard disk can be used
>in any PC. The only constraints are the capacity of the disk in relation to the
>Operating system - earlier systems won't recognise large capacity disks, and the
>connectors which need to match those on the motherboard. Or any card which may
>be fitted.
>
>Er, I should perhaps have added "plus any constraints imposed by the system
>BIOS " as BIOS's reflect the limits of the then current technology as much
>as do operating systems.
>
>The first thing to establish probably is whether the present disk is EIDE -
>(wide ribbon)or SATA.
>
>
>
>michael adams
>
>...
>
>
>
>
>
Re: Upgrade harddrive suggestions for Optiplex GX270
"Ben Myers" <ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net> wrote in message
news:fi54145d76k03ls6gcs7ntigkot0ita71r@4ax.com...
> The GX270 SFF BIOS is the same BIOS used in the other GX270s, so it does not
> present any serious obstacle to running with 2 or even 3(!) hard drives. Only
> one drive can be SATA because there is only one SATA connector on the
> motherboard. Attaching 2 or more drives would make me worry more about
> exceeding the limits of the smallish GX270 power supply. If the OP wants to
> hook up two drives, he would do well to run the system with the chassis open
> (Doh! It would have to be!) and with a full-sized ATX12v power supply in use.
> Of course, all these extra parts would spill out onto a table or desk, but this
> would only be temporary... Ben Myers
I was speaking purely hypothetically - so as to correct my previous
rather categorical assertion. As the BIOs in older machines clearly wouldn't
support more modern drives. And neither could it be flashed to do so.
If he's disconnected a CD/DVD in order to hook up the second HD this shouldn't
impose that much of an additional power drain IMO. The 145W power supply in
older SFF's would happily support 2 HD's for the hour or so it took to image
the drives. If not for days or weeks even, for all I know. In any case, as has
already been noted on here Dell PSU's are typically well over-specced - even
more so on optiplexes I'd imagine.
michael adams
>
> On Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:53:42 +0100, "michael adams" <mjadams25@onetel.net.uk>
> wrote:
>
> >
> >
> >added to previous post: Er, I should perhaps have added "plus any constraints
> >imposed by the system BIOS " as BIOS's reflect the limits of the then current
> >technology as much as do operating systems.
> >
> >"spamlet" <spam.morespam@spamola.invalid> wrote in message
> >news:Hp6Qj.70048$Ff4.69666@newsfe5-win.ntli.net...
> >> Hi all,
> >>
> >> I've been browsing all afternoon trying to find out if I can fit a new,
> >> bigger hard drive in tandem inside the box of our lay flat type GX270.
> >> Dell's US site comes up with an option for a bigger drive, but I can't see
> >> if the US included these lay flat type desktops we have in the UK. UK Dell
> >> site just comes up with peripherals for our model.
> >>
> >> Wiki seems to indicate there may only be connections for one drive in these
> >> models.
> >>
> >> As our existing drive is only 40gig and has a mere 2gig left, I would
> >> ideally like to just put in a say 500gig drive beside the existing one and
> >> move all the personal files over, without having to interfere with the OS or
> >> any formatting.
> >>
> >> Can this be done on our model?
> >> If so, what should I be buying/what is likely to be compatible.
> >>
> >> Much appreciate any light readers can throw on this for me!
> >>
> >> Cheers,
> >>
> >> S
> >
> >It looks like you've got the small form factor SFF or what used to be called
> >a "pizza box". You can't fit two hard drives internally, in fact according
> >to the spec sheet only the mini tower has two internal HD bays.
> >
> >http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...n/ug/specs.htm
> >
> >Assuming your HD is connected via the 7 pin serial ATA connector -
> >
> >as shown on here -
> >
> >http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...h+Images&gbv=2
> >
> >rather than an EIDE ribbon
> >
> >http://images.google.com/images?gbv=...=Search+Images
> >
> >
> >Your problem there is that with only a single serial ATA connector on the SFF
> >Motherboard it won't be possible to simply swap the contents of the HD onto
> >another larger SATA disk using a disk imaging program as would be the usual
> >suggestion. In which case you could either temporarily install a card with
> >a second SATA connector or swap the contents onto an EIDE drive connected
> >to one of the two EIDE slots on the motherboard. There may however be
> >performance issues of EIDE as against SATA.
