External harddrive with USB2.0, any good??

[js2000]

Hi, First of all. could some1 tell me how to find out what version usb port i have on my PC pls?? USB 1.1 (12Mbps) or USB 2.0 (480Mbps)

PIII 533Mhz
MB: allow hdd upto 137Gb

Secondly, I am think of buying an external hdd of between 160Gb - 250Gb with the connection via USB2.0 port. Will i have problem with my pc specs above?? Cause my MB can only handle hdd of upto 137Gb via internal IDE. Thanks alot.

PS: Is firewire port better than USB2.0 for ext hdd??

[Van Nugent]

Check the item "Universal Serial Bus Controllers" in Device Manager, if you see USB 2.0 Enhanced Host Controller or USB 2.0 Root Hub Device then your system have USB 2.0.

In order to have supports for USB 2.0 and HDDs larger than 137GB, you must be running WinXP SP1 or Win2K SP3/SP4. Your mobo's BIOS must also support large drive. If not, you can run the HD setup utility from the HD maker.

[richskie]

Is firewire port better than USB2.0 for ext hdd??Generally I would say go for USB. Almost every pc has a usb port of 1 version or another. I would only get firewire if you intend streaming video to / from it which is what firewire was designed for.

B.T.W. I would be supprised if a board that old had USB 2.0 but you can get a pci card fairly cheaply.

[js2000]

Thanks for reply. Could u tell me if i will have problem running ext hdd size over 137Gb as my MB only allow that limit. Does ext hdd bypasses this sort of problems??

I have XP SP1 installed on my pc, but no ata controller card that supports large hdd alrger than 137Gb. I have no PCI slot left on my pc, hence thinking of a ext hdd as an option.

I have heard from somewhere that the controller card within the uSB/firewire ext enclosure for hdd WILL bypasses the MOBO bios limitation of 137Gb, but this has not been confirmed?? So if some1 out here have come across this situation, pls confirm. THX alot!!

[Van Nugent]

As I said above, if your mobo's BIOS doesn't support drives that are larger than 137GB, you can use a drive management/setup utility from the maker. Please tell what brand/model of the HD you want to buy.

[Memphis]

You will have no problems accessing over 137Gb as you have Service Pack 1 installed.

You motherboards BIOS limitations are irelevant as for external storage.

As said above however, you will almost definatly not have USB2.0 so if you don't have FireWire either, you can still have a lot of external storage, but it's going to be painfully slow to use it.

EDIT - Slight edit to reflect Van's post above and to agree with what he has said. You can get utils from the hard disk manufacturer to bypass these limitations.

[js2000]

I have firewire pci card installed and i thinking of getting either WD/maxtor 250gb, then converted to an ext hdd via ext casing combo (USB2/firewire). BTW..i don't have usb2, only 1.1, which is slow. But firewire is ok for me.

[Van Nugent]

You should be OK with Firewire. There are many combo USB 2.0/Firewire PCI cards available (~$15 USD) so you may consider replacing your Firewire card with 1 of those.

You can also download the MaxBlast 3 utility (http://www.maxtor.com/en/support/downloads/maxblast3.htm) from Maxtor site to help you break the 137GB barrier.

[js2000]

THX alot, i didn't know you can get a combo card as well. That even better option for me, thanks again for all your replies.:beer:

[Van Nugent]

If you need help to get a combo card, please post in the CoOp forum.