> >
> >
> >If your present HD is EIDE ( the wide ribbons) -
> >
> >then all you need do is disconnect whatever is presently hooked up to
> >the 2nd EIDE connector, presumably an optical drive CD DVD etc, hook up
> >the new drive onto that having first remembered to set the jumper if
> >^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
> >necessary and copy the contents old drive onto the new drive using a disk
> >imaging progamme. Most people have their own favourites - mine
> >happens to be Ghost 2003.
> >
> >You will need to do this with the lid removed and the new drive sitting temporarily
> >on top of the chassis. Or on the desk depending on the length of the ribbon. As with
> >pizza boxes there's no real alternative. Then with the copy made and the jumper reset
> >if necessary the new drive can be swapped for the old drive which might then be
> >kept in a drawer and used for backing up your most important files. Using a similar
> >sort of procedure as above.
> >
> >None of this is cutting edge or particularly difficult.
> >
> >I stand to be corrected but any make of standard 3 1/2 hard disk can be used
> >in any PC. The only constraints are the capacity of the disk in relation to the
> >Operating system - earlier systems won't recognise large capacity disks, and the
> >connectors which need to match those on the motherboard. Or any card which may
> >be fitted.
> >
> >Er, I should perhaps have added "plus any constraints imposed by the system
> >BIOS " as BIOS's reflect the limits of the then current technology as much
> >as do operating systems.
> >
> >The first thing to establish probably is whether the present disk is EIDE -
> >(wide ribbon)or SATA.
> >
> >
> >
> >michael adams
> >
> >...
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
Re: Upgrade harddrive suggestions for Optiplex GX270
Well, with its SATA support, the GX270 BIOS does not impose serious limits on
the capacities of hard drives. It is, after all, pretty modern.
One of the GX270 SFF systems here has a power supply rated at 160w, very likely
sufficient for handling two drives with the CD/DVD detached... Ben Myers
>
>"Ben Myers" <ben_myers_spam_me_not@charter.net> wrote in message
>news:fi54145d76k03ls6gcs7ntigkot0ita71r@4ax.com.. .
>> The GX270 SFF BIOS is the same BIOS used in the other GX270s, so it does not
>> present any serious obstacle to running with 2 or even 3(!) hard drives. Only
>> one drive can be SATA because there is only one SATA connector on the
>> motherboard. Attaching 2 or more drives would make me worry more about
>> exceeding the limits of the smallish GX270 power supply. If the OP wants to
>> hook up two drives, he would do well to run the system with the chassis open
>> (Doh! It would have to be!) and with a full-sized ATX12v power supply in use.
>> Of course, all these extra parts would spill out onto a table or desk, but this
>> would only be temporary... Ben Myers
>
>I was speaking purely hypothetically - so as to correct my previous
>rather categorical assertion. As the BIOs in older machines clearly wouldn't
>support more modern drives. And neither could it be flashed to do so.
>
>If he's disconnected a CD/DVD in order to hook up the second HD this shouldn't
>impose that much of an additional power drain IMO. The 145W power supply in
>older SFF's would happily support 2 HD's for the hour or so it took to image
>the drives. If not for days or weeks even, for all I know. In any case, as has
>already been noted on here Dell PSU's are typically well over-specced - even
>more so on optiplexes I'd imagine.
>
>michael adams
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>>
>> On Fri, 25 Apr 2008 16:53:42 +0100, "michael adams" <mjadams25@onetel.net.uk>
>> wrote:
>>
>> >
>> >
>> >added to previous post: Er, I should perhaps have added "plus any constraints
>> >imposed by the system BIOS " as BIOS's reflect the limits of the then current
>> >technology as much as do operating systems.
>> >
>> >"spamlet" <spam.morespam@spamola.invalid> wrote in message
>> >news:Hp6Qj.70048$Ff4.69666@newsfe5-win.ntli.net...
>> >> Hi all,
>> >>
>> >> I've been browsing all afternoon trying to find out if I can fit a new,
>> >> bigger hard drive in tandem inside the box of our lay flat type GX270.
>> >> Dell's US site comes up with an option for a bigger drive, but I can't see
>> >> if the US included these lay flat type desktops we have in the UK. UK Dell
>> >> site just comes up with peripherals for our model.
>> >>
>> >> Wiki seems to indicate there may only be connections for one drive in these
>> >> models.
>> >>
>> >> As our existing drive is only 40gig and has a mere 2gig left, I would
>> >> ideally like to just put in a say 500gig drive beside the existing one and
>> >> move all the personal files over, without having to interfere with the OS or
>> >> any formatting.
>> >>
>> >> Can this be done on our model?
>> >> If so, what should I be buying/what is likely to be compatible.
>> >>
>> >> Much appreciate any light readers can throw on this for me!
>> >>
>> >> Cheers,
>> >>
>> >> S
>> >
>> >It looks like you've got the small form factor SFF or what used to be called
>> >a "pizza box". You can't fit two hard drives internally, in fact according
>> >to the spec sheet only the mini tower has two internal HD bays.
>> >
>> >http://support.dell.com/support/edoc...n/ug/specs.htm
>> >
>> >Assuming your HD is connected via the 7 pin serial ATA connector -
>> >
>> >as shown on here -
>> >
>> >http://images.google.com/images?hl=e...h+Images&gbv=2
>> >
>> >rather than an EIDE ribbon
>> >
>> >http://images.google.com/images?gbv=...=Search+Images
>> >
>> >
>> >Your problem there is that with only a single serial ATA connector on the SFF
>> >Motherboard it won't be possible to simply swap the contents of the HD onto
>> >another larger SATA disk using a disk imaging program as would be the usual
>> >suggestion. In which case you could either temporarily install a card with
>> >a second SATA connector or swap the contents onto an EIDE drive connected
>> >to one of the two EIDE slots on the motherboard. There may however be
>> >performance issues of EIDE as against SATA.
>> >
>> >
>> >If your present HD is EIDE ( the wide ribbons) -
>> >
>> >then all you need do is disconnect whatever is presently hooked up to
>> >the 2nd EIDE connector, presumably an optical drive CD DVD etc, hook up
>> >the new drive onto that having first remembered to set the jumper if
>> >^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
>> >necessary and copy the contents old drive onto the new drive using a disk
>> >imaging progamme. Most people have their own favourites - mine
>> >happens to be Ghost 2003.
>> >
>> >You will need to do this with the lid removed and the new drive sitting temporarily
>> >on top of the chassis. Or on the desk depending on the length of the ribbon. As with
>> >pizza boxes there's no real alternative. Then with the copy made and the jumper reset
>> >if necessary the new drive can be swapped for the old drive which might then be
>> >kept in a drawer and used for backing up your most important files. Using a similar
>> >sort of procedure as above.
>> >
>> >None of this is cutting edge or particularly difficult.
>> >
>> >I stand to be corrected but any make of standard 3 1/2 hard disk can be used
>> >in any PC. The only constraints are the capacity of the disk in relation to the
>> >Operating system - earlier systems won't recognise large capacity disks, and the
>> >connectors which need to match those on the motherboard. Or any card which may
>> >be fitted.
>> >
>> >Er, I should perhaps have added "plus any constraints imposed by the system
>> >BIOS " as BIOS's reflect the limits of the then current technology as much
>> >as do operating systems.
>> >
>> >The first thing to establish probably is whether the present disk is EIDE -
>> >(wide ribbon)or SATA.
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >michael adams
>> >
>> >...
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>> >
>
Upgrade harddrive suggestions for Optiplex GX270 
Linear Mode
